PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Malvin Maldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcolm Mandi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Maldi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Loituma TECHNO!. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maldi
vs
Mandi

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malvin Maldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malcolm Mandi!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maldi scores with a takedown into Mandi's guard.
Mandi is looking to stand up but Maldi isn't so interested in that idea.
Maldi trying to control but Mandi is working from the bottom.
Mandi wants to get back to his feet but Maldi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mandi keeping full guard, as Maldi tries to pass.
Maldi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Maldi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Maldi wants to control from the top but Mandi keeps moving.
Mandi wants to stand but Maldi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Maldi shoots in but no luck this time.
Maldi throws an overhand right that lands on Mandi's shoulder, as Mandi tries to avoid the shot.
Maldi tries a low kick but Mandi avoids it.
Mandi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maldi is looking to clinch.
Mandi darts in trying to clinch

and Maldi counters with a takedown into side control.
Mandi wants to get back to his feet but Maldi is dominant here and he's now got Mandi's back!
Mandi is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Maldi wants to take Mandi's back but he can't do it this time.
Mandi is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi controlling the pace for now.
Mandi's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Mandi looks gassed!
Maldi scoring with strikes but Mandi is staying in there.

Maldi working for a submission but Mandi is keeping him at bay.
Mandi is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Maldi lands with some strikes.
Mandi's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Maldi trying to control but Mandi is having none of it.
Maldi landing strikes, looking to finish!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi trying to control but Mandi is having none of it.
Maldi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mandi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Mandi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Maldi.
Mandi is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Maldi controlling from mount.
Mandi avoids a series of strikes thrown by Maldi.
Mandi wants to get back to his feet.

Mandi bucks up and throws Maldi to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Maldi drives through and clinches with Mandi against the cage.
Mandi tries to pull guard but Maldi holds him up against the cage and eventually Mandi drops back down to his feet.

Mandi pulls Maldi into guard.
Mandi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maldi trying to control but Mandi is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mandi clinches but Maldi breaks the clinch

and Maldi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mandi wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mandi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maldi tries to clinch up.
Nice shot lands for Maldi.
Mandi throws a right and a left that Maldi avoids nicely.
Mandi avoids a kick to the body.

Maldi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mandi wants to stand but Maldi is controlling the position.

Maldi has gone for a leg lock! Mandi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Maldi's guard.
Mandi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maldi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mandi preventing the sweep.
Mandi is looking to stand up but Maldi won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mandi is breathing heavily.
Mandi postures up.

Mandi gets to his feet. Maldi looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Maldi shoots in and bounces Mandi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mandi wants to stand and escape but Maldi is having none of it.
Maldi is standing up over Mandi. Mandi looks to escape but Maldi dives into side control.
Mandi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maldi asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Maldi laying and praying for a moment but Mandi takes advantage and regains half guard.

Mandi pushes Maldi off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi tries to clinch but Mandi moves away

so Mandi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mandi tries to stand but Maldi is controlling from the bottom.

Mandi stands up and waves to Maldi to follow him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mandi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maldi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mandi won't be happy with that.
Maldi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mandi keeps working.
Maldi controls the position.
Maldi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mandi for as long as he can get away with.
Mandi is trying to buck Maldi off.
Maldi landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandi is not content to let Maldi control the position.
Mandi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Maldi tries to advance to mount but Mandi denies him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maldi doesn't manage to clinch there - Mandi circles away.
Maldi fails with the takedown.
Mandi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Maldi moves into the clinch successfully.
Maldi tries for a takedown but Mandi manages to get underhooks.

Mandi pulls guard successfully.
Maldi prevents Mandi from getting back to his feet.
Malvin Maldi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maldi trying to control but Mandi is working from the bottom.
Maldi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maldi controls the position.
Mandi is trying to buck Maldi off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maldi staying calm.
Mandi is pushing Maldi's head away, looking to escape. Maldi manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maldi shoots in but Mandi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mandi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maldi is trying to maintain the position but Mandi is very close to passing his half guard.
Maldi wants to improve his position but Mandi is controlling well.

Mandi gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Maldi keeps the fight on the outside.
Mandi misses with a shot to the body

and Maldi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maldi.
Mandi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mandi keeping full guard, as Maldi tries to pass.
Maldi stops Mandi from standing up.
Mandi keeping full guard, as Maldi tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mandi manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Mandi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maldi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Maldi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Maldi pushes down on Mandi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maldi stops Mandi from getting back to his feet.
Maldi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Mandi pushes Maldi off and gets back to his feet.
Mandi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maldi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mandi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maldi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Mandi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mandi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maldi is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mandi pushes Maldi off and gets back to his feet.
Malvin Maldi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maldi has his takedown stuffed

and Mandi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maldi won't be happy with that.
Maldi struggling a bit here.
Maldi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Maldi is looking to advance position but Mandi won't allow it.
Maldi trying to control from half guard but Mandi is working away.
Maldi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Maldi works his way into full mount!
Mandi is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
You get the feeling that Mandi really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Maldi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mandi is looking to escape.
Mandi wants to get back to his feet.

Maldi wants to finish this one by submission but Mandi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Maldi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Maldi goes for an armbar but Mandi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mandi.
Maldi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
You get the feeling that Mandi really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Maldi has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Mandi is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Malvin Maldi!