PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and samart roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Malone
vs
roberts

185 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, samart roberts!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Malone scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Malone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Malone stands up from roberts's guard - Malone perhaps looking for a knockout.
Malone throws a right and a left that both miss.
Malone wants to clinch up but roberts keeps it at a distance.
Tom Malone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malone with a jab.

Malone bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Malone is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but roberts is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
roberts is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Malone advances to full mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Malone is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. roberts can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone wants to control the pace but roberts is squirming around nicely.
roberts is working to get back to half guard.
roberts wants to control but Malone is having none of it.
roberts is trying desperately to improve position.

roberts defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Malone.
Malone is breathing heavily.
roberts tries to hold on but Malone pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Malone landing shots from mount.
roberts regains half guard.

Malone is working for a kimura but roberts is defending it quite comfortably.
Malone trying to mount his opponent but roberts defends it.
roberts trying to hold on to Malone's head to control him but Malone postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Malone uses his free foot to push down on roberts's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for roberts.

Malone is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Malone tries a head kick but it misses.
Malone pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in roberts's guard.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but roberts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
roberts can't keep his opponent in guard - Malone advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
roberts trying to control but Malone postures up.
Malone seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Malone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
roberts is refusing to be controlled, as Malone sits in half guard.

Malone is trying to work for a kimura but roberts is defending well.
roberts is not content to let Malone control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Malone stands up from roberts's guard - Malone perhaps looking for a knockout.
Malone misses with the combination.
roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
and Malone counters with a three punch combo that has roberts backing up. roberts nods at Malone to acknowledge the strikes.
Malone fails with an attempt to clinch.

roberts gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
roberts controls Malone momentarily but Malone frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malone pushes down on roberts's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Malone seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Malone dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Malone scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Malone stands up and beckons roberts to his feet.
Malone tries to clinch but roberts is having none of it.
Malone throws a good cross that connects.
roberts walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Malone checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Malone 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.
Malone lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Malone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. roberts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malone preventing the sweep.
Malone distracts roberts with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Malone passes easily into side control. Nice work.
roberts is breathing heavily.
Malone connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused roberts some visible discomfort.
Malone lands some shots froms side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Malone tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on roberts's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Malone is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, roberts has escaped the position, nice work there.

Malone stands up and we're back to a striking position.
roberts doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Malone counters with a nice double leg into side control. roberts won't be happy with that.

Malone goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, roberts has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Malone but great work by roberts.
Malone manages to work his way to half guard, despite roberts's best efforts.
Malone gets back to full guard.
roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Malone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. roberts manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malone slips nicely into half guard.
Malone is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Malone landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Malone is pressing down on roberts's thigh, looking to free his foot. roberts is holding on for now.
roberts is trying to stand.
roberts trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Tom Malone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

roberts tries to buck Malone off so he can stand up but Malone has got his back now - this could be big trouble! He's slapped on a rear naked choke that looks really tight! roberts falls backwards, slamming Malone to the mat but Malone holds on tight! roberts is forced to tap and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tom Malone!