PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jeramiah Pony (ranked 804 p4p, 782 weight class) and Blazej Maleszewski (ranked 65 p4p, 63 weight class). Blazej Maleszewski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pony
vs
Maleszewski

161 cm
20
141
9 - 5 - 0

173 cm
27
131
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jeramiah Pony!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Blazej Maleszewski!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pony misses with a hook.
Maleszewski drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pony defends it well.
Pony moves out of range of the strikes.

Pony looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pony looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Maleszewski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pony controlling the pace.
Maleszewski trying to control but Pony postures up.
Maleszewski looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pony connects with a nice short shot to Maleszewski's temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maleszewski gets full guard.
Maleszewski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maleszewski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pony definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pony trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pony trying to control the position from guard on top but Maleszewski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pony trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pony connects with a couple of short punches.
Pony trying to control the position from guard on top but Maleszewski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maleszewski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pony has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maleszewski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pony showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maleszewski is pulling down on Pony's head. It's preventing any offense from Pony, at least for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Maleszewski trying to keep a closed guard but Pony is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Blazej Maleszewski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maleszewski misses with an uppercut

and Pony counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maleszewski wants to control but Pony is keeping busy.
Pony thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pony working the head and body with strikes.
Maleszewski is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pony is looking to take a break and control but Maleszewski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maleszewski wants to improve his position but Pony is controlling well.
Pony missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maleszewski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pony lands strikes from half guard.
Maleszewski trying to control here.
Pony trying to pass the guard but Maleszewski defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maleszewski manages to get to full guard.
Maleszewski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pony is one step ahead there.
Maleszewski keeps trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maleszewski keeping moving, preventing Pony from controlling successfully.
Pony is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jeramiah Pony dominated that round.
That's time! Pony's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maleszewski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pony paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pony tries to counter with a takedown but Maleszewski is quick to defend against it.
Pony shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maleszewski as he jumps to the side.
Maleszewski drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pony defends it well.
Pony is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maleszewski can do to turn this around?
Pony swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maleszewski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pony.
Maleszewski throws a body punch but Pony moves out of range.
Maleszewski moves in looking to clinch but Pony pushes him off.
Pony shoots in but Maleszewski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeramiah Pony. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maleszewski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maleszewski wants it to stay on the feet.
Maleszewski with the counter takedown but Pony avoids it easily.
Pony misses with a straight left.
Maleszewski drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pony defends it well.
A swing and a miss from Pony.

Maleszewski has Pony up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pony works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Pony sitting in guard here, content to control.
Jeramiah Pony overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pony connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pony drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maleszewski looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maleszewski looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maleszewski!

Maleszewski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maleszewski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pony keeps working.
Maleszewski is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Pony is holding Maleszewski down, trying to stall.
Pony tries to buck Maleszewski off but Maleszewski is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maleszewski looking to control but instead Pony has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Pony is not content to let Maleszewski control the position.
Maleszewski lands strikes from half guard.
Maleszewski trying to control from half guard but Pony is working away.
Pony has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maleszewski is working away from the top position though.
Pony is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Maleszewski throwing shots but Pony is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maleszewski is looking to stall here but Pony recovers full guard.
Pony wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Maleszewski looking to pass the guard.
Maleszewski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Maleszewski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pony takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pony fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maleszewski manages to avoid it.
Pony looks to throw the jab but Maleszewski is out of range.
Pony tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maleszewski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pony somewhat.
Maleszewski is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maleszewski moves into the clinch.

Pony breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maleszewski misses with a looping left.
Pony attempts a counter takedown but Maleszewski avoids it well and moves away.
Maleszewski throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pony shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maleszewski but Maleszewski pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Maleszewski clinches.

Maleszewski pulls guard effortlessly.
Pony is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maleszewski lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Maleszewski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pony has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maleszewski has managed to get both his arms back between Pony's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Blazej Maleszewski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Pony gets tackled into the cage by Maleszewski. Maleszewski maintains the clinch.
Blazej Maleszewski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Maleszewski pulls guard.
Maleszewski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pony is one step ahead there.
Maleszewski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pony trying to control the position from guard on top but Maleszewski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pony preventing the sweep.
Maleszewski trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pony preventing the sweep.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pony tries to free his leg and advance position but Maleszewski is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
An inside leg kick from Pony misses.

Pony tries to keep at a distance but Maleszewski has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maleszewski is looking for a takedown.
Maleszewski goes for a takedown attempt but Pony pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Maleszewski closes the distance and pushes Pony back into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pony.
Pony tries to stall but Maleszewski uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch on the inside from Pony fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pony prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jeramiah Pony has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blazej Maleszewski.

Maleszewski is trying to trip Pony. He has hold of a leg but Pony is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Maleszewski persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Maleszewski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maleszewski wants to control from the top but Pony keeps moving.

Maleszewski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pony looking for a guillotine here but Maleszewski defends easily.
Maleszewski trying to control but Pony is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pony controlling the position.

Pony looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Pony working for a triangle but Maleszewski defends it easily.
Maleszewski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maleszewski wants to control from the top but Pony keeps moving.

Pony working for a triangle but Maleszewski defends it easily.

Pony pushes a forearm under Maleszewski's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Maleszewski is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jeramiah Pony!
After the fight, Jeramiah Pony was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.