PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Mallin (ranked 2401 p4p, 3631 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 313 p4p, 426 weight class). Cormier comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Right above it lilWayne kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Mallin
vs
Cormier

188 cm
23
209
6 - 7 - 0

180 cm
23
214
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Dexter Mallin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier tries to clinch up.
Daniel Cormier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mallin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cormier has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Cormier shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mallin defends it nicely.
Cormier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cormier takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mallin takes a swing at Cormier's ribcage but misses.
Cormier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dexter Mallin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Cormier.

Cormier bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cormier working the ground and pound from side control.
Mallin is looking to regain half guard here but Cormier keeps moving and retains side control.
Mallin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cormier on the ground.
Cormier remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Cormier trying to control the position but Mallin is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cormier goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mallin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cormier but great work by Mallin.
Cormier has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mallin with the ground and pound but Cormier regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Mallin wants to take a breather but Cormier is having none of it.
Cormier tries to kick Mallin off but Mallin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cormier wants to improve his position but Mallin is controlling well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cormier can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cormier is controlling Mallin's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mallin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mallin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cormier's head.

Mallin postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cormier to stand up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mallin. Cormier does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mallin works the jab nicely.
Cormier has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Mallin.

Mallin has closed the distance and engaged Cormier in a clinch.
Cormier is trying to drag Mallin to the mat but Mallin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Our sources have told us that Mallin has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Cormier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mallin is defending well.
Mallin scores with a shot to the side of Cormier's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mallin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Daniel Cormier has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to pull guard but Mallin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cormier drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mallin crunches a lovely knee into Cormier's ribcage.
Cormier looks winded!
Mallin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cormier is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cormier takes a shot to the head.
Mallin prevents the takedown attempt.
Mallin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Cormier is rocked!
Mallin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cormier is still on wobbly legs! Can Mallin finish him?
Mallin throws a head punch that misses.
Cormier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cormier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mallin is defending well.
Mallin throws a punch but it's blocked by Cormier.
Mallin has Cormier pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Cormier is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Mallin - that's hurt Cormier badly! Oh, another knee lands and Cormier is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Cormier doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Dexter Mallin!
A relieved looking Dexter Mallin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Daniel Cormier was interviewed post fight and said 'It is what it is'.