PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rogerio Ceni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrej Malkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malkovic is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Star Wars - Imperial March. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ceni
vs
Malkovic

188 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rogerio Ceni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Andrej Malkovic!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malkovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ceni.
Ceni shoots for a double leg takedown but Malkovic sprawls well. He's pushed Ceni's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Malkovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Ceni or perhaps it was just good defense by Malkovic which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rogerio Ceni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ceni fails with a takedown attempt.

Malkovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right from Malkovic.
Ceni tries to break free but Malkovic pushes him back against the cage.
Ceni prevents the takedown attempt.
Malkovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ceni just stands there and leans against the cage.

Malkovic wants the takedown. Ceni is fighting it off but Malkovic persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ceni's guard against the cage.
Ceni looking for a sweep. Not yet Ceni, not yet.
Malkovic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkovic wants to control from the top but Ceni keeps moving.
Malkovic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ceni kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Malkovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ceni. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Malkovic decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Malkovic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ceni.
Malkovic slaps away a takedown attempt from Ceni, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkovic tries to clinch but Ceni is having none of it.
Ceni lands with a cross.
Ceni closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malkovic circles away.
Ceni shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malkovic as he jumps to the side.
Ceni is breathing heavily.
Ceni throws a right and a left that Malkovic avoids nicely.

Malkovic drives through and clinches with Ceni against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Malkovic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Malkovic pulls guard effortlessly.
Ceni forces his way into half guard.
Malkovic is trying to stand.
Ceni is looking to advance position but Malkovic won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ceni wants to stand but Malkovic has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Malkovic is not content to let Ceni control the position.
Ceni prevents Malkovic from improving his position.
Ceni stops Malkovic from getting back to his feet.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Malkovic rushes Ceni and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Malkovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ceni looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Malkovic is staying active underneath Ceni, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Malkovic tries to kick Ceni off but Ceni keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ceni is looking to take a break and control but Malkovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Malkovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ceni.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrej Malkovic will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Danga de danga de dang - Malkovic scores with a four punch combination!
Rogerio Ceni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malkovic is looking to clinch but Ceni is avoiding it.
Malkovic works over Ceni's head and body with a nice combination.
Ceni looks for a takedown but Malkovic sprawls well.
Malkovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Malkovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Ceni. Ceni gets slowly back to his feet.
Ceni closes the distance looking to clinch

and Malkovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Malkovic lands a knee to the body.
Malkovic lands a nice elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malkovic misses with a knee to the head.
Ceni's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ceni tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Malkovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rogerio Ceni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malkovic lands with a right to the head.
Malkovic is pressed up against the cage. Ceni has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Malkovic down to the mat. Malkovic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Malkovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malkovic clinches with his opponent.
Ceni jumps guard but Malkovic stands there with Ceni around his waist. Ceni gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Malkovic stalling against the cage.
Malkovic takes a shot to the head.
Malkovic lands an uppercut.
Malkovic avoiding damage.
Ceni tries to break free but Malkovic pushes him back against the cage.
Malkovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Malkovic holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Malkovic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ceni smiles and moves away.
Ceni shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ceni is defended easily by Malkovic.

Malkovic closes the distance and clinches.
Malkovic blocking some punches.
A short right from Malkovic.

Malkovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ceni changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Malkovic tries to avoid it but Ceni manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Malkovic to the ground. Malkovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Malkovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ceni takes a knee right on the jaw!
Malkovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ceni backwards.
Malkovic tries to pull guard but Ceni won't allow it.
Malkovic lands an elbow inside that Ceni shrugs off.
Malkovic missing with knees to the body.
Come on Malkovic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Malkovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ceni is trying to maintain a safe position but Malkovic gets an underhook and turns Ceni into the cage.
Malkovic leaning his opponent against the cage.

Malkovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ceni is looking to clinch.
Malkovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Ceni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ceni tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Malkovic swivels and escapes.
Malkovic wants to clinch up but Ceni keeps it at a distance.
Ceni shoots and misses

and Malkovic moves into the clinch.

Malkovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malkovic lands a high kick!

Malkovic clinches up with Ceni and pushes him back against the cage.
Malkovic scores with a knee to the head.
Malkovic is pressed up against the cage. Ceni has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Malkovic down to the mat. Malkovic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Malkovic looks to land a combination but Ceni avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Ceni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malkovic throws a head kick that misses.
Ceni tries for a takedown but Malkovic circles away easily

and Malkovic counters by clinching up.
Malkovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Malkovic is trying to stall.
Malkovic misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Ceni's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Malkovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Ceni or perhaps it was just good defense by Malkovic which made him look bad.
Malkovic wants to clinch up but Ceni keeps it at a distance.
Ceni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malkovic throws a nice looking combination but Ceni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ceni gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Malkovic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrej Malkovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ceni looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Andrej Malkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ceni shoots in for a takedown but Malkovic shows good takedown defense.
Malkovic fails to land with a series of punches.
Malkovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Ceni sprawls well. He's pushed Malkovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ceni misses with a takedown attempt
and Malkovic counters with a left and a right that stings Ceni.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rogerio Ceni. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Malkovic pushes Ceni up against the cage in a clinch.
Malkovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Malkovic misses with a knee to the head.
Ceni is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ceni can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ceni prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ceni wants to break free but Malkovic has control.
Malkovic gets through Ceni's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Ceni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ceni tries to work over Malkovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice right hand lands inside from Malkovic.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Malkovic jumps into guard, dragging Ceni to the mat.
Malkovic is looking to stand up but Ceni isn't so interested in that idea.
Ceni trying to control the position from guard on top but Malkovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ceni decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Malkovic, up you get!
Malkovic stuffs the takedown.

Malkovic takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ceni tries to pull guard but Malkovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Ceni drops back down to his feet.
Malkovic tries to pull guard but Ceni holds him up against the cage and eventually Malkovic drops back down to his feet.
Ceni tries to score a body lock takedown but Malkovic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Malkovic lands a knee to the head.

Malkovic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Malkovic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Malkovic pushes Ceni off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Malkovic circles away from the clinch attempt

and Malkovic counters by clinching up.
Ceni wants a takedown.
Ceni is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Malkovic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ceni trying to control the position but instead, Malkovic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ceni into the cage.
Malkovic lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ceni backwards.
Ceni fails to pull guard.
Malkovic prevents the takedown attempt.
Malkovic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ceni is trying to break the clinch but Malkovic has him pressed against the cage.
Ceni tries to break free but Malkovic pushes him back against the cage.

Malkovic decides to pull guard.
Malkovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Ceni passes Malkovic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Malkovic is trying to stand.

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.
Malkovic is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Malkovic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ceni.
Nice strikes from Ceni there.
Ceni wants to pass to mount but Malkovic is defending the position.
Ceni is trying to control. Malkovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rogerio Ceni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrej Malkovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ceni thows a huge punch but Malkovic dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrej Malkovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Malkovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrej Malkovic!