PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Halstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waleed Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malik has chosen Can't Be Touched as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halstone
vs
Malik

193 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

182 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Halstone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waleed Malik!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halstone tries to close the distance and clinch but Malik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Malik clinches up against the cage.

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

Halstone has managed to clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Malik.
Halstone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halstone is looking to slow Malik down with leg kicks.
Halstone shoots in looking for a takedown. Malik tries to sprawl out of it but Halstone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Malik manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Halstone moves into the clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Halstone goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Halstone tries to close the distance and clinch but Malik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Halstone clinches.
Halstone misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Malik.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Halstone creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Malik looking to stall.
Malik wants to break free but Halstone has control.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malik looks to clinch
and Halstone counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halstone avoids the head kick by Malik.

Halstone clinches up with Malik and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malik breaks the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Halstone scores with a four punch combination!
Halstone closes the distance looking to clinch
and Malik counters with a body kick that stops Halstone in his tracks momentarily.
Halstone lands a jab-cross combination.
Halstone feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Malik's calf.
Halstone fails in his attempt to clinch.

Malik darts in and clinches Halstone up against the cage.
Malik can't break the clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik throws a lazy head kick
and Halstone counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Malik slips a jab and a cross from Halstone.
Malik misses with a straight right.
Malik throws a head kick but Halstone moves out of range.
Malik misses with a head kick.
Malik looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Halstone checks the leg kick nicely there.
Halstone fakes the leg kick and cracks Malik in the body.
Malik misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik throws a lazy head kick

and Halstone moves into the clinch.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Malik tries to clinch there but Halstone circles away.
Malik darts in trying to clinch
letting Halstone counter with a right hand.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone is having none of it.
Halstone doesn't manage to clinch there - Malik circles away.
Malik misses with a head kick.
Malik takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Halstone tries a head kick but it misses.
Halstone lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halstone tries to clinch but Malik is having none of it.
Halstone misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side

and Halstone holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halstone scoring well with a low kick there.
Malik on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Halstone. Halstone obviously looking to wear him down.
Malik misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halstone scores with a body shot.
Halstone misses with a jab, cross combination.
Malik tries to clinch there but Halstone circles away.

Halstone takes the fight into the clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Malik closes the distance and clinches.
Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Halstone lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Halstone.
Halstone goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malik is looking to clinch.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halstone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malik tries to clinch up
and Halstone counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Malik is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik swats away the attempt to clinch by Halstone.
Halstone shoots in looking for a takedown. Malik tries to sprawl out of it but Halstone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Malik manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Halstone is breathing heavily.
Malik throws a sloppy head kick

and Halstone holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Halstone tries a knee to the head but Malik blocks it.

Malik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halstone tries to clinch but Malik moves out of range.
Malik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Halstone tries to clinch up but Malik circles away and keeps his distance.
Malik misses with a head kick.
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Waleed Malik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Malik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halstone scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Halstone dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Halstone fails with an attempt to clinch.

Halstone has Malik up against the cage in a clinch.
Malik wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malik lands a nice knee to the body.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halstone is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Malik clinches but Halstone breaks the clinch
and Halstone counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Malik wants to clinch up but Halstone keeps it at a distance.
Malik pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick by Malik misses
and Halstone counters with a slapping leg kick.

Halstone forces Malik back against the cage and clinches.
Malik tries to break the clinch but Halstone is controlling the position.
Malik tries to circle away but Halstone has him pinned against the cage.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik throws a head kick that misses
and Halstone cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side
and Halstone counters with a series of strikes. Malik will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Halstone, right into the meat.
Malik throws a lazy head kick
and Halstone counters with a left and a right that stings Malik.
Malik is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side

and Halstone moves into the clinch.
Halstone misses with a knee strike.
Malik is looking to break free of the clinch but Halstone has double underhooks.
Halstone looking to throw knees to the head but Malik is blocking nicely.
Malik is struggling to control the position.
Malik unloads a knee to the mid-section. Halstone lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Halstone is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch but Halstone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halstone misses with a series of wild punches.

Halstone fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Malik, pushing him back against the cage.
Halstone being controlled against the cage.
Halstone swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Malik breaks the clinch.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone is having none of it.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Halstone's head.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone is having none of it.
Halstone goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Malik looks to land a combination but Halstone avoids it well.
Halstone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Halstone keeps the fight on the outside.
Malik throws a head kick that misses
and Halstone counters with an outside leg kick.
Malik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halstone misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halstone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Malik throws a head kick but Halstone moves out of range.

Halstone takes the fight into the clinch.
Halstone misses with a knee to the head.
Malik unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Malik wants to break free but Halstone has control.

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

Halstone tries to keep at a distance but Malik has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malik defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Halstone.

Malik moves into the clinch successfully.

Malik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Halstone tries to keep at a distance but Malik has taken the fight into the clinch.

Malik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malik tries to clinch up.
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Malik throws a quick inside leg kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Malik in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Malik throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A combination from Halstone does no damage.

Malik has closed the distance and engaged Halstone in a clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Malik misses
and Halstone counters with a series of strikes. Malik will be more careful next time no doubt.
Malik fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone moves away
and Halstone counters with a nice low kick that buckles Malik's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Malik. Beautiful body shot.
Malik throws a head kick that Halstone semi-blocks.
James Halstone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Malik. Halstone shrugs it off though.
Malik tries to clinch up.
Malik thows a body kick. Halstone tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Malik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halstone misses with a leg kick
and Malik counters with a head kick. That will keep Halstone thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Malik fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Halstone, pushing him back against the cage.
Halstone using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Halstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Halstone takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waleed Malik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Malik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malik has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Halstone finds it's way round the side to connect with Malik's head.
Halstone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Malik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malik tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Halstone counters with a two punch combo.
Malik fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malik shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Halstone misses with an attempted mid kick.
Halstone takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Malik gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Halstone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Malik tries to clinch up.

Malik lands a big head kick that sends Halstone tumbling to the mat! Malik takes a step backwards and waves Halstone back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Halstone is rocked!
Halstone blocks a head kick by Malik.
Oh Halstone is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Halstone swats away the attempt to clinch by Malik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halstone seems to have got his legs back now.
No joy there for Halstone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Halstone misses.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone moves out of range.
Malik tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Halstone counters with an outside leg kick.
Malik looks to land a combination but Halstone avoids it well.
Halstone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Malik's waist but Malik gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Halstone off to one side.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side
and Halstone counters with a nice leg kick.
Malik wants to clinch up but Halstone keeps it at a distance.
Waleed Malik seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Malik is looking to clinch but Halstone is avoiding it.
Malik goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone is having none of it.
Halstone is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Malik wants to clinch.
Malik keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malik clinches up with Halstone and pushes him back against the cage.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik throws a head kick that misses.

Malik drives through and clinches with Halstone against the cage.
Halstone throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Malik has had enough of the clinch but Halstone keeps him there for the moment.
Malik holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Malik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik misses with a head kick.
Malik is looking to clinch but Halstone is avoiding it.
Malik tries to clinch up but Halstone circles away and keeps his distance.

Malik moves into the clinch.
Malik dodges an elbow strike from Halstone.
Malik is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Halstone is defending well for now.
Halstone connects with a knee to the head.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Halstone swats away the attempt to clinch by Malik.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malik goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Malik lands a head kick. Halstone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Malik tries to keep at a distance but Halstone has taken the fight into the clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch.

Malik drives through and clinches with Halstone against the cage.
Halstone with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Malik breaks from the clinch.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Halstone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malik keeps the fight on the outside.
Good work by Malik as he checks the leg kick.

Malik forces Halstone back against the cage and clinches.

Malik breaks from the clinch.

Malik rushes Halstone and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Halstone is defending well for now.
Waleed Malik seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Malik breaks from the clinch.
Halstone avoids the head kick by Malik.
Halstone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malik throws a head kick that Halstone semi-blocks.
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Halstone misses with a series of wild punches.
Halstone misses with a jab, cross combination.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side

and Halstone counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Halstone prevents Malik from breaking the clinch.
Malik tries to break free but Halstone pushes him back against the cage.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone is having none of it.
Malik wants to clinch.
Malik throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waleed Malik really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Malik tries to clinch but Halstone is having none of it.
Halstone's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Halstone duly obliges.
Halstone lands a high kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Malik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Malik clinches up against the cage.
Halstone is looking to control Malik's arms but Malik gets an underhook and turns him. Now Halstone has his back to the cage.
Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Malik blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

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

Malik moves into the clinch.
Malik is trying to break the clinch but Halstone is controlling him.
Halstone lands an elbow inside.
Halstone using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Malik blocks an uppercut.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Malik trying to land knees to the body.

Malik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malik thows a body kick. Halstone tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Malik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side
and Halstone counters with a left and a right that stings Malik.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Halstone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Malik closes the distance and clinches.
Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Malik clinches.

Malik breaks from the clinch.
Malik throws a head kick but Halstone moves out of range.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Malik.
Halstone dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Malik. That did some damage!
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Malik tries to clinch up but Halstone circles away and keeps his distance.
Halstone lands with a slapping head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Halstone misses.
Halstone's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Halstone duly obliges.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Halstone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malik checks the leg kick nicely there.
Malik swings for the body but Halstone moves out of range.
Malik throws a head kick but Halstone moves out of range.
Malik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Malik tries to keep at a distance but Halstone has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Malik's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Halstone lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Malik backwards.
Halstone prevents Malik from breaking the clinch.
Halstone comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Malik has had enough of the clinch but Halstone keeps him there for the moment.
Halstone throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Halstone circles away from the clinch attempt

and Halstone counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Halstone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik presses Halstone against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Malik goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Malik throws a head kick that misses.
Halstone moves out of range of the body kick from Malik.
Malik goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Malik tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Halstone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malik misses with a head kick.
Halstone tries to clinch but Malik moves out of range.

Malik forces Halstone back against the cage and clinches.
Malik is trying to force a seperation but Halstone has the dominant position.
Malik avoids the elbow strike from Halstone, against the cage.
Halstone avoiding damage as Malik throws knees to the body.
Malik using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Halstone lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halstone blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Malik is trying to force a seperation but Halstone has the dominant position.
Halstone lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Malik taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Malik can't break the clinch.
Halstone will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Halstone takes the fight into the clinch.
Malik tries to circle away but Halstone has him pinned against the cage.

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

Malik rushes Halstone and presses him up against the cage.

Malik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malik tries to land a front kick but Halstone steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Halstone has taken the fight to the clinch.
Halstone tries a knee to the head but Malik blocks it.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik throws a head kick that misses.
Jab by Halstone.
Malik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waleed Malik dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Malik lands a high kick!
Halstone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Malik counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Halstone connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Malik moves into the clinch successfully.
Malik landing knees to the body.

Malik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik lands a high kick!
Halstone tries to clinch up.
Malik keeps Halstone at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malik throws a left and a right that both miss
and Halstone counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Halstone tries to close the distance and clinch but Malik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Halstone clinches with his opponent.

Malik breaks from the clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Malik throws a head kick but Halstone moves out of range.
Malik closes the distance but Halstone moves to the side
and Halstone counters with a three punch combo that has Malik backing up. Malik nods at Halstone to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halstone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malik tries to clinch up.
Malik tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Halstone counters with a good low kick that Malik was not able to check.
Malik's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Halstone tries to clinch up but Malik circles away and keeps his distance.
Malik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halstone rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Malik moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Malik throws a head kick that misses
and Halstone counters with a stiff right hand.

Halstone forces Malik back against the cage and clinches.
Halstone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malik closes the distance but Halstone moves to the side
letting Halstone counter with a right hand.
Malik defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Halstone.
Malik has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Malik tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Halstone to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Halstone lands a head kick. Malik smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Halstone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Malik scores with a nice body kick.
Malik tries to clinch but Halstone moves out of range.
Halstone blocks a head kick by Malik.

Malik clinches up with Halstone and pushes him back against the cage.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik moves in looking to clinch but Halstone pushes him off.
Malik looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Malik looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Halstone thumps Malik with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halstone tries to clinch up but Malik circles away and keeps his distance.
Malik wants to clinch but Halstone slips to the side

and Halstone counters with a shoot takedown. Malik fights it but they end up in guard.
Halstone prevents Malik from getting back to his feet.
Waleed Malik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halstone is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Halstone wants to stand but Malik is controlling his posture from full guard.
James Halstone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Malik uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malik moves in looking to clinch but Halstone pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waleed Malik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Malik has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Waleed Malik!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Waleed Malik!
Judge Suge Night scores the fight for Waleed Malik!

Waleed Malik wins by unanimous decision!