PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waleed Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Oliphant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Malik
vs
Oliphant

182 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

188 cm
20
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Waleed Malik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Junior Oliphant!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malik shoots in but no luck this time.
Malik shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Oliphant defends it nicely.
Oliphant fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oliphant misses with a double jab.

Malik forces Oliphant back against the cage and clinches.
Oliphant tries to pull guard but Malik won't allow it.
Malik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Malik lands a knee to the head.
Malik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Junior Oliphant has been cut.
Malik with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Malik tries to land knees in the clinch but Oliphant avoids the damage to the body.
Malik has Oliphant pressed against the cage, preventing Oliphant from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Malik with a knee to the head.
Malik tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Malik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Oliphant blocks it with crossed arms.
Malik landing knees to the head.
Malik fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Waleed Malik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malik is breathing heavily.
Oliphant blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Malik misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Oliphant.
Malik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Malik connects with a knee to the head.
Oliphant looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliphant looking to stall.
Oliphant is trying to force a seperation but Malik has the dominant position.
Malik tries to land a knee to the head but Oliphant blocks with his arms.
Malik keeps control of Oliphant as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Oliphant has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Oliphant has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Malik is trying to keep an underhook but Oliphant manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Oliphant takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Oliphant has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Oliphant thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malik's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliphant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Oliphant frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Malik in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliphant is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Malik can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oliphant has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Malik's face.
Oliphant landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oliphant tries to control but Malik wriggling away.
Oliphant with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliphant trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Oliphant lands a heavy elbow.
Oliphant with shots to the head and body - Malik looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Oliphant.
Oliphant looking to control but Malik is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
BOOM! Oliphant connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Oliphant lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Malik hang on?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice elbow there by Oliphant.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Oliphant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Oliphant's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oliphant swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Oliphant looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Oliphant misses with a few strikes there.
Waleed Malik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oliphant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Oliphant shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Well, if Oliphant is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Oliphant is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik is refusing to be controlled, as Oliphant sits in half guard.
Oliphant drops an elbow to the side of Malik's head.
Oliphant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Oliphant gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Malik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Malik lands a knee to the head.
Oliphant tries to circle away but Malik has him pinned against the cage.
Oliphant stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Oliphant is looking to control Malik's arms but Malik gets an underhook and turns him. Now Oliphant has his back to the cage.
Still in the clinch, Oliphant scores with a nice short uppercut.
Malik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Oliphant blocks it with crossed arms.
Oliphant has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Oliphant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malik tries a knee to the head but Oliphant blocks it.
Oliphant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Oliphant breaks from the clinch.
Oliphant throws the kick towards the body but Malik avoids it.
Oliphant throws a push kick but Malik slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Oliphant both land. Nice combination.
Oliphant wants to clinch up but Malik keeps it at a distance.
Malik walks into a stiff left hand from Oliphant.

Oliphant looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Oliphant is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Malik regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Oliphant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliphant wants to pass the guard but Malik is keeping the position.
Malik keeping moving, preventing Oliphant from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oliphant makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Oliphant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Junior Oliphant's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Malik tries to clinch up but Oliphant circles away and keeps his distance.
Malik gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Oliphant counters with a left to the body.
Oliphant looks to land a combination. Malik sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Oliphant clinches with his opponent.
Oliphant looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Oliphant can't get the takedown.
Malik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Malik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Oliphant has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Oliphant is trying to break the clinch but Malik has him pressed against the cage.
Oliphant wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Malik has him pressed against the cage.

Oliphant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A right-left combo lands from Oliphant.
Oliphant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Malik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malik has a takedown stuffed.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Oliphant!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Oliphant!
Oliphant throws a combination. Malik tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Oliphant scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliphant thows a huge punch but Malik dodges it nicely.
Malik is looking for a sweep. Oliphant is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Oliphant is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Oliphant keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Waleed Malik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Nice strikes from Oliphant there.
Oliphant prevents Malik from improving his position.
Malik is not content to let Oliphant control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliphant sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malik defending well though.
Malik taking some punishment here, with Oliphant in his half guard.
Oliphant lands strikes from half guard.

Oliphant decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Junior Oliphant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Malik wants to clinch up but Oliphant keeps it at a distance.
Malik has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Oliphant lands a jab-cross combination.
Oliphant connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Malik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malik feints and then cracks Oliphant's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Oliphant down.
Oliphant swinging wildly here.
Oliphant throws a series of punches but Malik moves out of range.
Oliphant cracks Malik with a right hand to the side of the head.
Oliphant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Oliphant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Malik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Oliphant instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Oliphant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oliphant winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junior Oliphant!