PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Maleady (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hathaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Hathaway told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Maleady
vs
Hathaway

173 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Maleady!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Hathaway!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hathaway drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maleady wants to stand but Hathaway is controlling the position.
Maleady controls Hathaway momentarily but Hathaway frees himself.

Maleady throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hathaway avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hathaway got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maleady has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hathaway has managed to get both his arms back between Maleady's legs - danger averted.
Maleady keeping full guard, as Hathaway tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hathaway trying to control the position from guard on top but Maleady is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maleady wants to stand but Hathaway is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hathaway accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maleady is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hathaway thows a big elbow that misses.

Hathaway drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hathaway jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hathaway really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maleady. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hathaway wants to pass the guard but Maleady is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hathaway shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hathaway keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Maleady throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hathaway is thwarting Maleady's attempts to control the position.

Hathaway is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maleady has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maleady tries to get to full guard but Hathaway has control of the leg.
Maleady is trying to maintain the position but Hathaway is very close to passing his half guard.
Hathaway wants to pass to mount but Maleady is defending the position.
Hathaway content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hathaway looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maleady!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maleady flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Maleady wants to hold on but Hathaway pushes him away.
Hathaway looking to ground and pound but Maleady is blocking nicely.
Hathaway tries to control but Maleady wriggling away.
Hathaway thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maleady tries to improve his position but instead Hathaway has taken his back!

Maleady is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hathaway gets his way!
Hathaway has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Maleady's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maleady rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Maleady avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hathaway.

Hathaway is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maleady defends it well.

Hathaway seems to be working for a kimura but Maleady defends the submission attempt.
Hathaway looks gassed!

Maleady actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maleady wants to control but Hathaway is keeping busy.
Hathaway misses with a head shot. Maleady uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hathaway dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maleady gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hathaway counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hathaway.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maleady is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hathaway is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maleady is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hathaway is aware though and is defending well.
Maleady looking for a sweep. Not yet Maleady, not yet.
Hathaway not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Maleady looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hathaway drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hathaway jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hathaway trying to control but Maleady is working from the bottom.
Maleady is trying to keep Hathaway in close.

Hathaway thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hathaway controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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.
Hathaway is working to get back to half guard.
Maleady misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hathaway is squirming around, avoiding Maleady's attempts to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hathaway can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maleady unloads with some shots from mount but Hathaway bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maleady punching from mount but Hathaway doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hathaway is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Maleady looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Maleady jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hathaway is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hathaway and Maleady has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Maleady stands up.

Hathaway darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hathaway is looking for a kimura but Maleady is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hathaway to get the leverage.

Hathaway is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maleady defends it well.

Hathaway is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Maleady looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hathaway showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maleady has his takedown stuffed

and Hathaway counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hathaway.
Maleady pulls Hathaway in to control the position.
Maleady utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hathaway forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maleady manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hathaway wants to pass the guard but Maleady is keeping the position.
Matt Hathaway has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hathaway trying to control but Maleady is working from the bottom.
Hathaway tries to free his leg and advance position but Maleady is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maleady working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hathaway doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hathaway manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maleady controls Hathaway momentarily but Hathaway frees himself.
Hathaway trying to control but Maleady is working from the bottom.
Hathaway pushes down on Maleady's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hathaway tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maleady knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hathaway takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maleady has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hathaway is working away from the top position though.
Hathaway is looking to take a break and control but Maleady is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Hathaway missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maleady misses with a takedown

and Hathaway counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maleady!
Maleady tries to hold on but Hathaway pushes him away.
Maleady prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Hathaway landing shots from mount.
Maleady blocking the ground and pound.
Hathaway punching from mount but Maleady doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hathaway can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maleady is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hathaway with a couple of short strikes.
Maleady prevents Hathaway from taking his back.

Hathaway swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Maleady is now in Hathaway's guard. A big mistake from Hathaway there, giving up the dominant position!
Maleady trying to control but Hathaway is working from the bottom.
Maleady wants to pass the guard but Hathaway is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maleady throwing strikes from guard but Hathaway blocks nicely.
Maleady trying to control but Hathaway is working from the bottom.
Maleady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Maleady stands up from Hathaway's guard - Maleady perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Maleady misses with a takedown attempt

and Hathaway counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maleady's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Maleady. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maleady is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maleady looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hathaway really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hathaway shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hathaway fails to take his opponent's back.
Maleady is just holding on here. Hathaway manages to take his back.
Maleady rolls, trying to escape but Hathaway keeps control of the position.
Maleady is trying to get back to his feet but Hathaway has full control of the position and if anything, Maleady has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Maleady trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Hathaway is looking for the choke from the back position but Maleady is controlling his hands well.
Hathaway is trying to stick to Maleady's back but Maleady is turning into Hathaway. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hathaway's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Maleady.
Hathaway looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maleady stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hathaway swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maleady works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hathaway is looking for a sweep. Maleady is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maleady works his foot free and advances to mount.
Maleady tries to control but Hathaway wriggling away.

Maleady swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hathaway is now in Maleady's guard. A big mistake from Maleady there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hathaway drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hathaway jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hathaway pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maleady is keeping the position for now.
Maleady is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Maleady looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Hathaway thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Maleady escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hathaway gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hathaway drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hathaway jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Maleady escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hathaway gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Maleady working for a triangle but Hathaway defends it easily.
Maleady keeping moving, preventing Hathaway from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Maleady is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hathaway wants to control from the top but Maleady keeps moving.

Maleady has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Hathaway should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Maleady has tightened it up now! Hathaway should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ryan Maleady!
Ryan Maleady is the new welterweight champion!