PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Malham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Irwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malham comes to the cage accompanied by Jesse Kaikuranta - Vie mut kotiin. Irwin has chosen AC/DC - T.N.T as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malham
vs
Irwin

195 cm
27
206 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

190 cm
26
212 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q159

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Malham!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Irwin!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irwin cracks Malham with an open hand slap.
Paul Irwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Irwin throws a leg kick but Malham sees it coming and moves out of range.
Irwin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Malham's hands.
Malham misses with a body shot.
Irwin avoids the body shot from Malham.
Irwin misses with a wild body shot.
Irwin misses with a body kick.
Malham staying out of range there.
Malham checks the leg kick nicely there.
Irwin misses with a body kick.
Malham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Irwin throws a low kick but Malham avoids it.
Irwin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Malham sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Irwin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Malham changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Irwin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The strikes coming from Malham are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Malham looking to control but instead Irwin has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Malham is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malham thows a huge punch but Irwin dodges it nicely.
Malham looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Malham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Malham is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Irwin reverses the position - he's now on top in Malham's guard.

Malham is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Irwin is aware though and is defending well.

Malham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Malham looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Irwin has picked Malham up and slammed him! Malham can't keep hold of the triangle and Irwin manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malham wants to control but Irwin postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malham looks to move to half guard but instead Irwin has passed into mount! Damn!
Malham tries to reverse the position but Irwin maintains control.
Malham is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irwin tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Malham working to try and regain half guard.
Irwin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Malham tries to hold on but Irwin postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malham is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Malham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Malham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Malham connects with a high kick.
Malham shoots in for a takedown but Irwin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Irwin throws a hook to the side of Malham's head but Malham sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Malham displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Irwin throws out the jab.
Irwin throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Malham connects with a single shot there.
Malham scores with the left hand. Irwin knows he should have avoided that one.
Irwin misses with a series of wild punches.
Irwin misses with a left hand
and Malham counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Irwin keeps the fight on the outside.
Irwin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Irwin slips under a jab from Malham.
A telegraphed right hand from Malham misses the target.
Irwin scores with the left hand. Malham knows he should have avoided that one.
A slapping body kick lands there for Malham.
Irwin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malham throws a sloppy head kick and Irwin moves out of range easily.
Malham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malham bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Irwin throws a head kick but Malham moves out of range.
Irwin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Malham with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Irwin to score with a decent uppercut.
Malham misses with a few strikes there.
Malham fails to land the takedown.
Irwin lands with a nice body punch.
Malham takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Malham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Irwin pinned against the cage. Irwin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Malham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Irwin lands a big uppercut and Malham crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Malham looks OK. Irwin waves Malham back to his feet!

Malham is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malham throws a wild hook but Irwin just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Malham gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Irwin raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paul Irwin!
Paul Irwin is the new light heavyweight champion!
Paul Irwin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.