PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Lagutin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolai Lagutin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Malone
vs
Lagutin

184 cm
28
171 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
171 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nikolai Lagutin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lagutin throws a sloppy head kick and Malone moves out of range easily.

Malone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Malone is in close to Lagutin's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Lagutin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Malone is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Lagutin is looking for a triangle here but Malone uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Lagutin is trying to improve his position.
Lagutin being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagutin is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Malone politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Malone prefers to stall for the moment though.
Lagutin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Lagutin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Malone performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Malone wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lagutin tries a head kick but it misses.

Malone looking to score a takedown here. Lagutin is defending well but Malone drives through and ends up in Lagutin's guard.
Malone passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malone with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lagutin looking for submissions off his back.

Lagutin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Malone pulls his head out easily.
Malone looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lagutin wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Lagutin actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Malone 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.
Malone has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lagutin wants to get back to full guard.
Malone stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Malone wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Malone tries for a takedown but Lagutin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malone takes one on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lagutin connects with a high kick.
Malone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lagutin as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Malone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lagutin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lagutin throws a head kick but Malone moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sam Malone will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lagutin throws a sloppy head kick and Malone moves out of range easily.
Lagutin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Malone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lagutin being controlled for a moment.
Lagutin is trying to get back to half guard.
Malone is working Lagutin over with some ground and pound from side control.
Lagutin is looking to reverse the position.
Malone remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Malone seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lagutin for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagutin tries to buck Malone off but Malone is having none of it.
Lagutin regains half guard.
Malone sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Lagutin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lagutin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Malone wants to free his trapped foot but Lagutin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Malone seems content to control.

Lagutin looking for submissions off his back.
Sam Malone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Malone in particular looking to stall.
Malone looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Malone takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Lagutin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lagutin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Malone scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone trying to control the pace.

Lagutin actively working from the bottom here.
Malone is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Lagutin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Malone pulls his head out easily.
Malone is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Lagutin actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone stalling.

Lagutin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lagutin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malone is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lagutin!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Malone dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Lagutin does it's job there.

Malone closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lagutin quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Malone working the head and body with strikes.
Lagutin has hold of Malone's hands but Malone slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Lagutin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Malone pulls his head out easily.

Lagutin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Malone pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Malone in particular looking to stall.
Malone works his way into side control.
Malone is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lagutin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone tries to advance to mount but can't.
Lagutin tries to buck Malone off but Malone is having none of it.
Lagutin tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Malone presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Malone takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lagutin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lagutin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Malone fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Lagutin tries to reverse the position but Malone maintains control.
Lagutin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Malone sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lagutin?
Lagutin is trying desperately to improve position.
Malone controlling the position easily from mount.
Lagutin working to try and regain half guard.
Nikolai Lagutin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malone content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lagutin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Malone works his way into side control.
Malone remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lagutin gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malone sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sam Malone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Malone prevents Lagutin from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Malone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Malone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Malone!