PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Cabrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Malone
vs
Cabrera

182 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Evan Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hector Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cabrera looking to score a takedown here. Malone is defending well but Cabrera drives through and ends up in Malone's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Malone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cabrera is one step ahead there.
Cabrera passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Malone with the active half guard here but Cabrera passes nicely into side control.
Cabrera has control of an arm but Malone manages to advance to Cabrera's back!
Malone has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Cabrera's body.
Malone gets his hands free as Cabrera looks to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone tries to keep control of the position but Cabrera is staying busy.
Cabrera rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cabrera is trying to maintain the position but Malone is very close to passing his half guard.
Malone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Malone with the ground and pound but Cabrera uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Malone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Malone wants to stand but Cabrera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cabrera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabrera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cabrera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cabrera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malone wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.
Cabrera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Malone!
Cabrera wants to stand but Malone is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone tries to reverse the position but Cabrera maintains control.
Cabrera wants to stand but Malone is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Malone is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Cabrera should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Malone really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Malone is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone tries to lock up and control but Cabrera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cabrera prevents Malone from getting the reversal.
Cabrera looking to ground and pound but Malone is blocking nicely.
Malone is squirming around, avoiding Cabrera's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malone tries to lock up and control but Cabrera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Cabrera dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Malone gets a double leg takedown into Cabrera's guard.
Malone advances to half guard.
Malone perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cabrera gets full guard.
Cabrera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malone.
Malone postures up.

Malone gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Evan Malone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cabrera closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Malone is trying to stand up here but Cabrera is controlling him well.
Malone is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Cabrera seems to be working for a kimura but Malone defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera trying to control from half guard but Malone is working away.
Cabrera is breathing heavily.
Malone is looking to improve his position.
Cabrera is controlling the pace.

Malone kicks off Cabrera and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone throws a sloppy head kick and Cabrera moves out of range easily.
Malone shoots for a double leg takedown but Cabrera sprawls well. He's pushed Malone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Malone changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cabrera tries to avoid it but Malone manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cabrera to the ground. Cabrera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cabrera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Malone manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Malone is looking to land body kicks.
Cabrera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Malone's waist but Malone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cabrera off to one side.
Cabrera ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Malone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Malone wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from Malone.
Malone rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cabrera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Cabrera has eaten all the pies!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Malone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cabrera shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cabrera was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Malone throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Cabrera wants to stand but Malone has his arm trapped.
Malone gets back to half guard.
Malone gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone keeping moving, preventing Cabrera from controlling successfully.

Malone escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cabrera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cabrera won't allow Malone to sweep him here.
Cabrera stands and throws Malone's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hector Cabrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malone is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Evan Malone will probably get the nod.
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!

The fight stays on the outside here - Malone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Malone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cabrera's waist but Cabrera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malone off to one side.

Malone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cabrera's guard.
Cabrera looking for a sweep. Not yet Cabrera, not yet.
Malone controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cabrera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malone is one step ahead there.
Malone forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera moves into full guard.
Cabrera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cabrera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Malone is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Malone is looking to work some ground and pound but Cabrera has wrist control.
Malone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cabrera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Evan Malone just wasn't active enough.
Cabrera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malone as he jumps to the side.

Malone closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cabrera did well to prevent Malone getting side control.
Malone is controlling the pace.
Malone tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cabrera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera is looking for a sweep. Malone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malone is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Malone is trying to control. Cabrera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera pushes Malone off looking to stand but Malone dives back in and keeps control.
Cabrera won't allow Malone to pass to mount.

Evan Malone has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cabrera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Malone tries to close the distance and clinch but Cabrera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malone is looking to land body kicks.

Malone shoots in and bounces Cabrera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cabrera wants to stand but Malone is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Malone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Malone has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Evan Malone!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Evan Malone!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Evan Malone!

Evan Malone wins by unanimous decision!