PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Malkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying White's choice of entrance music: Red Nose. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Craig White was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Malkovic
vs
White

170 cm
21
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Malkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig White!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White wants to clinch up but Malkovic keeps it at a distance.
White misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crunch! White slams his shin into Malkovic's torso.
Nice sprawl there from White as Malkovic shoots in.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
White slaps away a takedown attempt from Malkovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
John Malkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Malkovic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
White prevents Malkovic from improving position.
White seems a little lost for a moment, as Malkovic dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkovic's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malkovic trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.

John Malkovic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
White tries to clinch but Malkovic moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - White looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
White tries to close the distance and clinch but Malkovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Malkovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malkovic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Malkovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkovic shoots in looking for a takedown. White tries to sprawl out of it but Malkovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. White manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
White cracks the inside of Malkovic's front leg.

Malkovic gets a takedown into half guard.
Malkovic trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.
White looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
White tries to kick Malkovic off but Malkovic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
White blocks a leg kick.
Malkovic misses with a series of wild punches.
White stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and White wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malkovic gets tackled into the cage by White. White maintains the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
White scores a nice knee to the body.
White tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
White with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Malkovic is trying to force a seperation but White has the dominant position.
Malkovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
White tries to land knees in the clinch but Malkovic avoids the damage to the body.
Malkovic tries to break free but White pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Craig White will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

White leaves Malkovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
White misses with a jab, cross combination.
Malkovic misses with the combination.
Malkovic tries for a takedown but White sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malkovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malkovic swats away the attempt to clinch by White.
White displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Malkovic throws out the jab.
Malkovic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts White as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Malkovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malkovic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Malkovic tries to score with a low kick but White moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
White avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
White tries to close the distance and clinch but Malkovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
White is looking to clinch.
White is looking to clinch but Malkovic is avoiding it.

Malkovic gets a takedown into half guard.
White is staying active underneath Malkovic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of John Malkovic.
Malkovic throws a front kick aimed at White's knee but White avoids it well.
White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malkovic.
Craig White is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Malkovic.
White misses with a jab, cross combination.

White gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Malkovic to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Malkovic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White keeping full guard, as Malkovic tries to pass.
Malkovic advances to half guard.
Malkovic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is trying to stand up here but Malkovic is controlling him well.
Malkovic is nestled in close to White, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Malkovic not doing much here.
White wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Malkovic dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Malkovic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. White looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Malkovic tries to advance to mount but can't.
Malkovic cracks White with a big right hand but White just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
John Malkovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A lull in the action here as Malkovic stalls from top position.
Malkovic lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White wants to get back to his feet but Malkovic drags him back down.

Malkovic goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, White rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Malkovic's guard! Nice work there by White!
White must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Malkovic trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Malkovic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. White sprawls well initially but Malkovic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Malkovic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Malkovic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so White is just riding it out for now. Malkovic eventually gives up the hold.
Malkovic trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkovic has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Malkovic tries to control but White wriggling away.
White really wants to buck Malkovic off and get back to his feet.
Malkovic thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Malkovic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Malkovic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Malkovic!
John Malkovic bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.