PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniele Bolelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moses Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bolelli
vs
Malone

175 cm
20
167 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniele Bolelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Moses Malone!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malone darts in and clinches Bolelli up against the cage.

Malone jumps guard.

Bolelli has his foot on Malone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Malone works his way back into a safe position though.
Malone passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Malone is trying to get an arm triangle but Bolelli is defending well.

Malone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bolelli is trying to get back to half guard.
Bolelli is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Diamond In The Rough Training Facility, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolelli is letting Malone control him for a moment.
Malone wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bolelli keeps working.
Bolelli is looking to regain half guard here but Malone keeps moving and retains side control.
Malone trying to control the action but Bolelli is working from the bottom.
Bolelli tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Malone wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Malone wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bolelli keeps working.
Bolelli seems a little lost for a moment, as Malone dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolelli tries to buck Malone off but Malone is having none of it.
Bolelli seems a little lost for a moment, as Malone dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Moses Malone has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Malone gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bolelli pulls guard effortlessly.
Malone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bolelli swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malone wants to control from the top but Bolelli keeps moving.

Bolelli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Malone is aware though and is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bolelli 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolelli 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.
Bolelli keeping full guard, as Malone tries to pass.
Malone is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Malone drops back looking for a leg! Bolelli is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bolelli manages to kick Malone off! Malone jumps back into Bolelli's guard.
Bolelli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malone.
Bolelli tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malone slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolelli tries to improve position but can't.
Bolelli sneaks back into half guard.

Bolelli looking for submissions off his back.
Bolelli wants to get back to full guard but Malone has mounted him!
Bolelli tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Malone controlling from the full mount.

Malone has control of Bolelli's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bolelli regains control of the situation pretty easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malone wants to take Bolelli's back here but Bolelli is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Malone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Malone digs a good body shot into Bolelli's ribs.
Malone tries to bum rush Bolelli with a series of wild strikes but Bolelli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Bolelli scores with a takedown into Malone's guard.
Bolelli looking to pass the guard.
Bolelli slips nicely into half guard.

Bolelli is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Malone has managed to free his arm - good work.
Malone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bolelli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Malone is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolelli is working for a submission of some sort.

Malone pushes Bolelli off and gets back to his feet.
Malone with a jab.
Malone just misses with a punch to the body.
Bolelli showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malone.
Moses Malone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Malone moves into the clinch.

Bolelli turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bolelli manages to end up in side control.
Daniele Bolelli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone tries to buck Bolelli off but Bolelli is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Malone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Malone manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Malone keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bolelli is working for a submission of some sort.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolelli seems to be looking for submissions.
Malone is controlling Bolelli's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Bolelli seems to be looking for submissions.
Malone controlling the position for now.

Bolelli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Malone defends it well.
Malone is controlling Bolelli's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bolelli looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Malone slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bolelli is fighting to break Malone's control of his arms but Malone is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bolelli won't allow Malone to sweep him here.
Malone keeping full guard, as Bolelli tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Moses Malone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Bolelli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Malone cracks Bolelli with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Malone enables Bolelli to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Malone manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Bolelli postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Malone is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bolelli, into his guard.
Malone slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Malone advances position into side control!
Bolelli regains half guard there - taking advantage of Malone's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Bolelli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone works his way into full mount!

Malone moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bolelli has worked his arm free - good work by Bolelli!
Malone is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bolelli's shoulder. That is not cool.
Bolelli is trying to get back to half guard.
Bolelli is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone advances to full mount.
Malone scoring with strikes but Bolelli is staying in there.
Bolelli is trying to escape the mount.
Bolelli is trying to escape the mount but Malone keeps good control and instead manages to take Bolelli's back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malone controlling well, preventing Bolelli from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bolelli manages to reverse the position and now he's in Malone's guard. Nice work there by Bolelli.
Malone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bolelli is one step ahead there.
Malone is pulling down on Bolelli's head. It's preventing any offense from Bolelli, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moses Malone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Moses Malone has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Malone misses with the combination.

Bolelli shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Malone manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone managing to control the position.
Bolelli works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bolelli stops Malone from getting back to his feet.
Daniele Bolelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bolelli missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bolelli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malone gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malone is pulling down on Bolelli's head to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Moses Malone.
Well Malone has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

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