PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartholomew Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeniy Malkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roach's entrance music is The Simpsons Theme Song. A fine choice. Malkin has chosen The Heavy - How You Like Me Now? as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Roach
vs
Malkin

191 cm
29
212 lbs
20 - 4 - 0

191 cm
28
210 lbs
21 - 8 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Australian Xtreme Elite Supplements 160Q
//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bartholomew Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Evgeniy Malkin!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roach closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Evgeniy Malkin has been cut.

Malkin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Roach's guard.
Malkin wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.

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

Roach has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Malkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Malkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roach swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Malkin is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malkin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Malkin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Roach is looking to improve his position.
Malkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Roach is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Malkin wants to pass the guard but Roach is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Roach trying to control here.
Malkin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Malkin seems to be working for a kimura but Roach defends the submission attempt.

Malkin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkin wants to pass to mount but Roach is defending the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Roach misses the jab.
Malkin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Malkin duly obliges.
Roach throws a solid leg kick but Malkin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Roach.
Malkin takes a swing at Roach's ribcage but misses.
Roach thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Malkin if he has to take too many more of those.
Roach tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Malkin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Malkin blocks a jab.
Malkin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkin tries a head kick but it misses.
Malkin checks the leg kick.
Roach avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Roach throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Roach looks for the body kick but Malkin saw that one coming.
Roach tests Malkin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Malkin throws a leg kick but Roach sees it coming and moves out of range.
Roach uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Malkin.
Malkin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Malkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roach throws a head kick that misses.
Malkin shoots in looking for a takedown. Roach tries to sprawl out of it but Malkin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Roach manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Roach scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Evgeniy Malkin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Evgeniy Malkin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Roach misses with a left hand

and Malkin counters with a single leg into guard. Roach didn't expect that.
Roach has his hands on Malkin's head, controlling the position.
Roach looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malkin trying to control but Roach is working from the bottom.
Roach is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Malkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Malkin is staying active underneath Roach, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Malkin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Malkin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Malkin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Malkin wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
Malkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Malkin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roach has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Malkin has managed to get both his arms back between Roach's legs - danger averted.
Malkin passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Malkin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Roach can't do much from the bottom here.
Roach is looking for a sweep.

Malkin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Roach has escaped the position, nice work there.

Malkin is trying to get an arm triangle but Roach is defending well.

Malkin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach is not content to let Malkin control the position.
Roach tries to improve position but can't.

Malkin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Roach manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkin gets back to full guard.
Roach trying to control but Malkin is working from the bottom.
Roach sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malkin is trying to control the position but Roach postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeniy Malkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Evgeniy Malkin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roach cracks Malkin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Malkin defending well as Roach loads up on a big left hand.
Roach digs a good body shot into Malkin's ribs.
Bartholomew Roach is winning the standup battle so far.
Roach takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Roach shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Roach throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malkin.
That kick from Malkin tenderised Roach's leg. Roach is trying to keep his angry face on.
Malkin throws a wild body kick that Roach sees coming a mile off.
Malkin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Malkin slips under a jab from Roach.
Malkin thows a body kick. Roach tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Roach looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malkin.
Roach lands the left hand.
Roach throws a low kick but it's checked well by Malkin.
Roach fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bartholomew Roach is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Roach. That's going to slow Malkin down.
Malkin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Roach goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Roach is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Roach throws a hook but Malkin blocks it.
Malkin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Roach misses with a leg kick.
Roach looks to land a body kick but Malkin moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Malkin checks it well.
Roach throws a leg kick but Malkin checks it.
Roach looks to land a right hand but Malkin moved out of range.
Malkin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Roach defends well and Malkin ends up having to push Roach into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Roach breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malkin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Roach checks it well.
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!
Roach stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roach wants it to stay on the feet.
Malkin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roach is fending him off so far but Malkin persists. Nope, Roach circles away and we're back to standing.
Bartholomew Roach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeniy Malkin.
Roach tries a head kick but it misses.
Roach misses with a hook.
Malkin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Roach.
Malkin avoids the head kick by Roach.
Malkin slips a jab from Roach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach throws a hook but Malkin avoids it easily.
Malkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roach throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Malkin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Roach.
Malkin shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Malkin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Roach with a hook.
Roach needs to keep his hands up - Malkin had a free shot at his head there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Roach, right into the meat.
Roach takes a swing at Malkin's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roach. Malkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Malkin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roach.
Malkin lands with a cross.
Roach throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Malkin fails with a takedown attempt.
Malkin moves out of range of the body kick.
Roach misses with a straight left.
Roach looks to throw the jab but Malkin is out of range.
Malkin misses with a low kick as Roach jumps back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big right from Roach misses.
Malkin lands with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartholomew Roach clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Evgeniy Malkin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Malkin throws a nice outside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Malkin.
Roach throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Malkin checks a leg kick.
Malkin throws out a loose jab but Roach uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Malkin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Roach has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Roach and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A chopping leg kick lands by Roach.
A lazy body kick from Roach

and Malkin counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Roach looking for a guillotine here but Malkin defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach keeping moving, preventing Malkin from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Roach's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malkin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Roach is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Malkin, into his guard.

Roach trying to control the position from guard on top but Malkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Malkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Roach defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Roach stands and steps away. Malkin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Malkin misses with a kick to the body.
Malkin blocks a jab.
Roach pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Roach staying out of range there.
Roach avoids the head kick by Malkin.

Malkin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Malkin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roach is just riding it out for now. Malkin eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach wants to get back to full guard.
Roach trying to control here.
Roach slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Roach looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Malkin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Roach is looking to control Malkin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roach avoid being mounted?
Roach wants to improve his position but Malkin is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malkin tries to pass to full mount but Roach defends it.
Malkin prevents Roach from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeniy Malkin dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Evgeniy Malkin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Roach scores with a jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Malkin.
Roach misses with a double jab.
Roach misses the shot to the body.
Roach tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malkin lands a body shot.
Malkin tries to work over Roach's front leg with a kick but Roach checks it.
Roach throws out a leg kick but Malkin moves out of range and Roach only half commits.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Malkin avoids the body shot from Roach.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Roach.
Roach misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin throws a leg kick but Roach sees it coming and moves out of range.
Roach motions for Malkin to come forward. Roach throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Roach displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Malkin.
Malkin avoids a kick to the body.
Malkin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Roach misses with a lunging right hand

and Malkin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Roach!

Malkin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Malkin trying to control the position but Roach is working away.
Evgeniy Malkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkin taking a breather here.
Malkin working away.
Bartholomew Roach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malkin taking a breather here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach is trying to improve his position.
Malkin in side control, just content to control the action for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Malkin darts in looking for a takedown but Roach gets double underhooks and turns Malkin into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Roach lands a right hand that snaps the head of Malkin backwards.
Malkin blocks an uppercut.
Roach keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malkin's efforts to push away.
Roach misses with a hook from the clinch.
Malkin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Malkin managing to block the knees to the body from Roach.
Roach misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malkin blocks a body shot from Roach.
Malkin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Roach swings wildly with an uppercut but Malkin uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Evgeniy Malkin.
I think Malkin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 48:48
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47

The fight is ruled a draw!