PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Krungthep Yodchatri (ranked 4707 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasheed Al Malik (ranked 25193 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasheed Al Malik has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yodchatri
vs
Al Malik

177 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Krungthep Yodchatri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rasheed Al Malik!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yodchatri throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Al Malik's waist but Al Malik gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yodchatri off to one side.
Yodchatri moves to clinch but Al Malik breaks away
and Al Malik counters with a three punch combo that has Yodchatri backing up. Yodchatri nods at Al Malik to acknowledge the strikes.
Yodchatri has a takedown stuffed.
Al Malik throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Al Malik keeps the fight on the outside.
Al Malik is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Al Malik is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yodchatri sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Al Malik tries to get set, Yodchatri tries to push him back and clinch up but Al Malik manages to avoid the attempt.

Al Malik moves into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Al Malik.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yodchatri tries to pull guard but Al Malik won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krungthep Yodchatri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Malik can't find room to land a body shot as Yodchatri controls the action.
Al Malik drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yodchatri pulls his leg out and moves away.
Al Malik shoots in but no luck this time.
Yodchatri shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Malik tries to sprawl out of it but Yodchatri keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Malik manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Malik with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yodchatri counters with a flying knee. Nice.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yodchatri.
Yodchatri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Malik but Al Malik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Al Malik tries to counter by closing the distance.
Al Malik looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yodchatri is fending him off so far but Al Malik persists. Nope, Yodchatri circles away and we're back to standing.
Yodchatri misses with a double jab.
Yodchatri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yodchatri wants it to stay on the feet.
Al Malik shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yodchatri defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Malik tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yodchatri defends well and Al Malik ends up having to push Yodchatri into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Al Malik tries to bum rush Yodchatri with a series of wild strikes but Yodchatri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yodchatri fails to land the takedown.
Al Malik leaves Yodchatri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Al Malik misses with the body kick
and Yodchatri counters with a big head kick but Al Malik shrugs it off.
Al Malik fails to land the takedown.
Yodchatri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Al Malik instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Malik leaning against his opponent.
Yodchatri manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Al Malik wants to get back to striking at distance but Yodchatri won't allow it.

Yodchatri breaks from the clinch.
Al Malik doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yodchatri counters with a head kick.

Yodchatri pushes Al Malik up against the cage in a clinch.
Al Malik has had enough of the clinch but Yodchatri keeps him there for the moment.
Al Malik is looking for a takedown.
Yodchatri jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Al Malik walks away with a smile on his face. Yodchatri gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Malik has a takedown stuffed.
Al Malik tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yodchatri sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Al Malik somewhat.
Yodchatri changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A low kick from Al Malik misses

and Yodchatri counters by clinching up.
Al Malik prevents a body shot from Yodchatri.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yodchatri.
Yodchatri stalling.
Yodchatri tries to pull guard but Al Malik holds him up against the cage and eventually Yodchatri drops back down to his feet.

Al Malik jumps guard and drags Yodchatri to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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 Krungthep Yodchatri 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.

Nice sprawl there from Yodchatri as Al Malik shoots in.
Yodchatri quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Yodchatri goes for a double leg but Al Malik avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al Malik continues to drive forward.
And Al Malik responds with a good body kick, but Yodchatri manages to step out the way in time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yodchatri looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And Al Malik tries to counter it with a takedown but Yodchatri pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Al Malik ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Yodchatri leaves Al Malik with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Krungthep Yodchatri is winning the standup battle so far.
Al Malik shoots in for a double leg but Yodchatri sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Krungthep Yodchatri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasheed Al Malik.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yodchatri lands a lovely overhand right.
Al Malik throws the kick towards the body but Yodchatri avoids it.

Al Malik instigates a clinch.

Yodchatri breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Al Malik or perhaps it was just good defense by Yodchatri, which made it look bad.
Yodchatri misses with a double jab.
Al Malik displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yodchatri.
Al Malik drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yodchatri defends it well.

Yodchatri gets a clinch.
Al Malik drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yodchatri gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yodchatri slowing the pace effectively.

Al Malik manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yodchatri is looking to stand up but Al Malik won't let him.
Yodchatri has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Al Malik has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Yodchatri is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Yodchatri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Al Malik smiles and moves away.
Al Malik displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yodchatri.

Al Malik gets tackled into the cage by Yodchatri. Yodchatri maintains the clinch.

Yodchatri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yodchatri shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Al Malik pinned against the cage. Al Malik gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Al Malik thinks about the counter body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Al Malik dives in and grabs Yodchatri's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yodchatri pushes down on Al Malik's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Malik misses with a low kick.
Al Malik shoots in but Yodchatri avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yodchatri is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Al Malik.

Al Malik moves into the clinch.
Yodchatri tries to stall but Al Malik uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Al Malik tries to pull guard but Yodchatri forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Yodchatri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yodchatri tries to clinch up but Al Malik circles away and keeps his distance.
Yodchatri closes the distance and clinches up with Al Malik, looking for a takedown. Yodchatri pushes Al Malik against the cage but Al Malik circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Al Malik instigates a clinch.
Yodchatri wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Malik tries to score a body lock takedown but Yodchatri shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Al Malik pulls guard.
Al Malik wants to stand but Yodchatri is controlling the position.
Al Malik managing to control the position.
Yodchatri would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Malik will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasheed Al Malik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yodchatri misses the shot to the body.
Al Malik wants to slow Yodchatri down by chopping away at his legs.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yodchatri or perhaps it was just good defense by Al Malik, which made it look bad.

Al Malik clinches up with Yodchatri and pushes him back against the cage.
Al Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Yodchatri gets control of Al Malik's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yodchatri will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Al Malik trying to control but Yodchatri is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Malik might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Yodchatri haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Yodchatri wants to sweep here but Al Malik controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yodchatri working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Al Malik has passed into half guard!
Yodchatri has his hands clasped together around Al Malik's back. He's all about the action.
Yodchatri tries to roll over but Al Malik keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Al Malik keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Al Malik 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.
Al Malik is trying to control the action in half guard but Yodchatri is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Yodchatri wants to improve his position but Al Malik is controlling well.
Al Malik is trying to control the action in half guard but Yodchatri is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yodchatri is defended easily by Al Malik.
Al Malik shoots in for a takedown but Yodchatri shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Al Malik gets tackled into the cage by Yodchatri. Yodchatri maintains the clinch.
Yodchatri tries to land knees in the clinch but Al Malik avoids the damage to the body.

Yodchatri's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al Malik misses with a head kick.
Yodchatri swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Malik clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Yodchatri successfully pulls guard.
Al Malik not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yodchatri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Al Malik is one step ahead there.
Al Malik is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Yodchatri knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Al Malik on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yodchatri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Krungthep Yodchatri.
I think Yodchatri 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krungthep Yodchatri!