PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jorginho Marcelo (ranked 2113 p4p, 2040 weight class) and Malik Ali (ranked 257 p4p, 254 weight class). Malik Ali told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Marcelo
vs
Ali

175 cm
31
162
19 - 19 - 0

176 cm
35
163
9 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

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 19 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorginho Marcelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malik Ali !
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali lands a nice looking body shot.
Marcelo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Marcelo avoids the head kick by Ali .
Ali misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Marcelo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Marcelo seems to be working for a kimura but Ali defends the submission attempt.

Marcelo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Marcelo wants to pass to mount but Ali is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcelo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marcelo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Marcelo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ali sees it coming and defends easily.
Marcelo content to control rather than advance.

Marcelo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ali sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Marcelo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Marcelo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ali is just riding it out for now. Marcelo eventually gives up the hold.
Marcelo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ali is staying active underneath Marcelo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcelo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Marcelo blocks a head kick by Ali .
Ali needs to keep his hands up - Marcelo had a free shot at his head there.

Ali drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marcelo controlling the position.
Ali is looking to stand up but Marcelo won't let him.
Ali tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcelo is retaining full guard.
Marcelo is trying to keep Ali in close.
Marcelo has a closed guard, preventing Ali from standing up.

Marcelo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ali is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali sitting in guard here, content to control.
Marcelo controlling Ali 's posture.
Ali has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Marcelo is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ali throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Jorginho Marcelo has been cut.

Marcelo closes the distance and clinches.
Marcelo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcelo misses with the head strike.
Marcelo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
Marcelo digs a right hand into Ali 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ali 's gas tank.
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 Jorginho Marcelo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jorginho Marcelo's cut.
That's time! Marcelo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ali misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marcelo wants to clinch up but Ali keeps it at a distance.
Ali misses with a head kick.
Marcelo goes for a double leg but Ali avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ali continues to drive forward.

Ali shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marcelo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Marcelo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Marcelo is trying to keep Ali in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo is adopting a defensive guard.
Ali is stalling in the full guard.
Ali tries to stand but Marcelo is controlling from the bottom.
Marcelo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ali seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marcelo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Marcelo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ali tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Marcelo is in Ali 's guard.
Ali wants to stand up but Marcelo is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Marcelo from controlling successfully.
Marcelo stands and throws Ali 's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Marcelo trying to control the action but Ali is working from the bottom.

Marcelo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ali is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Marcelo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ali rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Marcelo's guard! Nice work there by Ali !

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo trying to keep a closed guard but Ali is proving a slippery customer.
Ali must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ali stopping the sweep attempt from Marcelo.
Marcelo has control of Ali 's left arm, preventing Ali from doing any damage.
Marcelo wants to sweep but no luck.
Marcelo is controlling Ali 's posture.
Ali stopping the sweep attempt from Marcelo.
Ali wants to stand but Marcelo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ali trying to control but Marcelo is working from the bottom.
Ali controls from within his opponent's guard.
Malik Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ali in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marcelo pulls Ali in close to his closed guard and prevents Ali from doing any damage or advancing position.
Marcelo 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marcelo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ali misses with a body shot.
Marcelo tries to counter by clinching up but Ali breaks away and moves out of range.
Marcelo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ali momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marcelo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ali manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ali forces Marcelo back against the cage and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ali .

Ali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jorginho Marcelo's cut.
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!

Ali lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Marcelo backs up against the cage.
Ali throws a poor cross that misses

and Marcelo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Marcelo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marcelo.

Marcelo jumps guard and drags Ali to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ali looking to sit in guard and control but Marcelo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Marcelo wants to control from the top but Ali keeps moving.
Ali wants to stand up but Marcelo is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marcelo trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Marcelo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ali swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marcelo is working hard here to advance position.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Marcelo from controlling successfully.
Marcelo looking to pass the guard.
Ali is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Marcelo from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcelo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Marcelo avoids the head kick by Ali .
Nice defenses there by Marcelo.
Marcelo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ali misses with a head kick.
Marcelo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ali avoids it really well and circles away.
Malik Ali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marcelo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorginho Marcelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot lands for Ali .
Marcelo lands a jab.

Ali shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marcelo is trying to defend but Ali finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ali perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Marcelo trying to control from the bottom.
Marcelo tries to roll over but Ali keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali trying to control the action but Marcelo is working from the bottom.
Marcelo tries to get to full guard but Ali has control of the leg.
Marcelo manages to get to full guard.
Marcelo has control of Ali 's left arm, preventing Ali from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcelo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ali wanted to stand there but Marcelo had control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Malik Ali .
I think Ali 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malik Ali !
A victorious Malik Ali thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.