PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bob Dole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malik has chosen Soldier Side as his entrance music. Bob Dole has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dole
vs
Malik

185 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bob Dole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdul Malik!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malik lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Malik.
Malik lands a two punch combo.
Malik misses with a double jab.
Malik displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dole shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malik but Malik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malik circles away.
Dole is breathing heavily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malik, as that shot connected.
Horrible takedown by Dole or perhaps it was just good defense by Malik which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Dole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice combination there by Malik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik lands with an uppercut that bounces Dole off the cage and back into rage.
Malik misses with a few strikes there.
Malik tries to clinch but Dole moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Malik.
Malik connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dole. Dole circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Malik connects with a jab.
Malik stuffs the takedown.
Malik throws a series of punches but Dole avoids them all with ease.
Dole shoots in but Malik avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Malik lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik looks to land a combination. Dole sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dole is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Horrible takedown by Dole or perhaps it was just good defense by Malik which made him look bad.
A combination from Malik does no damage.
Malik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dole.
Nice shot by Malik.

Malik gets caught flat footed, as Dole shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Malik is trying to control the position but Dole postures up.
Malik keeping moving, preventing Dole from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dole tries to free his leg and advance position but Malik is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dole wants to control from the top but Malik keeps moving.
Malik strikes from his own guard.
Dole stopping the sweep attempt from Malik.
Dole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Malik stuffs the takedown.
Malik looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malik cracks Dole with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dole showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malik.
Abdul Malik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malik smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Malik misses with a double jab.
Malik works over Dole's head and body with a nice combination.
Malik is working the combinations to good effect here.
Malik fails to land with a series of punches.
Dole dodges the punch combination from Malik.
Dole misses with a takedown attempt - Malik sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Malik dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dole gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Malik counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Malik.
Dole slips a jab and a cross from Malik.
Malik lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Malik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Malik has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dole slips a jab and a cross from Malik.
Malik throws a nice outside leg kick.
Malik's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Malik duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malik tries to clinch there but Dole circles away.
Dole takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
No joy there for Malik, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malik throws a quick inside leg kick.
Malik throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dole's waist but Dole gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malik off to one side.
Dole gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Malik to counter with a crisp jab.
Dole tries for a takedown but Malik circles away easily
and Malik counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Dole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malik scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik tries to clinch but Dole moves out of range.

Malik drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Malik really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dole. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Malik gets to mount! Dole was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Dole keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Malik controlling from the full mount.
Dole is looking to improve his position but Malik isn't that keen on the idea.
Malik controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dole tries to reverse the position but Malik maintains control.
Dole regains half guard.
Malik is trying to control the action in half guard but Dole is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Malik prevents Dole from improving his position.
Dole is working hard here to advance position.
Dole trying to control but Malik postures up.
Malik tries to stand but can't do so whilst Dole controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Malik prevents Dole from improving his position.
Malik wants to get back to his feet.
Dole wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dole avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malik throws a combination. Dole tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Dole has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Dole gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Malik counters with a single leg into guard. Dole didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul 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. This is the final round!

Malik scores with a sloppy right hand. Dole should have avoided that one.
Dole takes one to the chin there.
Malik shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dole decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Malik's guard.
Dole won't allow Malik to sweep him here.
Dole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dole's guard.
Malik wanted to stand there but Dole had control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dole has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Malik can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Dole isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Malik stacks Dole on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Malik!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dole sneaks back into half guard.
Malik wants to stand up but Dole has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Dole makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dole.
Dole has a closed guard, preventing Malik from standing up.
Malik looking to pass the guard.

Dole looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Malik passes into half guard.

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.

Dole looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Malik with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Malik tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Dole.
Dole wants to get back to full guard.
Malik is keen to just control but Dole is a slippery customer.

Malik escapes and gets back to his feet.

Malik closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malik swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dole.
Dole doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Malik counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Malik trying to mount his opponent but Dole defends it.
Dole wants to get back to full guard.
Malik wants to stand up but Dole has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dole is looking to improve his position.
Malik trying to control from half guard but Dole is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dole fails with the takedown
and Malik counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dole shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Dole. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dole drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Dole is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Malik is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Malik has escaped and now he's on top!

Dole throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abdul Malik.
Well Malik 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Malik!