PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert ORourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dammahom Malsi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ORourke comes to the cage accompanied by Finnegan's Wake. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

ORourke
vs
Malsi

200 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, Robert ORourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dammahom Malsi!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malsi stuffs the takedown attempt from ORourke. ORourke gets slowly back to his feet.
ORourke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malsi but Malsi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
ORourke could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

ORourke feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
ORourke controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Malsi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
ORourke trying to control but Malsi is working from the bottom.
Malsi is trying to control the position but ORourke postures up.
ORourke throws a big right hand that misses.
ORourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Malsi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malsi looking to hit a scissor sweep but ORourke is one step ahead there.
ORourke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
ORourke shoots in for a takedown but Malsi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert ORourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ORourke tries for a takedown but Malsi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malsi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Malsi shoots in but ORourke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
ORourke shoots in for a double leg but Malsi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
ORourke is breathing heavily.
ORourke fails in his attempt to clinch.
ORourke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Malsi tries to clinch up.
ORourke shoots in but Malsi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Malsi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Malsi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? ORourke is fending him off so far but Malsi persists. Nope, ORourke circles away and we're back to standing.
Malsi stuffs the takedown.
ORourke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Malsi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
ORourke stuffs the takedown attempt from Malsi. Malsi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ORourke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Robert ORourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malsi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
ORourke shoots for a double leg takedown but Malsi sprawls well. He's pushed ORourke's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
ORourke shoots and misses
and Malsi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
ORourke shoots in looking for a takedown. Malsi tries to sprawl out of it but ORourke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Malsi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab by ORourke.
Malsi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts ORourke as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Malsi. No joy for ORourke on that attempt.
ORourke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malsi circles away.
ORourke tests Malsi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Malsi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

ORourke gets the takedown into side control.
Malsi parries the strikes from ORourke easily there. ORourke is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Malsi to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ORourke sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Malsi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
ORourke fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Malsi is trying to get back to half guard.
Malsi pushes ORourke away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, ORourke gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
ORourke wants to control but Malsi is keeping him busy.
ORourke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
ORourke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malsi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Malsi throws a right and a left that both miss.
ORourke tries for a takedown but Malsi circles away easily
and Malsi counters with a nice uppercut.
ORourke connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Malsi momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ORourke swings away with a body shot that misses

and Malsi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
ORourke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!

ORourke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Malsi trying to control the position from guard on top but ORourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malsi trying to stand up but can't free himself from ORourke's guard.
ORourke thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
ORourke tries to strike from the bottom.

ORourke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

ORourke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malsi wants to control from the top but ORourke keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dammahom Malsi 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.

Malsi closes this distance looking for a takedown but ORourke circles away.
Malsi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. ORourke tries to avoid it but Malsi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag ORourke to the ground. ORourke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Malsi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

ORourke shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ORourke wants to take a breather but Malsi is having none of it.
ORourke with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
ORourke slips a nice elbow through Malsi's hands, connecting with Malsi's forehead.
ORourke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Malsi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with ORourke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Malsi trying to control here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with ORourke in particular looking to stall.
Malsi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Malsi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malsi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Malsi wants to control but ORourke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
ORourke not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Malsi has one foot on ORourke's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malsi.
Robert ORourke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dammahom Malsi.
ORourke blocks a head kick by Malsi.
Malsi fails with a takedown attempt.
ORourke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malsi but Malsi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malsi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. ORourke tries to avoid it but Malsi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag ORourke to the ground. ORourke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
ORourke gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Malsi counters with a two punch combo.
ORourke throws a combination. Malsi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
ORourke tries to bum rush Malsi with a series of wild strikes but Malsi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

ORourke feints and as Malsi raises his hands in defense, ORourke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
ORourke stops Malsi from standing up.
ORourke cracks Malsi with a solid left hand.
Malsi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in ORourke's guard.
ORourke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Malsi trying to control the position from guard on top but ORourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ORourke striking from his own guard.
ORourke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
ORourke lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Malsi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malsi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
ORourke sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
ORourke throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Malsi is trying to escape the mount.
ORourke throws some wild stikes that Malsi manages to avoid easily.
ORourke throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Malsi regains half guard.
It looks like ORourke is going to stand back up.
ORourke uses his free foot to push down on Malsi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Malsi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BOOM! ORourke connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ORourke can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Malsi is looking to escape.
ORourke landing strikes from the mount and Malsi is in trouble!
Malsi wants to control but ORourke is having none of it.
Malsi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
ORourke landing strikes from the mount.
ORourke throws some wild stikes that Malsi manages to avoid easily.
ORourke tries to control but Malsi wriggling away.
ORourke prevents Malsi from getting the reversal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malsi tries to hold on but ORourke postures up.
ORourke working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert ORourke dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

ORourke shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malsi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malsi moves in looking to clinch but ORourke pushes him off.
Robert ORourke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

ORourke changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Malsi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
ORourke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malsi keeps working.
Malsi prevents ORourke from moving into mount.
Malsi struggling a bit here.

ORourke stands up.
Malsi throws a lazy body kick

and ORourke counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Malsi!
ORourke with good strikes from the mount here!
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!
ORourke scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Malsi?

Malsi is rocked!

It looks like Dammahom Malsi has been cut.
ORourke tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Malsi is still in real trouble! Can ORourke finish him?
ORourke thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ORourke throwing strikes here but Malsi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
ORourke throwing strikes here but Malsi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
ORourke throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
ORourke looking to ground and pound but Malsi is blocking nicely.
Malsi seems to have recovered his senses.
ORourke unloads with some shots from mount but Malsi bucks and avoids them well.
ORourke throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Malsi because ORourke loaded up on that one.
Malsi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Malsi blocking the ground and pound attempt from ORourke.
Malsi pushes ORourke off looking to stand but ORourke dives back in and keeps control.
Malsi tries to roll over but ORourke keeps him under control.
ORourke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Malsi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Malsi trying to control from the bottom.
Malsi gets full guard.

That's two 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.
Malsi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
ORourke fails with a takedown attempt.
A combination from ORourke does no damage.

ORourke feints and as Malsi raises his hands in defense, ORourke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Malsi controls ORourke momentarily but ORourke frees himself.
ORourke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malsi is keeping the position for now.
Malsi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malsi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from ORourke.
Malsi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
ORourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Malsi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
ORourke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Malsi at a distance.
ORourke paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

ORourke fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Malsi sprawls well initially but ORourke persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Malsi misses with some strikes from the bottom.

ORourke is working for a submission of some sort.
Malsi moves into full guard.
Malsi keeping full guard, as ORourke tries to pass.
ORourke prevents Malsi from getting back to his feet.
ORourke keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Malsi's head.
ORourke wants to control from the top but Malsi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ORourke is pushing down on Malsi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Malsi is fighting to maintain full guard but ORourke has managed to sneak the leg through.
ORourke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Malsi is positioning himself well to prevent ORourke advancing to mount.
Malsi wants to get back to full guard.
ORourke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malsi keeps working.
Malsi wants to control but ORourke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Malsi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from ORourke.
ORourke is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Malsi is trying to maintain the position but ORourke is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Malsi closes this distance looking for a takedown but ORourke circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malsi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. ORourke tries to avoid it but Malsi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag ORourke to the ground. ORourke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Robert ORourke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dammahom Malsi.
Malsi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Malsi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Malsi drives through and clinches with ORourke against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert ORourke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think ORourke 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert ORourke!