PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duce Malatesta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Yermolai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malatesta comes to the cage accompanied by Fly Me Courageous. Yermolai has chosen Hollywood Undead: UNDEAD as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Malatesta
vs
Yermolai

198 cm
21
277 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

195 cm
23
283 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Strikefirst Nutrion
Belos Nutrition feat. Reiska

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duce Malatesta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksandr Yermolai !
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yermolai throws a jab but it's blocked by Malatesta.

Yermolai drives through with a takedown into Malatesta's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Yermolai stands up over Malatesta, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yermolai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yermolai is looking to work some ground and pound but Malatesta has wrist control.
Yermolai throws a big right hand that misses.
Yermolai lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yermolai tries to free his leg and advance position but Malatesta is retaining full guard.
Yermolai postures up in Malatesta's guard and throws a big left but Malatesta blocks it.
Yermolai is looking to work some ground and pound but Malatesta has wrist control.
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!

Malatesta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yermolai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yermolai trying to control the position from guard on top but Malatesta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yermolai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yermolai is looking to pass into half guard but Malatesta pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Malatesta is in guard.

Yermolai is looking for a triangle here but Malatesta uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Yermolai tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Malatesta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yermolai looking for a sweep but Malatesta has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Yermolai tries to hold on but Malatesta pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yermolai manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Malatesta prevents Yermolai from improving his position.
Yermolai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yermolai wants to control but Malatesta is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Yermolai wants to get back to full guard.
Malatesta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malatesta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Yermolai manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yermolai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yermolai is trying to work for a kimura but Malatesta is defending well.
Yermolai prevents Malatesta from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yermolai not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Malatesta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yermolai advances to half guard.

Malatesta actively working from the bottom here.
Yermolai thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Malatesta to regain full guard.
Malatesta keeping moving, preventing Yermolai from controlling successfully.
Yermolai distracts Malatesta with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yermolai passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Yermolai dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yermolai defending well as Malatesta loads up on a big left hand.
Malatesta throws a big shot that misses.
Malatesta fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Yermolai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Yermolai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Yermolai goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Malatesta is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malatesta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aleksandr Yermolai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yermolai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malatesta manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yermolai trying to control the position from guard on top but Malatesta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yermolai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malatesta is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malatesta pushes Yermolai off and scrambles back to his feet.
Malatesta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Malatesta slips under a jab.
Yermolai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yermolai moves away from the strike by Malatesta.
Yermolai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Malatesta avoids it really well and circles away.
Malatesta misses the jab.
Malatesta thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yermolai shoots for a takedown but Malatesta saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Duce Malatesta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Yermolai .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malatesta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yermolai loads up on a big right hand but Malatesta slips the punch.
Yermolai moves away from the strike by Malatesta.
Malatesta throws a lazy right hand but Yermolai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Malatesta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yermolai moves away.
Yermolai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malatesta circles away.

Yermolai drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Yermolai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Yermolai is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yermolai swings around for an armbar but Malatesta sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Yermolai 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malatesta with a nice head shot there.

Yermolai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malatesta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Malatesta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yermolai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yermolai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Malatesta forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yermolai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yermolai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malatesta's guard.
Yermolai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yermolai stopping the sweep attempt from Malatesta.
Yermolai throws a strike but Malatesta rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yermolai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aleksandr Yermolai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Malatesta closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Malatesta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malatesta lunges at Yermolai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yermolai 's hand.
Donk. Malatesta catches Yermolai right on the button with a cross.
Malatesta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yermolai tries for a takedown but Malatesta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aleksandr Yermolai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yermolai looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Malatesta!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yermolai lands a nice shot to the head.
Yermolai misses with a head shot.

Yermolai jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Malatesta is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Malatesta and Yermolai has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Yermolai throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yermolai tries to advance to mount but Malatesta instead regains half guard.
Yermolai misses with a head shot. Malatesta uses the momentum to regain guard.
Malatesta wants to sweep here but Yermolai controlling him for the moment.
Malatesta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yermolai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yermolai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malatesta is keeping the position for now.

Yermolai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yermolai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Malatesta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yermolai sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Malatesta's guard.

Yermolai is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Malatesta sees it coming and defends easily.

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

Yermolai is looking for a kimura here.

Yermolai is looking for a kimura but Malatesta is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yermolai to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malatesta keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yermolai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yermolai working over Malatesta with some ground and pound. Malatesta looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Yermolai sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malatesta defending well though.
Duce Malatesta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malatesta is pressing down on Yermolai 's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Malatesta keeping moving, preventing Yermolai from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yermolai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Yermolai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yermolai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Yermolai !