PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Mali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Flapjacks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fred Flapjacks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mali
vs
Flapjacks

220 cm
25
260 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
224 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Mali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fred Flapjacks!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flapjacks is looking to clinch.
Mali swats away the attempt to clinch by Flapjacks.
Sloppy strikes from Flapjacks. Those never looked like landing.
Mali shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Flapjacks.
Mali is breathing heavily.

Flapjacks gets caught flat footed, as Mali shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mali stops Flapjacks from standing up.
Mali postures up.

Mali has gone for a leg lock! Flapjacks slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mali's guard.
Flapjacks stopping the sweep attempt from Mali.
Flapjacks wants to control from the top but Mali keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flapjacks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mali is proving hard to escape from.
Mali keeping moving, preventing Flapjacks from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fred Flapjacks wasn't active enough on the ground.
Flapjacks throws a head kick that misses.
Mali tries to close the distance and clinch but Flapjacks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Flapjacks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mali takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Fred Flapjacks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mali dives in and scores a takedown into Flapjacks's guard.
Mali tries to stand but Flapjacks is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flapjacks looking to control.
Flapjacks seems keen to control Mali's posture.
Flapjacks is looking to stand up but Mali isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mali throws a big elbow that misses.
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!
Mali is pushing down on Flapjacks's leg trying to pass to half guard. Flapjacks is fighting to maintain full guard but Mali has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mali seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mali throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flapjacks wants to control but Mali is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Flapjacks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mali.
Mali trying to control the action but Flapjacks is working from the bottom.
Mali prevents Flapjacks from standing back up.
Flapjacks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flapjacks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Flapjacks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mali.
Mali 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.
Mali not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Mali is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mali working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mali stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mali really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mali doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Mali dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mali fails to land the takedown.
Flapjacks tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mali counters with a single leg into guard. Flapjacks didn't expect that.
Flapjacks looking for a sweep. Not yet Flapjacks, not yet.
Mali trying to control the position from guard on top but Flapjacks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flapjacks wants to stand but Mali is controlling the position.
Mali wanted to stand there but Flapjacks had control of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mali accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Flapjacks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mali looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Flapjacks scores with a hook to the body. Mali takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mali slips a jab and a cross from Flapjacks.
Mali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mali shoots for a double leg takedown but Flapjacks sprawls well. He's pushed Mali's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flapjacks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Flapjacks plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Flapjacks fakes the leg kick and cracks Mali in the body.
Flapjacks stalks Mali and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mali's face. Mali staggers backwards, shaken.

Flapjacks closes the distance and pushes Mali back into the cage.
Mali tries to score a body lock takedown but Flapjacks shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Mali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flapjacks is trying to break the clinch but Mali is controlling him.

Flapjacks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A right-left combo lands from Flapjacks.
Flapjacks lands with a good body shot.
Flapjacks tries to clinch

so Mali counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mali wants to pass the guard but Flapjacks is keeping the position.
Flapjacks looking to control.
Flapjacks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mali. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mali 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.
Flapjacks 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 is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Flapjacks has closed the distance and engaged Mali in a clinch.
Flapjacks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mali avoids it.
Mali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mali fails to pull guard.

Flapjacks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That kick from Flapjacks tenderised Mali's leg. Mali is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flapjacks tries a head kick but it misses.
Flapjacks fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mali.

Flapjacks looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mali!
Flapjacks looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mali is looking to improve his position but Flapjacks isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fred Flapjacks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Flapjacks.
Mali shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Flapjacks defends it nicely.
Flapjacks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Flapjacks scores with a spinning back kick!
Flapjacks pushes Mali away with a front kick.
Flapjacks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Flapjacks with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Flapjacks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Flapjacks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Flapjacks throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mali was covering up waiting for the punch and Flapjacks finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Mali throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flapjacks tries to stand but Mali is controlling from the bottom.
Flapjacks trying to control but Mali is working from the bottom.

Mali is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Flapjacks defends well.
Flapjacks wants to control from the top but Mali keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mali trying to control the position.
Flapjacks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Flapjacks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mali's guard.

Mali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Flapjacks trying to control the position from guard on top but Mali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mali has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Flapjacks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
John Mali overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mali keeping moving, preventing Flapjacks from controlling successfully.
Flapjacks wanted to stand there but Mali had control of the position.

Mali throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mali working a defensive guard here.

Mali is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Flapjacks wants to control from the top but Mali keeps moving.
Flapjacks wants to get up but he can't break Mali's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mali looking for a guillotine here but Flapjacks defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Flapjacks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Flapjacks 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Flapjacks!