PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jai Malek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Van Kirkland
vs
Malek

194 cm
33
285 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

196 cm
37
260 lbs
35 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jai Malek!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Kirkland tries to clinch but Malek moves out of range.
Malek works the jab nicely.

Van Kirkland shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Malek manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Van Kirkland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Van Kirkland with a nice head shot there.
Van Kirkland stands up over Malek, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malek avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Kirkland trying to control but Malek is working from the bottom.

Malek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Van Kirkland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Van Kirkland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Van Kirkland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malek works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Malek is looking to stand back up but Van Kirkland counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Malek.
Van Kirkland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Van Kirkland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Kirkland winds up and cracks Malek with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland slips a nice elbow through Malek's hands, connecting with Malek's forehead.
Malek on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Van Kirkland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malek's head.
Van Kirkland tries to pass the half guard into mount. Malek knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Malek wants to get back to his feet.
Van Kirkland is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Van Kirkland is looking to take a break and control but Malek is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Kirkland takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Van Kirkland tries to pass to full mount but Malek defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malek tries to kick Van Kirkland off but Van Kirkland keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Van Kirkland is controlling the pace.
Van Kirkland stops Malek from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mikhail Van Kirkland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kirkland fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Malek checks it well.
Jai Malek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malek tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Van Kirkland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four 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.
Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malek as he avoids it easily.
Van Kirkland shoots in but no luck this time.

Malek instigates a clinch.
Malek gets underhooks to prevent Van Kirkland's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Van Kirkland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Kirkland wants a takedown but no success here.

Van Kirkland is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Malek can't fight it off and eventually Van Kirkland manages to take the fight to the floor. Malek looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Kirkland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malek is looking to stand up but Van Kirkland isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Van Kirkland dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Van Kirkland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malek was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland sets himself, and Malek steps forward looking for the clinch! Van Kirkland avoids it this time.
Van Kirkland throws a sloppy head kick
and Malek counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Van Kirkland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malek can do to turn this around?

Van Kirkland drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Van Kirkland working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van Kirkland postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Kirkland stands and throws Malek's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Van Kirkland is trying to ground and pound but Malek uses the momentary lack of control by Van Kirkland to regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Kirkland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malek's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland working the head and body with strikes.
Van Kirkland prevents Malek from standing back up.
Mikhail Van Kirkland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Kirkland with the ground and pound but Malek uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Van Kirkland landing with the ground and pound.
Van Kirkland with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Malek keeps moving.
Van Kirkland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van Kirkland throws a strike but Malek rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malek's guard.

Malek avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Kirkland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Malek wants to get back to his feet but Van Kirkland is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Malek keeping moving, preventing Van Kirkland from controlling successfully.
Malek looking to control.
Van Kirkland prevents Malek from getting back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malek working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland 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.
Malek utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A big left from Malek misses.
Van Kirkland misses with a takedown attempt - Malek sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Malek fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Van Kirkland has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Malek thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Van Kirkland if he has to take too many more of those.
Malek moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Malek displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Van Kirkland.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland tries to bum rush Malek with a series of wild strikes but Malek uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Malek wants to counter with a clinch but Van Kirkland pushes him away.
A left lands for Malek.
Malek blocks a leg kick.
Malek throws out a counter right but Van Kirkland avoids it with no problem.
Malek checks a low kick from Van Kirkland.
Malek is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Van Kirkland with a body shot.
Van Kirkland doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Malek counters with a body kick that stops Van Kirkland in his tracks momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Van Kirkland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Malek as he connects with a hook.
Malek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Kirkland takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malek stuffs the takedown.
Van Kirkland tries for a takedown but Malek circles away easily
and Malek counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jai Malek will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Van Kirkland shoots in looking for a takedown but Malek manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Van Kirkland's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Van Kirkland takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
Van Kirkland throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Malek's waist but Malek gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Kirkland off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Malek as Van Kirkland shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Van Kirkland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malek cracks Van Kirkland with an open hand slap.
Van Kirkland falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Malek to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice shot by Malek.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malek swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland looks for a takedown but Malek sprawls well.
Van Kirkland looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland looks for a takedown but Malek sprawls well.
Malek scores with a push kick.
Malek moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A head kick misses from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland misses with a takedown attempt - Malek sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malek scores with a sloppy right hand. Van Kirkland should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malek clobbers Van Kirkland with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Malek throws a good cross that connects.
Malek throws a quick inside leg kick.
That kick from Van Kirkland tenderised Malek's leg. Malek is trying to keep his angry face on.
Malek dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Kirkland. That did some damage!
Van Kirkland circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malek uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Kirkland.
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!
Malek tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Kirkland manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Kirkland misses with an uppercut. Malek saw that one coming.
Malek looks to throw a body kick

and Van Kirkland counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Malek moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Van Kirkland with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Kirkland got a little sloppy there for a moment and Malek has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Kirkland has managed to get both his arms back between Malek's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Kirkland won't allow Malek to get back to his feet.
Van Kirkland trying to control but Malek is working from the bottom.
Van Kirkland lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Malek keeps moving.
Van Kirkland with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four 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.
Van Kirkland throws a strike but Malek rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Malek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Kirkland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Van Kirkland trying to keep a closed guard but Malek is proving a slippery customer.
Malek trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Kirkland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malek preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jai Malek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Malek 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jai Malek!
Jai Malek bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.