PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donald Delacruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jace Malnon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jace Malnon has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Delacruz
vs
Malnon

156 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

188 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donald Delacruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jace Malnon!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malnon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Malnon is looking to score with low kicks.
Malnon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Delacruz's waist but Delacruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malnon off to one side.

Malnon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Delacruz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Malnon prevents Delacruz from getting back to his feet.
Delacruz keeping moving, preventing Malnon from controlling successfully.
Malnon pushes down on Delacruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malnon tries to pass to full mount but Delacruz defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz wants to get back to his feet.
Delacruz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Malnon tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Delacruz.
Delacruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malnon on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Delacruz wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Malnon tries a head kick but it misses.
Malnon closes the distance looking to clinch
and Delacruz counters with a three punch combo that has Malnon backing up. Malnon nods at Delacruz to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malnon misses with a head kick.
Delacruz went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Malnon rushes Delacruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Delacruz gets underhooks to prevent Malnon's takedown attempt.

Delacruz successfully pulls guard.
Malnon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Delacruz is keeping the position for now.
Malnon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Delacruz keeping moving, preventing Malnon from controlling successfully.
Malnon preventing the sweep.
Delacruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malnon won't allow Delacruz to get back to his feet.
Malnon trying to control but Delacruz is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Delacruz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Delacruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Delacruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Delacruz is looking for a counter combo.
Malnon looking to land some kicks to the body here.

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.

Malnon drives through and clinches with Delacruz against the cage.

Delacruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Malnon uses from the top position.
Delacruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Delacruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Delacruz has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Malnon off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Delacruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malnon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Delacruz as he avoids it easily.
Delacruz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Donald Delacruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jace Malnon.
Malnon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Delacruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Donald Delacruz will probably get the nod.
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.

Malnon shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Malnon is looking to clinch.
Malnon throws a leg kick that is checked

and Delacruz counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Malnon!
Malnon is trying to improve his position.
Delacruz trying to control the position but Malnon is working away.
Delacruz wants to control for a moment but Malnon uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Donald Delacruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Malnon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malnon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Delacruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Delacruz's back!
Malnon keeps control of the position as Delacruz tries to break free.

Malnon is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Delacruz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Malnon is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Delacruz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Malnon is breathing heavily.

Malnon looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malnon is trying to stick to Delacruz's back but Delacruz is turning into Malnon. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Malnon's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Delacruz.
Delacruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Delacruz trying to control but Malnon is working from the bottom.

Malnon is looking for a triangle but Delacruz pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malnon keeping moving, preventing Delacruz from controlling successfully.
Delacruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Malnon working for a triangle but Delacruz defends it easily.
Delacruz wants to control from the top but Malnon keeps moving.

Malnon throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Delacruz escapes and throws Malnon's legs to the side, diving into side control!

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.
Delacruz controlling the position.
Delacruz is looking to take a break and control but Malnon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malnon is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Donald Delacruz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Delacruz shoots in and bounces Malnon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Malnon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Delacruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Malnon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Delacruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malnon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Delacruz controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malnon working for a triangle but Delacruz defends it easily.

Delacruz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Delacruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Delacruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Delacruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.

Malnon looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Malnon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Delacruz looking to sit in guard and control but Malnon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Delacruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Delacruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Malnon stops Delacruz from standing up.
Delacruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Delacruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Malnon is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A bone on bone clash there as Delacruz blocks the leg kick.
Malnon is looking to land body kicks.
Malnon tries to clinch up but Delacruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Malnon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Delacruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Delacruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malnon darts in trying to clinch

and Delacruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Malnon actively working from the bottom here.
Delacruz is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Malnon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Delacruz is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Delacruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Delacruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donald Delacruz!