PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between RONALDO FARIAS (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammad Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). FARIAS's entrance music is tá escrito. A fine choice. Malik is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Stronger. Mohammad Malik is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

FARIAS
vs
Malik

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

173 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, RONALDO FARIAS!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mohammad Malik!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
FARIAS misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malik swats away the attempt to clinch by FARIAS.
Malik circles away from the clinch attempt.
FARIAS looks for a takedown but Malik sprawls well.
Malik shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with FARIAS but FARIAS pushes him off and we're back to square one.
FARIAS tries to clinch there but Malik circles away.
FARIAS wants to clinch up but Malik keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
FARIAS tries to close the distance and clinch but Malik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
RONALDO FARIAS seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
FARIAS throws a head kick that misses.

FARIAS has taken the fight to the clinch.
FARIAS pushes off an throws an elbow but Malik leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Malik is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
FARIAS lands an elbow that stopped Malik in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
FARIAS tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for RONALDO FARIAS. That's going to take a lot out of him.
FARIAS can't find room to land a body shot as Malik controls the action.
FARIAS looking to stall.
Malik jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as FARIAS walks away with a smile on his face. Malik gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
FARIAS lands with a kick to the temple. Malik shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
FARIAS tries to close the distance and clinch but Malik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
FARIAS misses with a few strikes there.
FARIAS moves in looking to clinch but Malik pushes him off.
Malik closes the distance and clinches up with FARIAS, looking for a takedown. Malik pushes FARIAS against the cage but FARIAS circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
FARIAS misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Malik tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but FARIAS swivels and escapes.
Malik shoots in but no luck this time.
FARIAS wants to clinch.
Malik misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
FARIAS tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Malik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
FARIAS fails with the takedown

and Malik counters with a takedown into side control.
FARIAS stops Malik from passing to mount.

Malik tries for a kimura but FARIAS is defending well.
FARIAS knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malik on the ground.
Malik looks gassed!

Malik tries for a kimura but FARIAS is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malik goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, FARIAS rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Malik's guard! Nice work there by FARIAS!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
FARIAS trying to control the position from guard on top but Malik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
FARIAS wants to stand but Malik has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Malik throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
FARIAS trying to control the position from guard on top but Malik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
FARIAS trying to stand up but can't free himself from Malik's guard.
Malik looking for a sweep. Not yet Malik, not yet.
Malik is trying to control the position but FARIAS postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Malik scores a takedown into full mount!
Malik tries to control but FARIAS wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammad Malik dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

FARIAS clinches but Malik breaks the clinch

and Malik counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in FARIAS's guard now.
Malik tries to free his leg and advance position but FARIAS is retaining full guard.

Malik drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and FARIAS dives on top into guard.

Malik looking for a guillotine here but FARIAS defends easily.
FARIAS trying to stand up but can't free himself from Malik's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malik throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Malik wants to sweep here but FARIAS controlling him for the moment.

Malik throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! FARIAS escapes and throws Malik's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Malik tries to buck FARIAS off but FARIAS is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Malik is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Malik keeps the fight on the outside.
Malik swats away the attempt to clinch by FARIAS.
FARIAS moves in looking to clinch but Malik pushes him off.
FARIAS tries to clinch but Malik is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - FARIAS looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Malik circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
FARIAS tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for FARIAS with that takedown attempt.
Malik with a lazy takedown attempt

and FARIAS counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by FARIAS.
FARIAS lands a damaging elbow.
FARIAS lands a damaging elbow.
FARIAS tries to pull guard but Malik holds him up against the cage and eventually FARIAS drops back down to his feet.
Malik blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
FARIAS scores with a knee to the head.

Malik jumps guard and drags FARIAS to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

FARIAS is sitting in close to Malik's body. Malik has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! FARIAS is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, FARIAS is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Malik.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mohammad Malik!