PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emmet Malz (ranked 5246 p4p, 466 weight class) and Greg Hunlin (ranked 5299 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Malz
vs
Hunlin

170 cm
21
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
25
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Emmet Malz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Greg Hunlin!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hunlin pushes Malz up against the cage in a clinch.
Hunlin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Malz to keep the fight standing.
Malz jumps guard but Hunlin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Malz tries to pull guard but Hunlin won't allow it.
Hunlin just leaning against Malz, taking a breather.
Hunlin wants a takedown but no success here.

Malz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hunlin.
Hunlin throws a low kick but Malz moves out of range easily.
Malz changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Malz tries to close the distance and clinch but Hunlin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hunlin throws a big counter head kick but Malz avoids it with no problem.
Hunlin shoots in but Malz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Emmet Malz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Hunlin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunlin swats away the attempt to clinch by Malz.
Malz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hunlin.
No luck for Malz with that takedown attempt.
Hunlin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Malz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malz throws a right and a left that both miss.

Hunlin pushes Malz up against the cage in a clinch.

Malz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Malz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hunlin, pushing him back against the cage.

Hunlin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Malz uses from the top position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Malz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hunlin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Malz has managed to get both his arms back between Hunlin's legs - danger averted.
Hunlin pulls Malz in close to prevent any damage.
Hunlin is looking to stand up but Malz isn't so interested in that idea.
Hunlin keeping moving, preventing Malz from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunlin keeping full guard, as Malz tries to pass.

Hunlin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Malz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hunlin wants to sweep here but Malz controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Malz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Malz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hunlin tries for a takedown but Malz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hunlin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hunlin is able to avoid easily.
Hunlin tries to clinch there but Malz circles away.
Hunlin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Malz avoids it really well and circles away.

Malz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Malz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunlin is looking to clinch but Malz is avoiding it.
Hunlin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malz.

Malz has Hunlin up against the cage in a clinch.
Hunlin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Malz to keep the fight standing.
Malz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hunlin wants to take the fight to the mat but Malz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Malz misses with some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hunlin tries to circle away but Malz has him pinned against the cage.

Hunlin pulls guard effortlessly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malz trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmet Malz dominated that round.
That's time! Malz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hunlin tries to close the distance and clinch but Malz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hunlin wants to counter with a clinch but Malz pushes him away.
Hunlin throws a low kick but Malz moves out of range easily.
Malz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hunlin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Malz.
Malz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hunlin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hunlin doesn't manage to clinch there - Malz circles away.
Emmet Malz is winning the standup battle so far.

Hunlin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hunlin prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunlin is trying to pull guard but Malz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Malz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hunlin looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Hunlin tried to score with a low kick but Malz checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Malz. No joy for Hunlin on that attempt.
Malz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Malz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hunlin's head.
Hunlin shoots in and drives through. Malz sprawls well.
Emmet Malz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Hunlin.
Malz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hunlin.
Malz misses with a takedown
and Hunlin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Malz moves to clinch but Hunlin breaks away
and Hunlin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Malz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Malz wants it to stay on the feet.
Hunlin is breathing heavily.
Malz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hunlin counters with a series of strikes. Malz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hunlin shoots in looking for a takedown but Malz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hunlin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hunlin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Malz counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malz throws a nice head kick!
Hunlin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Malz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hunlin swivels and escapes.
Malz cracks the inside of Hunlin's front leg.
Emmet Malz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hunlin pinned against the cage. Hunlin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Malz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hunlin circles away.
Hunlin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunlin slips a jab and a cross from Malz.
Hunlin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Malz is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malz fails with a takedown attempt.
Malz blocks a head kick by Hunlin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hunlin throws a counter combo.
Malz swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunlin.
Malz looks for a takedown but Hunlin sprawls well.
Hunlin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Malz defends well and Hunlin ends up having to push Malz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hunlin shoots in looking for a takedown. Malz tries to sprawl out of it but Hunlin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Malz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Emmet Malz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunlin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Malz.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hunlin! But no joy.
Hunlin goes for a double leg but Malz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Malz continues to drive forward.
Malz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hunlin can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Malz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Malz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hunlin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hunlin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Malz feints and then cracks Hunlin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hunlin down.
Hunlin is looking to clinch but Malz is avoiding it.
Malz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
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 Emmet Malz will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Malz instigates a clinch.
Malz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hunlin is trying to drag Malz to the mat but Malz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hunlin tries for a takedown but Malz manages to get underhooks.
Hunlin wants a takedown.
Emmet Malz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greg Hunlin.
Malz tries for a takedown but Hunlin manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Malz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Malz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Malz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Malz misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunlin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malz tries a head kick but it misses.
Malz circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hunlin.
Hunlin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Malz is looking to clinch but Hunlin is avoiding it.
Malz lands a nice shot to the body.
Malz stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunlin. Hunlin gets slowly back to his feet.
Hunlin blocks a head kick by Malz.
Hunlin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Malz.
Malz misses with a takedown attempt
and Hunlin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hunlin is looking to clinch but Malz is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malz has taken the fight to the clinch.

Malz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malz is looking to clinch but Hunlin is avoiding it.
Hunlin looks for a takedown but Malz sprawls well.
Malz tries to clinch up but Hunlin circles away and keeps his distance.
Malz shoots in but no luck this time.
Hunlin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Malz pinned against the cage. Malz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Malz throws a big counter combination but Hunlin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hunlin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Malz.

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

Hunlin scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunlin throws a head kick that misses.
Malz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hunlin circles away.
Malz fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Malz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Malz wants it to stay on the feet.
Hunlin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malz but Malz pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hunlin closes the distance and clinches up with Malz, looking for a takedown. Hunlin pushes Malz against the cage but Malz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malz lands with a nice body kick.
Malz shoots for a takedown but Hunlin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hunlin blocks the body kick.
Malz thows a body kick. Hunlin tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Malz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malz lands in his opponent's guard.

Hunlin has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Malz has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Hunlin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Malz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Greg Hunlin!