PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malik Battle (ranked 24479 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Knight (ranked 5285 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.

Battle
vs
Knight

165 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Malik Battle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Knight!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Battle tries to keep at a distance but Knight has taken the fight into the clinch.
Battle leaning his opponent against the cage.
Battle with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Battle lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knight lands a body shot.
The referee is keeping an eye on Battle - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Battle's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Knight swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Battle lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battle taking a breather.
Knight lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Knight tries to throw a body punch but Battle avoids it by throwing Knight back against the cage.
Knight swings wildly with an uppercut but Battle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Battle struggles to land a body shot inside as Knight controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle avoiding damage.
Knight has had enough of the clinch but Battle keeps him there for the moment.
Battle avoiding damage.
Knees to the body from Battle.
Battle lands a shoulder strike.
Battle avoiding damage.
Battle tries to land knees in the clinch but Knight avoids the damage to the body.
Battle lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Knight or not.
Battle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Knight's efforts to push away.
Knight looks winded!
Battle is pushing Knight up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Knight letting Battle take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Battle.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malik Battle.
Knight throws a sloppy head kick and Battle moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knight. Battle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knight throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick misses from Knight.
Battle seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Knight throws a leg kick

and Battle counters by moving into the clinch.
Battle just leaning against Knight, taking a breather.
Battle controlling the action here for a moment.
Battle leaning his opponent against the cage.
Battle connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle lands a knee to the head.
Battle's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Battle softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Battle manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Battle stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malik Battle.

Knight rushes Battle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knight is trying to push Battle away but Battle has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Battle putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Knight in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Battle has Knight pressed against the cage.
Battle has Knight pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight misses with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Battle.
Battle lands a nice elbow.
Battle is pushing Knight up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Battle could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Battle tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Battle holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malik Battle.
Knight throws a lazy head kick

and Battle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Battle scores with a nice short uppercut.
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!
The referee is keeping an eye on Battle - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Battle dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Battle has managed to clinch.
Battle has Knight pushed against the cage.
Knight misses with some punches.
Battle avoiding damage.
Battle pushes off an throws an elbow but Knight leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Battle is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Battle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knight can do to turn this around?
Battle tries to land a knee to the head but Knight blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battle is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Battle throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Knight blocks it with crossed arms.
We've been informed that Knight has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Knight tries a body shot but Battle blocks it.
Knight is breathing heavily.
Knight letting Battle take a breather here.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Battle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Come on Battle - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malik Battle.
Knight tries to score with a low kick but Battle moves his leg out of the way.
It appears Battle was looking to counter with a kick there.
Battle moves out of range as Knight throws a body kick.
Knight pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Battle clinches with his opponent.
A short left from Battle.
Battle scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Battle lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Battle holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Battle stalling the fight.
Battle scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Battle holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Battle content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Battle stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malik Battle.
Battle ducks under a wild hook from Knight.
A lazy body kick from Knight

and Battle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Battle wants to work for an arm triangle but Knight is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Knight throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Battle manages to pass to side control.
Knight is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Battle tries for a kimura but Knight is defending well.
Knight is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Battle is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Battle is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Knight is surviving well by controlling Battle's body position as best he can.
Knight is trying to reverse the position but instead Battle has taken his back - oops!

Battle patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Knight really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Battle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Battle has managed to slip his arm under Knight's chin. This could be all over... yep, Knight is tapping out! Submission win for Battle.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Malik Battle!