PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zenek Malina (ranked 2355 p4p, 2962 weight class) and Julio Balestrin (ranked 326 p4p, 396 weight class). Malina comes to the cage accompanied by PROF - Squad Goals. Zenek Malina has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Malina
vs
Balestrin

178 cm
25
180
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
182
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zenek Malina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julio Balestrin!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malina darts in looking for a takedown but Balestrin gets double underhooks and turns Malina into the cage.
A countering left hand to the body from Balestrin misses.

Balestrin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malina shoots for a takedown but Balestrin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Balestrin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Balestrin throws out a loose jab but Malina uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balestrin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Malina moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Malina half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Malina goes for a double leg but Balestrin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Balestrin continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zenek Malina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malina jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Balestrin walks away with a smile on his face. Malina gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Malina looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malina moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Balestrin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Balestrin misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malina slips a straight right by Balestrin.
Malina tries for a takedown but Balestrin circles away easily
and Balestrin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Malina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balestrin.
Malina fails with a takedown attempt.
Balestrin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Malina tries for a takedown but Balestrin circles away easily
and Balestrin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Malina thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malina decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Malina is controlling the pace.
Malina is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Balestrin!
Balestrin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balestrin is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balestrin wants to control but Malina is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malina with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Balestrin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Malina looking to isolate an arm here. Balestrin doesn't see it coming and as Malina extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Malina!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zenek Malina!
A victorious Zenek Malina thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.