PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ken Block (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Magalesh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Magalesh has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Block
vs
Magalesh

176 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
159 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ken Block!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rob Magalesh!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Block tries to score a power double leg takedown but Magalesh sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Block somewhat.

Block clinches with his opponent.
Block is looking to control Magalesh's arms but Magalesh gets an underhook and turns him. Now Block has his back to the ropes.
Magalesh has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Block is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Block trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Block.

It looks like Rob Magalesh has been cut.

Block's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Block clinches.
Block changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Magalesh fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Block scoring well with a low kick there.
Magalesh fails with the takedown

and Block moves into the clinch.
Block wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Block. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Block throws an elbow but misses.
Block tries to pull guard but Magalesh holds him up against the ropes and eventually Block drops back down to his feet.
Block lands a damaging elbow.

Block breaks the clinch.
Magalesh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ken Block seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Magalesh circles away from the clinch attempt.

Magalesh closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Block to the mat! Block manages to get full guard.

Magalesh postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Block is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Magalesh, into his guard.

Block decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Magalesh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Block has closed the distance and engaged Magalesh in a clinch.

Block manages to pull guard.
Block wants to stand up but Magalesh is controlling him.

Magalesh 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.
Magalesh tries to stand but Block is controlling from the bottom.
Block has his hands on Magalesh's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magalesh trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magalesh passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Block struggling a bit here.
Magalesh wants to control but Block is keeping him busy.
Magalesh is trying to move to mount but Block reverses beautifully and ends up in Magalesh's guard.
Magalesh looks gassed!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Magalesh looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Block passes into side control.

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.
Block creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Magalesh sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Magalesh defending against the ground and pound.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Magalesh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Block wants to stand but Magalesh is controlling his arm.
The ground and pound from Block seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Block sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Magalesh is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Block decides to stand up, so the ref orders Magalesh to his feet.
Block doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Magalesh counters with a nice double leg into side control. Block won't be happy with that.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Magalesh tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Magalesh looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Block's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Magalesh tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Block is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Magalesh has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Magalesh thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Block is looking to regain half guard here but Magalesh keeps moving and retains side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Magalesh avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Block is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Block has his takedown stuffed

and Magalesh counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Block's guard now.
Block is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Magalesh is controlling him.

Magalesh is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Block is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Block has escaped and now he's on top!

Magalesh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Block with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Block wants to control from the top but Magalesh keeps moving.

Magalesh is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Block frees his head nicely. Oh but Magalesh has switched to an armbar! Block is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Rob Magalesh!