PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Averick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Malenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Averick comes into the arena with Manny Pacquiao blaring out of the sound system. Malenko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Dean Malenko- Theme Music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Averick
vs
Malenko

185 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Averick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dean Malenko!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malenko shoots and misses
and Averick counters with a low kick, right behind Malenko 's knee.
Averick misses with a body shot.
Malenko shoots and misses
and Averick counters with a right hand to the body.
Averick throws a sloppy head kick and Malenko moves out of range easily.
Malenko fails with the takedown
and Averick counters with a straight right hand.
Anthony Averick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Malenko.
Malenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Averick misses with a wild body shot.
Malenko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Averick can pounce on him.
Anthony Averick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Averick pushes Malenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Malenko tries to pull guard but Averick won't allow it.
Malenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Malenko can't get the takedown.
Malenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko tries to pull guard but Averick holds him up against the cage and eventually Malenko drops back down to his feet.
Averick misses with an elbow over the top.
Averick lands with a right to the head.
Malenko managing to block the knees to the body from Averick.
Malenko tries for a takedown. No joy.

Malenko has Averick pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Malenko pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Averick tumbling to the mat - Malenko dives into Averick's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Averick trying to keep a closed guard but Malenko is proving a slippery customer.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Averick tries to free his leg and advance position but Malenko is retaining full guard.
Averick wants to control from the top but Malenko keeps moving.
Averick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malenko is keeping the position for now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Malenko wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Averick manages to pass to side control.
Averick wants to free his trapped foot but Malenko is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malenko keeps working.
Averick works his way into full mount!
Averick sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Averick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Malenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Averick has a good base and remains in mount.
Malenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Averick stands up from mount. Strange move.
Malenko slips a jab and a cross from Averick.
No luck for Malenko with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Averick connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Averick lands a jab to the head.
Averick getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Averick scores with a hook to the body. Malenko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Averick scores with a jab to the head.
Averick moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Malenko fails with the takedown.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Averick makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Malenko with a poor takedown
and Averick counters with a straight right hand.
Anthony Averick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Malenko.
Malenko is breathing heavily.
Averick jabs at Malenko's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averick lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Averick lands a jab to Malenko's midsection.
Malenko with a poor takedown
and Averick counters with a nice uppercut.
Averick lands a jab-cross combination.
Jab by Averick.
Averick connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Averick fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Malenko on the side of the head.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Averick counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Averick ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Averick throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Averick is looking to slow Malenko down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Averick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Malenko is fending him off so far but Averick persists. Nope, Malenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Averick lands with a kick to the ribs.
Averick lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Malenko backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Averick feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Malenkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Malenko fails with the takedown
and Averick counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Malenko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Averick fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Averick scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Malenko doesn't seem bothered though.
Averick is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A chopping leg kick lands by Averick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Averick - that will leave a mark!
Averick fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Malenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Malenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Averick lands the left hand.
Averick getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Averick is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Averick cracks the inside of Malenko's front leg.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Averick counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Malenko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Averick decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Averick throws a right and a left that Malenko avoids nicely.
A shot to the liver by Averick. Beautiful body shot.
Malenko has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Malenko there as he acknowledges the shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Averick shoots in and bounces Malenko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Averick trying to control but Malenko is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Averick dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Averick with a lazy takedown attempt

and Malenko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Averick's guard now.

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

Malenko looking for a guillotine here but Averick defends easily.
Averick trying to control but Malenko is working from the bottom.
Malenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averick looking to pass the guard.
Malenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Averick manages to get himself to full guard.
Malenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Averick is retaining full guard.

Malenko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Averick looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Averick looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Averick!
Averick wants to control but Malenko is keeping him busy.
Anthony Averick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Averick decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Averick chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dean Malenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malenko with a poor takedown
and Averick counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averick lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Averick lands a two punch combo.
Averick shoots for a double leg takedown but Malenko sprawls well. He's pushed Averick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Averick lets loose with a powerful body kick. Malenko will feel that in the morning.
Averick fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Malenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some wild striking there from Averick.
Malenko misses with a takedown
and Averick cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malenko with a poor takedown
and Averick counters with a stiff right hand.
Anthony Averick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Malenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Averick dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Averick's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Averick duly obliges.
Averick connects with a single shot there.
Averick lands a nice hook to Malenko's body. Malenko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Averick, as that shot connected.
Anthony Averick is winning the standup battle so far.
Averick throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Anthony Averick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malenko has his takedown stuffed
and Averick counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Averick lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Averick.
Malenko has his takedown stuffed

and Averick counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Averick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Averick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Averick has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Averick!