PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ray Malenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Kelley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ray Malenko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Liam Kelley's chin.

Malenko
vs
Kelley

182 cm
25
169 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
179 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

On Tap (160Q & Laundry)

Voodoo Nutrition

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 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Malenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Liam Kelley!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Kelley cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malenko walks into a stiff left hand from Kelley.

Malenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kelley's guard.
Kelley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malenko wants to control from the top but Kelley keeps moving.
Kelley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malenko's guard.

Malenko is controlling Kelley's posture.
Kelley postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelley lands a couple of digs.
Kelley trying to control the position from guard on top but Malenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kelley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelley looking to pass the guard.
Kelley postures up.
Kelley won't allow Malenko to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've been hearing good reports from Malenko's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kelley makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Malenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Malenko wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malenko wants to improve his position but instead Kelley has moved into half guard.
Malenko wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Malenko manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kelley looking to sit in guard and control but Malenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kelley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malenko is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kelley is on top in guard.

Malenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kelley is looking to work some ground and pound but Malenko has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelley wants to control from the top but Malenko keeps moving.
Kelley engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Malenko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelley postures up.
Malenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Malenko, not yet.
Malenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kelley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Malenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Malenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kelley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Malenko keeping moving, preventing Kelley from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Malenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Malenko.
Malenko takes one on the button.
Kelley misses with a right hand
and Malenko counters with a nice body shot.
Malenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kelley.
Malenko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice defenses there by Malenko.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malenko misses with an uppercut.
Malenko misses with a two punch combination.
Malenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Kelley dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Malenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kelley.
Malenko changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kelley fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kelley looks to land a left hand but Malenko moved out of range nicely.
Malenko looks to land a combination but Kelley avoids it well.
Kelley looks to throw a body kick
and Malenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kelley lands a jab to the head.
Malenko slips under a jab.
Kelley throws a quick inside leg kick.
Malenko slips under a jab.
Liam Kelley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelley swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kelley takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Malenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kelley throws out the jab.
Kelley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Malenko throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
Malenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kelley.
Kelley might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kelley throws out a powerful jab.
Kelley missing with a left hand there. Malenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Liam Kelley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kelley scores with a leg kick.
Malenko tests Kelley's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Malenko throws a hook but Kelley blocks it.
Malenko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kelley connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kelley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A slow jab from Kelley misses its intended target.
Kelley swings for the body but Malenko moves out of range.
Kelley fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kelley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Kelley - just one landing.
Kelley wants to clinch up but Malenko keeps it at a distance.
Kelley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malenko manages to avoid it.
Malenko swinging wildly here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malenko moves away.
Malenko was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kelley gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kelley misses with a straight right.
Malenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Malenko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kelley counters with a head kick.
Kelley jabs Malenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelley jabs at Malenko's body.
An inside leg kick lands from Kelley.
Malenko tries to move into range but Kelley moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kelley misses with a left hand

and Malenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kelley is refusing to be controlled, as Malenko sits in half guard.
Kelley trying to control here.
Malenko trying to control the action but Kelley is working from the bottom.
Malenko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Malenko is trying to control. Kelley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelley is trying to maintain the position but Malenko is very close to passing his half guard.
Ray Malenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kelley is staying active underneath Malenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kelley tries to roll over but Malenko keeps him under control.

Malenko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kelley doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Malenko.
Kelley trying to control from the bottom.
Kelley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Kelley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kelley scoring well with a low kick there.
Malenko connects with a right hand. Kelley shakes it off.
Malenko takes a swing at Kelley's ribcage but misses.
Malenko moves out of range as Kelley strikes.
Kelley lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kelley throws the left hand but Malenko avoids the punch easily.
Malenko is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kelley scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kelley lands with a straight right. Malenko didn't see that one coming.
Kelley misses with a right hand
and Malenko counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Malenko. Those never looked like landing.
Kelley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kelley connects with a solid leg kick.
Malenko ducks under a wild hook from Kelley.
Malenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Malenko misses with a looping right.
Malenko moves out of range as Kelley throws a body kick.
Malenko appears to be looking for a big counter.
Malenko moves away from the strike by Kelley.
Malenko checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kelley goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kelley throws a hook to the side of Malenko's head but Malenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kelley feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Malenko's calf.
Ray Malenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelley lands with a right hand.
Kelley loads up on a big right hand but Malenko slips the punch.
Malenko swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Malenko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kelley.
Kelley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Malenko.
Malenko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kelley fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Malenko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kelley throws a looping overhand right but Malenko ducks down to avoid it.
Kelley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Malenko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kelley counters with a stiff right hand.
Kelley throws an off balance right hand
and Malenko counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kelley swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Some wild striking there from Malenko.
Malenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kelley misses with a looping right.
Kelley looks to land a left hand but Malenko moved out of range nicely.
Kelley lands a right hook to the body.
Malenko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kelley pinned against the cage. Kelley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
It seemed like Kelley was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kelley.
Liam Kelley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelley lunges at Malenko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Malenko's hand.
Malenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelley was well out of range. Poor timing from Malenko.
Malenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kelley lands a right hook to the body.
Kelley scores with a shot to the body.
Kelley scores with a decent looking hook.
Malenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malenko moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Malenko walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Kelley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kelley winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam Kelley!
A very excited looking Liam Kelley rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.