PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bo Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bennito Masqual (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Masqual's choice of entrance music: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Theme. 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.

Malone
vs
Masqual

195 cm
20
270 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

192 cm
23
280 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Syndicate Drugs

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bo Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bennito Masqual!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masqual pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good standup being displayed there by Masqual as he connects with a hook.
Masqual will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Masqual misses with a body shot.
Masqual looks to throw the jab but Malone is out of range.
Masqual throws a nice looking combination but Malone bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malone.
Masqual works Malone's body with a nice hook.

Malone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Malone working away.
Masqual is looking to regain half guard here but Malone keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malone happy to just control the position for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Malone is trying to get an arm triangle but Masqual is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masqual manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Masqual is looking for a sweep. Malone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Malone trying to mount his opponent but Masqual defends it.

Masqual actively working from the bottom here.
Malone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Masqual does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Malone is trying to work for a kimura but Masqual is defending well.

Malone is looking for a kimura here.
Masqual throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Masqual throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masqual misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Malone.
Malone stalks Masqual and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Masqual's face. Masqual staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Bennito Masqual has been cut.
Malone looks for the body kick but Masqual saw that one coming.
Malone uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Masqual.
Bennito Masqual is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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

Malone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Malone is breathing heavily.
Masqual manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malone manages to get himself to full guard.
Masqual slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malone is looking for a triangle but Masqual pushes his legs off easily.
Masqual postures up.
Masqual working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malone's head.
Masqual trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.
Malone keeping full guard, as Masqual tries to pass.
Malone keeping moving, preventing Masqual from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malone closes the distance and clinches up with Masqual, looking for a takedown. Malone pushes Masqual against the cage but Masqual circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Masqual misses with a combination

and Malone counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Masqual's guard now.
Masqual is trying to keep Malone in close.

Masqual is looking for a triangle but Malone pushes his legs off easily.
Masqual keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Masqual keeping full guard, as Malone tries to pass.
Masqual tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Masqual escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malone trying to control but Masqual is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bo Malone will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bennito Masqual's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masqual misses with a hook to the body

and Malone counters with a takedown into side control.
Masqual is not content to let Malone control the position.
Masqual is trying to improve his position.
Masqual tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Masqual is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Malone is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Masqual has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Malone working for a choke but Masqual is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Malone working for a choke but Masqual is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masqual turns into Malone and is now in his guard.
Malone looking for a sweep. Not yet Malone, not yet.
Masqual trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.
Masqual might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Malone kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Masqual working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malone's head.
Masqual trying to control the position from guard on top but Malone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malone throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Malone looking for a guillotine here but Masqual defends easily.
Masqual throwing strikes from guard but Malone blocks nicely.
Masqual trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.

Masqual drops back looking for a leg! Malone is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Malone manages to kick Masqual off! Masqual jumps back into Malone's guard.
Masqual looking to sit in guard and control but Malone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masqual looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Malone showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Malone sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Masqual's guard.
Masqual is refusing to be controlled, as Malone sits in half guard.
Masqual wants to control but Malone is keeping busy.

Masqual actively working from the bottom here.

That's four 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.
Malone works his foot free and advances to mount.
Malone wants to control the pace but Masqual is squirming around nicely.
Malone landing strikes, looking to finish!
Masqual is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Malone moves to take his opponent's back.
You can see the frustration on Masqual's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Malone has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Masqual has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Masqual tries to escape but Malone has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Malone dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bennito Masqual's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Masqual throws a combination that misses

and Malone decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Masqual's guard.
Malone wants to control from the top but Masqual keeps moving.
Malone won't allow Masqual to sweep him here.
Masqual avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Malone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Masqual manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malone manages to get himself to full guard.
Malone controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malone looking for a sweep. Not yet Malone, not yet.
Malone has momentary wrist control but Masqual slips an elbow through the middle.

Masqual thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masqual with a nice head shot there.
Malone is trying to keep Masqual in close.
Masqual tries to free his leg and advance position but Malone is retaining full guard.

Masqual is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Malone is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Malone has escaped and now he's on top!
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but Masqual is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masqual preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Masqual tries to strike from the bottom.
Malone stopping the sweep attempt from Masqual.
Masqual keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Masqual can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Malone controls the pace.
Masqual trying to strike off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice shot by Masqual.
Masqual thuds a left hand into Malone's body.
Malone takes one to the chin there.
Bennito Masqual has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Masqual misses with a hook to the body
and Malone counters with a nice uppercut.

Malone darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masqual is trying to get back to full guard.
Masqual is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Malone is tying to control. Masqual wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Masqual wants to control but Malone is keeping busy.

Masqual looking for submissions off his back.
Masqual is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Malone in particular looking to stall.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Malone shoots in looking for a takedown. Masqual tries to sprawl out of it but Malone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masqual manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Masqual connects with a right hand. Malone shakes it off.
Masqual uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masqual uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Malone bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bo Malone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Malone goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Masqual rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Malone's guard! Nice work there by Masqual!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bennito Masqual.
I think Malone has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bo Malone!