PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pops Maellard (ranked 979 p4p, 147 weight class) and Tomislav Kralj (ranked 1152 p4p, 163 weight class). Kralj has chosen Dolazak Hrvata as his entrance music. Pops Maellard is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Maellard
vs
Kralj

183 cm
36
178 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

178 cm
32
177 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Pops Maellard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Tomislav Kralj!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maellard stuffs the takedown.
Maellard misses with an uppercut.
Kralj tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maellard. That's going to slow Kralj down.

Kralj closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kralj trying to control the position but Maellard is working away.
Maellard is looking for a sweep.
Kralj working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kralj lands a nice forearm strike.
Kralj wants to control but Maellard is keeping him busy.
Kralj taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This fight is sponsored by Chainsaw 7. More blood and guts and stuff like that, in cinemas everywhere now!
Maellard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kralj off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maellard throwing sloppy strikes.
Maellard is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Maellard misses with punches from the back.
Kralj trying to control the hands but Maellard breaks the grip.
I would not like to be Kralj right now.

That's two 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.
Maellard controlling well, preventing Kralj from escaping the position.
Maellard controls the position.
Maellard controlling well, preventing Kralj from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Maellard.
Maellard is hanging on to Kralj's back as he tries to escape.
Maellard controlling the position well here. Kralj rolled but Maellard kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Kralj rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

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.
Maellard trying to pass the guard but Kralj defending well.
Kralj is trying to get back to full guard.
Maellard wants to free his trapped foot but Kralj is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maellard is keen to just control but Kralj is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pops Maellard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kralj tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maellard defends well and Kralj ends up having to push Maellard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Maellard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kralj looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A clash of legs there as Maellard blocks the low kick.
Maellard throws a lazy right hand but Kralj sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maellard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kralj can do to turn this around?
Kralj lands with a cross.
Kralj shoots in and drives through. Maellard sprawls well.
Maellard connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maellard. That's going to slow Kralj down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Maellard.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Maellard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maellard misses with a straight right.
Maellard lands with a nice body punch.
Maellard avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kralj pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maellard fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kralj is out of range.
Maellard lands with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maellard feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kraljs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kralj lands a nice hook to Maellard's body. Maellard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kralj chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maellard can pounce on him.
Kralj misses with a looping right.
Maellard smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maellard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maellard misses with a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maellard.
Kralj on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Maellard. Maellard obviously looking to wear him down.
Maellard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kralj.
Maellard blocks a leg kick.
Kralj checks a low kick from Maellard.
Maellard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kralj misses the jab.
Maellard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Maellard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kralj's calf.
Pops Maellard is winning the standup battle so far.
Maellard moves out of range as Kralj strikes.
Kralj pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maellard misses with a body shot.
Maellard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maellard looks to score with a jab to the body but Kralj is just out of range.
Kralj drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Maellard defends it well.
Kralj throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kralj on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Maellard moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kralj throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kralj stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kralj checks the leg kick.
Maellard swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Maellard gets caught napping as Kralj dives in and scores a takedown. Maellard manages to retain guard.
Kralj trying to control but Maellard is working from the bottom.
Maellard keeping full guard, as Kralj tries to pass.
Maellard wants to sweep but no luck.
Maellard is trying to control the position but Kralj postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kralj accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kralj trying to control the position from guard on top but Maellard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maellard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kralj's guard.

Kralj tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard trying to control the position from guard on top but Kralj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maellard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Maellard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maellard happy to just control the position for now.
Kralj wants to control but Maellard postures up.

That's four 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.
Kralj manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kralj is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maellard wants to hold on but Kralj pushes him away.
Maellard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maellard is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pops Maellard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kralj attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kralj scores with a jab to the head.
Maellard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kralj fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A slow jab from Maellard misses its intended target.
Kralj fails to land the takedown.
Maellard misses the jab.
Maellard misses with a straight right.
Maellard misses with a wild body shot.
Kralj wants to counter the offense by Maellard and move into the clinch position.
Maellard throws a jab when Kralj was well out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maellard slips under a jab from Kralj.
Kralj throws the left hand but Maellard avoids the punch easily.
Kralj walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maellard checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
It looked like Maellard was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kralj throws a body shot but no joy.
Maellard fails to land with a series of punches.
Kralj tries to counter by closing the distance.
Maellard lands a head kick!
Kralj throws out a loose jab but Maellard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice straight punches there by Maellard. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maellard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good work by Kralj as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kralj avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maellard throws a chopping leg kick but Kralj manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kralj misses with a hook. Maellard ducked under it nicely.
A head kick by Maellard misses

and Kralj counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kralj is looking to take a break and control but Maellard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kralj perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Maellard is refusing to be controlled, as Kralj sits in half guard.
Maellard wants to improve his position but Kralj is controlling well.
Maellard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maellard.
Kralj trying to control but Maellard is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kralj is one step ahead there.
Maellard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kralj controls the pace.
Kralj trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kralj is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Maellard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maellard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kralj lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kralj throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kralj trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Maellard manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Kralj pulls Maellard in close to prevent any damage.
Maellard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kralj swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maellard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kralj wants to sweep but no luck.
Tomislav Kralj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maellard wants to control from the top but Kralj keeps moving.
Maellard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maellard controlling from the top position.
Kralj trying to control the position here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maellard connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kralj. Kralj circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pops Maellard.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maellard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pops Maellard!
Pops Maellard thanked the fans post fight for their support.