PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Niek Mulder (ranked 1536 p4p, 3256 weight class) and Pedro Vela (ranked 219 p4p, 415 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mulder
vs
Vela

178 cm
28
165
9 - 2 - 0

183 cm
23
171
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Determined

Voodoo Nutrition
EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niek Mulder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pedro Vela!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vela shoots in looking for a takedown. Mulder tries to sprawl out of it but Vela keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mulder manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Vela tries to get set, Mulder tries to push him back and clinch up but Vela manages to avoid the attempt.
Vela shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mulder defends it nicely.
Mulder wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Vela shoots for a takedown but Mulder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Niek Mulder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Vela.
Vela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Mulder drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Mulder is trying to get an arm triangle but Vela is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vela is looking for a sweep.
Mulder controls the position from side control.
Mulder wants to stand but Vela has his arm trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulder scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mulder wants to stand but Vela is controlling his arm.
Vela tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vela is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Vela can't do much from the bottom here.
Vela trying to remain calm as Mulder controls from the top position.
Vela throws a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Vela manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mulder's best efforts.

Mulder is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vela has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mulder prevents Vela from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mulder decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Mulder.

Vela gets a double leg takedown into Mulder's guard.
Mulder is trying to control the position but Vela postures up.
Mulder looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mulder is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vela is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vela controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mulder looking to control.
Vela working some strikes from top position.
Mulder working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vela wants to control from the top but Mulder keeps moving.
Vela postures up.
Vela trying to control but Mulder is working from the bottom.
Mulder working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vela trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vela passes Mulder's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Vela tries to pass to full mount but Mulder defends it.
Mulder trying to control from the bottom.
Vela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mulder's head.

Mulder is defending against the submission attempts here by Vela.

Vela is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mulder has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mulder trying to control from the bottom.
Mulder gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vela wants to pass the guard but Mulder is keeping the position.
Vela makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mulder is trying to control the position but Vela postures up.
Vela is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mulder looking for a sweep. Not yet Mulder, not yet.
Vela is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vela wants to control from the top but Mulder keeps moving.

Mulder working for a triangle but Vela defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulder has momentary wrist control but Vela slips an elbow through the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Niek Mulder will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mulder sprawls well. Mulder wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vela gets slowly back to his feet.
Vela shoots in for a double leg but Mulder sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As Vela tries to get set, Mulder tries to push him back and clinch up but Vela manages to avoid the attempt.
Mulder slaps away a takedown attempt from Vela, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Niek Mulder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Vela.

Mulder shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vela napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mulder is working Vela over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mulder staying calm.
Vela taking punishment in the form of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vela misses with a strike from the bottom.
Mulder landing a few strikes.
Mulder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vela keeps working.
Vela is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mulder's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulder is thwarting Vela's attempts to control the position.
Mulder is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mulder prevents Vela from improving his position.
Vela flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Vela tries to roll over but Mulder keeps him under control.
Vela is staying active underneath Mulder, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vela misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mulder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vela keeps working.
Vela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vela trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Mulder manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vela bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Vela trying to control but Mulder is working from the bottom.
Mulder wants to sweep here but Vela controlling him for the moment.
Vela stands up over Mulder, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vela postures up in Mulder's guard and throws a big left but Mulder blocks it.
Vela won't allow Mulder to get back to his feet.
Mulder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vela.

Mulder is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vela is aware though and is defending well.
Mulder looking for a sweep. Not yet Mulder, not yet.
Vela stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mulder swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vela stands and throws Mulder's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is trying to control Vela's posture but Vela avoids it.
Vela has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vela trying to control the position but Mulder is working away.
Mulder managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Vela.
Niek Mulder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mulder wants to control but Vela postures up.
Vela works to advance to full mount. Mulder defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Mulder is squirming around, avoiding Vela's attempts to control the action.
Mulder wants to hold on but Vela pushes him away.
Vela looking to control but Mulder is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mulder tries to lock up and control but Vela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vela in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mulder tries to lock up and control but Vela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mulder is squirming around, avoiding Vela's attempts to control the action.
Vela lands a nice shot to the head.
Mulder keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mulder is looking to escape.
Mulder is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vela wants to control the pace but Mulder is squirming around nicely.
Vela avoids the attempt from Mulder to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pedro Vela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Vela darts in looking for a takedown but Mulder gets double underhooks and turns Vela into the cage.
As Vela looks to move away, Mulder throws a big counter combo but Vela just gets out of the way.
Mulder stuffs the takedown.
Vela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mulder sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vela somewhat.
Niek Mulder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Vela.
Vela shoots for a double leg takedown but Mulder sprawls well. He's pushed Vela's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Mulder shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mulder performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mulder working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulder working the head and body with strikes.
Vela taking some punishment here, with Mulder in his half guard.
Mulder is keen to just control but Vela is a slippery customer.
Vela is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mulder in particular looking to stall.
Mulder seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vela for as long as he can get away with.
Vela taking some punishment here, with Mulder in his half guard.
Mulder drops an elbow to the side of Vela's head.
Vela tries to get to full guard but Mulder has control of the leg.
Vela is trying to maintain the position but Mulder is very close to passing his half guard.
Vela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mulder scores with a couple of nice shots.
Vela wants to get back to full guard.
Vela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulder is nestled in close to Vela, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Mulder.
Mulder looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Vela flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mulder is thwarting Vela's attempts to control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mulder in particular looking to stall.
Vela manages to get to full guard.
Vela throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mulder is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vela looking for a sweep. Not yet Vela, not yet.
Mulder lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mulder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vela can do to turn this around?
Vela looking to control.

Vela looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vela being controlled here, momentarily.
Vela can't keep his opponent in guard - Mulder advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vela wants to get back to full guard.
Mulder with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vela has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mulder is working away from the top position though.
Mulder wants to pass the guard but Vela is defending well.
Mulder is trying to control. Vela wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Mulder seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Vela shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vela wants to take a breather but Mulder is having none of it.
Mulder is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niek Mulder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mulder 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niek Mulder!
A less than humble Niek Mulder misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.