PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dave Tiernan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Mulligan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Mulligan told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tiernan
vs
Mulligan

175 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
147 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Tiernan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Mulligan!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiernan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mulligan avoids it really well and circles away.
Tiernan throws a right hand that Mulligan ducks under and follows up with a left that Mulligan also avoids with ease.
Mulligan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tiernan tries to close the distance and clinch but Mulligan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dave Tiernan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mulligan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tiernan.
Tiernan tries to clinch up.
Mulligan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiernan tries to clinch up but Mulligan circles away and keeps his distance.
Mulligan wants to clinch up but Tiernan keeps it at a distance.

Mulligan has managed to clinch.

Tiernan pulls Mulligan into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiernan is trying to control the position but Mulligan postures up.
Tiernan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mulligan has gone for a leg lock! Tiernan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mulligan's guard.
Tiernan wants to control from the top but Mulligan keeps moving.
Mulligan wants to sweep here but Tiernan controlling him for the moment.
Mulligan keeping moving, preventing Tiernan from controlling successfully.

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.
Tiernan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mulligan's head.
Mulligan wants to stand and escape but Tiernan is having none of it.
Tiernan wanted to stand there but Mulligan had control of the position.
Tiernan trying to control but Mulligan is working from the bottom.
Tiernan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mulligan tries to clinch up.
Tiernan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mulligan avoids it really well and circles away.
Mulligan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tiernan at a distance.

Tiernan moves into the clinch successfully.

Tiernan manages to break the clinch.
Tiernan tries to clinch
and Mulligan counters with a series of strikes. Tiernan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tiernan tries to clinch
and Mulligan counters with a right hand to the body.
Mulligan moves away from the strike by Tiernan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiernan fails with the takedown
and Mulligan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Tiernan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donk. Mulligan catches Tiernan right on the button with a cross.
Tiernan misses with a takedown attempt
and Mulligan counters with a nice body kick.
Tiernan is breathing heavily.
Mulligan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mulligan circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mulligan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mulligan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tommy Mulligan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tiernan tries for a takedown but Mulligan circles away easily

and Mulligan counters with a single leg into guard. Tiernan didn't expect that.
Tiernan controls Mulligan momentarily but Mulligan frees himself.
Mulligan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tiernan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Tiernan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mulligan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mulligan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tiernan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mulligan is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mulligan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiernan controls Mulligan momentarily but Mulligan frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tiernan shoots and misses
and Mulligan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mulligan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Mulligan connects with a body shot.
Tiernan misses with a low kick.
Tiernan throws a head kick that misses
and Mulligan counters with a left and a right that stings Tiernan.
Mulligan connects with a looping right hand.
Mulligan scores with a body shot.

Mulligan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tiernan!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mulligan moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Tiernan has worked his arm free - good work by Tiernan!

Mulligan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tiernan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mulligan cracks Tiernan with a big right hand but Tiernan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
You can see the frustration on Tiernan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tiernan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mulligan stands up.
Tiernan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mulligan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mulligan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Tiernan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mulligan jumps into guard, dragging Tiernan to the mat.
Mulligan looking for a sweep. Not yet Mulligan, not yet.

Mulligan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tiernan passes into half guard.
Tiernan wants to take a breather but Mulligan is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan wants to get back to his feet.

Tiernan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mulligan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tiernan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Mulligan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tiernan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tiernan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mulligan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tiernan is working away from the top position though.
Tiernan wants to pass to mount but Mulligan is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mulligan is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiernan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mulligan is looking to improve his position.
Mulligan trying to control but Tiernan postures up.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tiernan throws a combination that misses
and Mulligan counters with a right hand to the body.
Tiernan moves in looking to clinch but Mulligan pushes him off.
Dave Tiernan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mulligan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tiernan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mulligan keeps the fight on the outside.
Tiernan throws a half hearted mid kick.

Tiernan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tiernan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiernan looking to sit in guard and control but Mulligan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tiernan looking to control.

Tiernan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mulligan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mulligan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tiernan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mulligan defends it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mulligan stands up and waves to Tiernan to follow him.
Tiernan shoots and misses
and Mulligan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mulligan slips under a jab from Tiernan.
Mulligan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tiernan's calf.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiernan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dave Tiernan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mulligan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tiernan counters with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Tiernan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mulligan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Mulligan!