PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Logan Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Oliver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Cullen
vs
Oliver

184 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Logan Cullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathan Oliver!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cullen scores with a takedown into Oliver's guard.
Cullen wants to get up but he can't break Oliver's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cullen trying to control but Oliver is working from the bottom.
Oliver controls Cullen momentarily but Cullen frees himself.
Oliver pulls Cullen in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cullen trying to control but Oliver is working from the bottom.
Oliver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Oliver is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cullen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Oliver is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cullen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliver with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cullen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oliver won't be happy with that.
Cullen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oliver keeps working.
Oliver manages to get back to half guard.

Oliver actively working from the bottom here.
Oliver wants to control but Cullen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Oliver tries to roll over but Cullen keeps him under control.
Oliver is staying active underneath Cullen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cullen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Cullen is breathing heavily.
Cullen blocks the strikes from Oliver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Cullen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Oliver counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cullen!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oliver raining down shots from the mount!
Cullen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Oliver.
Oliver connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Oliver cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Oliver is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cullen is surviving well by controlling Oliver's body position as best he can.
Oliver looking to control but Cullen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Oliver lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver scoring with strikes but Cullen is staying in there.
Oliver connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Oliver putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Oliver with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cullen tries to hold on but Oliver pushes him away.
Cullen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cullen tries to hold on but Oliver postures up.
Cullen is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Cullen is looking to get to half guard.

That's four 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.
Cullen is squirming around, avoiding Oliver's attempts to control the action.
Oliver working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Oliver in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Oliver landing punches.
Cullen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Oliver has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cullen's face.
Oliver is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cullen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cullen wants to control but Oliver is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cullen is trying desperately to improve position.
Cullen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Oliver dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cullen tries to clinch

and Oliver counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cullen won't be happy with that.
Oliver working away.
Oliver working the ground and pound.

Oliver is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cullen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cullen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Oliver stops Cullen from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cullen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cullen wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliver sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cullen defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Oliver scores with a couple of nice shots.
Oliver with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Oliver is looking to take a break and control but Cullen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cullen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cullen tries to get out of the position.
Oliver thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Oliver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cullen looks like he's trying to stand up.

Oliver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cullen is just riding it out for now. Oliver eventually gives up the hold.
Cullen manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen is looking to stand up but Oliver isn't so interested in that idea.
Cullen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oliver is one step ahead there.
Cullen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Oliver on the ground.
Oliver advances position into side control!
Oliver cracks Cullen with a big right hand but Cullen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Oliver in the domination position with Cullen hanging on.
Cullen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Oliver's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen trying to control but Oliver postures up.
Cullen is looking for a sweep. Oliver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Oliver is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Oliver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cullen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Oliver is looking for a kimura but Cullen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Oliver to get the leverage.
Cullen trying to control from the bottom.

Oliver is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cullen defends it well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
No luck for Cullen with that takedown attempt.

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.

Oliver drives through and clinches with Cullen against the cage.
Cullen tries to land a knee to the head but Oliver blocks with his arms.

Oliver jumps guard and drags Cullen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cullen stopping the sweep attempt from Oliver.

Oliver had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cullen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Oliver Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cullen's back instead.
Oliver punishes Cullen with strikes from the back mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Oliver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cullen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Oliver counters with a series of strikes. Cullen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Oliver misses with a takedown attempt

and Cullen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cullen.
Oliver throwing short punches from the bottom.
Oliver trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Oliver looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cullen is one step ahead there.
Cullen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Oliver is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cullen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Oliver is trying to hold Cullen in close to prevent damage but Cullen has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen is thwarting Oliver's attempts to control the position.
Nathan Oliver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cullen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Oliver gets a takedown into half guard.
Well, if Oliver is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cullen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Oliver.
Cullen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cullen tries to kick Oliver off but Oliver keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Oliver is tying to control. Cullen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cullen wants to control but Oliver is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Oliver wants to pass the guard but Cullen is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oliver doesn't manage to clinch there - Cullen circles away.

Cullen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cullen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oliver has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cullen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cullen trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oliver looking for a sweep. Not yet Oliver, not yet.

Cullen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cullen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Cullen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Logan Cullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

Oliver has his foot on Cullen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cullen works his way back into a safe position though.
Oliver controlling the position.
Cullen slips nicely into half guard.
Oliver works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oliver controlling Cullen's posture.
Cullen with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nathan Oliver.
Well Oliver 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Oliver!