PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Agravain HardStyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

HardStyle
vs
Mullen

182 cm
19
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
162 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Agravain HardStyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

HardStyle scores a takedown into full mount!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

HardStyle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
HardStyle looking to finish with strikes here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
HardStyle sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
HardStyle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mullen working to try and regain half guard.
Mullen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with HardStyle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

HardStyle goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mullen turns into him and now he's in HardStyle's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HardStyle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

HardStyle is looking for a triangle but Mullen pushes his legs off easily.
HardStyle wants to sweep here but Mullen controlling him for the moment.

HardStyle escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mullen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
HardStyle keeping moving, preventing Mullen from controlling successfully.
Mullen connects with a couple of short punches.

HardStyle looking for subs off his back but Mullen has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullen is stalling here. HardStyle is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mullen seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and HardStyle has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Mullen is looking to reverse the position.

HardStyle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

HardStyle decides to stand back up.
HardStyle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mullen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mullen shoots in for a takedown but HardStyle shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mullen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mullen tries to bum rush HardStyle with a series of wild strikes but HardStyle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mullen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mullen fails to land with a series of punches.
HardStyle shoots in but Mullen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
HardStyle fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mullen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
HardStyle dives in and grabs Mullen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mullen pushes down on HardStyle's head and hops out.

HardStyle clinches.

Mullen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mullen misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mullen.
Mullen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but HardStyle avoids it really well and circles away.
HardStyle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mullen pinned against the cage. Mullen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agravain HardStyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
HardStyle with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mullen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
HardStyle is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mullen misses with a wild combination.
Mullen looks to land a combination but HardStyle avoids it well.
Horrible takedown by HardStyle or perhaps it was just good defense by Mullen which made him look bad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from HardStyle.
Mullen swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Agravain HardStyle dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

HardStyle shoots for a double leg takedown but Mullen sprawls well. He's pushed HardStyle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from HardStyle.
HardStyle shoots for a takedown but Mullen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agravain HardStyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
HardStyle shoots in but no luck this time.
Mullen scores with a three punch combo!
Mullen lands a two punch combo.
Mullen misses with a series of wild punches.
Agravain HardStyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mullen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but HardStyle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
HardStyle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mullen.
Mullen misses with a wild combination.
Agravain HardStyle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
HardStyle misses with a takedown attempt
and Mullen counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mullen.
Mullen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
HardStyle tries for a takedown but Mullen circles away easily
and Mullen counters with a right hand to the body.
Mullen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mullen is looking to slow HardStyle down with leg kicks.
Mullen fails to land with a series of punches.
HardStyle doesn't manage to clinch there - Mullen circles away.
Mullen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mullen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
HardStyle slips a jab and a cross from Mullen.
HardStyle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Mullen counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HardStyle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mullen as he jumps to the side.
Mullen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
HardStyle stuffs the takedown attempt from Mullen. Mullen gets slowly back to his feet.
HardStyle shoots in for a takedown but Mullen shows good takedown defense.
Paul Mullen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mullen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mullen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mullen swinging wildly here.
Mullen misses with a takedown attempt - HardStyle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
HardStyle fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen misses with the combination.
HardStyle misses with a takedown
and Mullen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mullen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by HardStyle.
HardStyle has his takedown stuffed
and Mullen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
HardStyle tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mullen counters with a series of strikes. HardStyle will be more careful next time no doubt.
HardStyle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and HardStyle wants it to stay on the feet.
HardStyle misses with a takedown attempt

and Mullen counters with a shoot takedown. HardStyle fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

HardStyle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mullen landing some decent shots from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
HardStyle keeping moving, preventing Mullen from controlling successfully.

Mullen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mullen throws a nice looking combination but HardStyle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
HardStyle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mullen counters with a takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mullen looks up at the clock and then as HardStyle takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mullen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
HardStyle taking punishment in the form of punches.
HardStyle is trying to work for a sweep but Mullen has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Mullen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Mullen swinging wildly here.
Mullen tries to bum rush HardStyle with a series of wild strikes but HardStyle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mullen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but HardStyle avoids it really well and circles away.
HardStyle doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mullen counters with a one-two to the body.
HardStyle has his takedown stuffed
and Mullen counters with a three punch combo that has HardStyle backing up. HardStyle nods at Mullen to acknowledge the strikes.

HardStyle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mullen wants to pass the guard but HardStyle is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
HardStyle can't keep his opponent in guard - Mullen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
HardStyle tries to get to full guard but Mullen has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
HardStyle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mullen.
HardStyle regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mullen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mullen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mullen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mullen landing with the ground and pound.
Mullen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. HardStyle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mullen postures up in HardStyle's guard and throws a big left but HardStyle blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

HardStyle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mullen is aware though and is defending well.
Mullen postures up in HardStyle's guard and throws a big left but HardStyle blocks it.
Mullen won't allow HardStyle to sweep him here.
Mullen tries to free his leg and advance position but HardStyle is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
HardStyle is trying to keep Mullen in close.

HardStyle is looking for a triangle but Mullen pushes his legs off easily.
HardStyle keeping full guard, as Mullen tries to pass.
Mullen working some strikes from top position.
Mullen lands a couple of digs.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mullen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

HardStyle has his foot on Mullen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mullen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen advances position into side control!
HardStyle wants to control but Mullen postures up.

Mullen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
HardStyle tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mullen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mullen working the body and head with strikes.
HardStyle taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mullen tries to advance to mount but HardStyle denies him.
Mullen wants to stand but HardStyle has his arm trapped.
Mullen blocks the strikes from HardStyle.
HardStyle manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HardStyle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for HardStyle.

HardStyle had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mullen defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mullen is pushing down on HardStyle's leg trying to pass to half guard. HardStyle is fighting to maintain full guard but Mullen has managed to sneak the leg through.
HardStyle trying to control here.
Mullen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
HardStyle wants to improve his position but Mullen is controlling well.
Mullen is nestled in close to HardStyle, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
HardStyle landing rabbit punches to the side of Mullen's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Mullen lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Mullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mullen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Mullen!