PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Nolan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Nolan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nolan
vs
Mullen

190 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
205 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Nolan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nolan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mullen.
Nolan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mullen misses with a kick to the body.
Mullen avoids the body shot from Nolan.
Nolan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mullen circles away quickly and effectively.
Nolan throws the kick towards the body but Mullen avoids it.
Mullen lands with a kick to the temple. Nolan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mullen throws a sloppy head kick and Nolan moves out of range easily.
Nolan throws a hook but Mullen avoids it easily.
Mullen moves away from the strike by Nolan.
Nolan looks to land a combination but Mullen avoids it well.
Nolan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nolan takes a swing at Mullen's ribcage but misses.
Nolan misses with an uppercut. Mullen saw that one coming.
Nolan misses with a wild combination.
Nolan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Steve Mullen has been cut.
Nolan avoids the head kick by Mullen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolan looks for the body kick but Mullen saw that one coming.
Nolan walks forward, straight into a front kick from Mullen.
Nolan misses with a series of wild punches.
Nolan throws a head kick that misses.
Nolan looks to throw the jab but Mullen is out of range.
Mullen moves in looking to clinch but Nolan pushes him off.
Nolan tries a head kick but it misses.
Mullen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nolan misses with a body shot.
Mullen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mullen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Mullen instigates a clinch.
Mullen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nolan's efforts to push away.
Nolan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mullen landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nolan is trying to force a seperation but Mullen has the dominant position.
Knees to the body from Mullen.
Nolan is breathing heavily.
Mullen lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mullen obliges.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nolan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nolan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nolan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mullen has him pressed against the cage.
Mullen with a knee to the head.
Mullen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mullen obliges.
Mullen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nolan's face.
Mullen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen lands a knee to the head.
Mullen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen working Nolan over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Mullen scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Mullen.
Mullen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nolan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mullen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mullen obliges.
Mullen connects with a knee to the head.
Mullen with a knee to the head.
Mullen lands a nice knee to the body.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Nolan is blocking nicely.
Nolan has had enough of the clinch but Mullen keeps him there for the moment.
Nolan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mullen scores with a knee to the head.
Nolan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mullen backwards.
Mullen misses with a knee strike.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nolan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Nolan fails to land.
Mullen tries a knee to the head but Nolan blocks it.
Mullen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nolan's face.
Nolan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mullen has him pressed against the cage.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Nolan is blocking nicely.
Mullen scores with a knee to the head.
Nolan tries to break the clinch but Mullen is controlling the position.
Mullen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nolan blocks it with crossed arms.
Mullen tries a knee to the head but Nolan blocks it.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nolan blocks it with crossed arms.
Mullen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nolan is trying to break free.
Mullen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nolan wants to get back to striking at distance but Mullen won't allow it.
Nolan is trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Mullen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Mullen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mullen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nolan tests Mullen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nolan misses with a head kick.
Nolan misses with a looping left.
Nolan scores with a sloppy right hand. Mullen should have avoided that one.
Nolan looks to land a body kick but Mullen moved away.
Nolan tries a head kick but it misses.
Mullen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nolan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mullen clinches.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nolan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mullen with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mullen blocking some punches.
Mullen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nolan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mullen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mullen lands an elbow inside that Nolan shrugs off.
Mullen lands a nice elbow.
Nolan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mullen crunches a lovely knee into Nolan's ribcage.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nolan.
Mullen lands an elbow that stopped Nolan in his tracks for a moment.
Mullen throws a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mullen lands a knee to the head.
Nolan misses with some punches.
Mullen connects with a knee to the head.
Mullen misses with a knee to the head.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Nolan is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nolan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nolan tries to break free but Mullen pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A frustrated look appears on Nolan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mullen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen misses with a knee to the head.
Mullen connects with a knee to the head.
Nolan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nolan tries to break the clinch but Mullen is controlling the position.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Nolan blocks with his arms.

Nolan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mullen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nolan tries to break the clinch but Mullen is controlling the position.
Nolan managing to block the knees to the body from Mullen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolan tries a body shot but Mullen blocks it.
Nolan is leaning against Mullen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nolan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mullen has him pressed against the cage.
Mullen blocks a body shot from Nolan.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mullen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mullen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nolan is defending well for now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mullen landing knees to the head.
Steve Mullen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mullen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Mullen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nolan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mullen misses with a knee to the head.
Nolan stalling in the clinch but Mullen improves position.
Mullen landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mullen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mullen crunches a lovely knee into Nolan's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen misses with a knee strike.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nolan blocks it with crossed arms.
Mullen misses with a knee strike.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Nolan blocks with his arms.
Nolan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mullen connects with a knee to the head.

Nolan manages to break the clinch.
Mullen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nolan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nolan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mullen manages to avoid it.
John Nolan is winning the standup battle so far.
Mullen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nolan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mullen was well out of range. Poor timing from Nolan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mullen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nolan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Mullen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Mullen's cut.
That's time! Nolan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Nolan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mullen counters by clinching up.
Nolan tries to break free but Mullen pushes him back against the cage.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nolan avoids it.
Mullen throws an elbow that misses.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mullen obliges.
Nolan has had enough of the clinch but Mullen keeps him there for the moment.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nolan tries to break the clinch but Mullen is controlling the position.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nolan avoids it.
Nolan tries to circle away but Mullen has him pinned against the cage.
Mullen lands a knee to the head.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nolan.
A frustrated look appears on Nolan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Nolan blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nolan managing to block the knees to the body from Mullen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolan working hard to break the clinch.
Mullen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nolan is trying to push Mullen away but Mullen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nolan is trying to break free.
Nolan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nolan avoiding damage as Mullen throws knees to the body.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nolan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mullen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees to the body from Mullen.
Mullen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nolan looking to stall.
Mullen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Nolan manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nolan blocks a head kick by Mullen.
Sloppy strikes from Nolan. Those never looked like landing.
Nolan throws a nice looking combination but Mullen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mullen throws a head kick but Nolan moves out of range.
Nolan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nolan throws a series of punches but Mullen avoids them all with ease.
Mullen throws a front kick that sends Nolan stumbling back into the cage.

Mullen has closed the distance and engaged Nolan in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nolan breaks from the clinch.
Nolan throws a series of punches but Mullen avoids them all with ease.
Mullen throws a head kick that Nolan semi-blocks.

Mullen clinches with his opponent.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nolan.
Mullen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mullen lands a damaging elbow.
Mullen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nolan's efforts to push away.
Nolan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mullen with a knee to the head.
Nolan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mullen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nolan can't break the clinch.
Nolan swings wildly with an uppercut but Mullen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nolan is trying to stall.
Nolan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nolan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mullen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nolan avoids it.
Mullen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nolan's efforts to push away.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mullen.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nolan can't break the clinch.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nolan.
A nice left hand lands by Nolan.
Mullen keeps control of Nolan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mullen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mullen with a knee to the head.
Mullen lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nolan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nolan has had enough of the clinch but Mullen keeps him there for the moment.
John Nolan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Mullen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mullen unloads a knee to the mid-section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Mullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mullen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Mullen!
Steve Mullen really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Steel Penn's Laundry 93% logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.