PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Rickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blackjack Mulligan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mulligan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Superstition. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rickson
vs
Mulligan

210 cm
19
220 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
240 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benny Rickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blackjack Mulligan!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rickson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mulligan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rickson throws a head kick that misses.
Rickson lands a head kick!
Mulligan blocks a head kick by Rickson.
Rickson shoots in looking for a takedown. Mulligan tries to sprawl out of it but Rickson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mulligan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rickson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mulligan misses with a few strikes there.
Rickson tries a head kick but it misses.
Mulligan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rickson at a distance.
Mulligan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rickson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mulligan as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Rickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rickson checks a leg kick.
Mulligan misses with a body kick.
Mulligan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mulligan throws a hook to the side of Rickson's head but Rickson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rickson tries a head kick but it misses.
Mulligan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mulligan fails to land with a series of punches.
Rickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rickson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mulligan pinned against the cage. Mulligan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulligan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mulligan fails to land with a series of punches.
Mulligan blocks a head kick by Rickson.
Rickson wants to clinch up but Mulligan keeps it at a distance.
Rickson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rickson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
No joy there for Mulligan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mulligan takes a swing at Rickson's ribcage but misses.
Mulligan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rickson throws a series of punches but Mulligan avoids them all with ease.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mulligan.
Rickson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mulligan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rickson is looking to get back to full guard here but Mulligan has managed to pass to side control instead.
Rickson is breathing heavily.
Mulligan lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rickson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rickson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mulligan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mulligan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mulligan wants to control the pace but Rickson is squirming around nicely.
Mulligan is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rickson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rickson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mulligan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rickson taking shots to the head.
Mulligan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rickson is looking to get to half guard.
Mulligan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rickson hang on?
Mulligan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rickson gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mulligan 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.
Rickson wants to improve his position but Mulligan is controlling well.
Rickson is staying active underneath Mulligan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mulligan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mulligan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mulligan lands a nice shot to the head.
Rickson is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mulligan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mulligan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mulligan with the ground and pound from mount.
Mulligan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mulligan working Rickson over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rickson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mulligan landing strikes from the mount and Rickson is in trouble!
Mulligan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rickson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mulligan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mulligan lands with some strikes.
Mulligan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rickson tries to reverse the position but Mulligan maintains control.
Rickson is bucking up trying to escape but Mulligan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rickson is looking to get to half guard.
Mulligan scoring with strikes but Rickson is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackjack Mulligan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mulligan misses with a series of wild punches.
A right-left combo lands from Rickson.
Rickson throws a head kick but Mulligan moves out of range.
Benny Rickson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rickson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rickson is looking to clinch but Mulligan is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Rickson.
Rickson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mulligan's head.
Mulligan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rickson as he avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Rickson.
Rickson avoids the head kick by Mulligan.
A head kick by Rickson misses
and Mulligan counters with a two punch combo.
Decent striking displayed by Mulligan there.

Rickson closes the distance and clinches.
Rickson throws an elbow that misses.
Rickson throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rickson throws an elbow but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mulligan lands a body shot.
Rickson misses with an elbow strike.
Rickson misses with an elbow strike.
Rickson pushes off an throws an elbow but Mulligan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rickson stops a takedown attempt from Mulligan.
Mulligan blocks an elbow strike from Rickson.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rickson.

Mulligan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rickson clinches but Mulligan breaks the clinch

and Mulligan counters with a takedown into side control.
Mulligan working the head and body with strikes.
Mulligan landing a few strikes.
Mulligan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mulligan working the ground and pound.
Rickson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mulligan.
Rickson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rickson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rickson is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mulligan throws a head kick but Rickson moves out of range.
Rickson lands a head kick. Mulligan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Mulligan looks to land a combination but Rickson avoids it well.
Rickson stuffs the takedown.
Benny Rickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blackjack Mulligan.
Mulligan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mulligan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Benny Rickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rickson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mulligan gets a takedown into half guard.

Rickson actively working from the bottom here.
Mulligan winds up and cracks Rickson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mulligan moves into full mount! Rickson won't be happy about that!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rickson is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rickson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mulligan dominating with strikes here.
Mulligan unloading with bombs!
Mulligan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rickson is looking to improve his position but Mulligan isn't that keen on the idea.
Mulligan working the ground and pound effectively.
Rickson can't escape the position.
Rickson is in a horrible position here. Mulligan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rickson is trying to escape the mount.
Mulligan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mulligan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rickson is trying desperately to improve position.
Mulligan dominating with strikes here.
Rickson is desperately trying to improve his position but Mulligan has a good base and remains in mount.
Mulligan is landing with some decent strikes but Rickson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rickson can't escape the position.
Mulligan working the ground and pound effectively.
Rickson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackjack Mulligan 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mulligan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mulligan showed some decent athleticism there.
Mulligan wants to free his trapped foot but Rickson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rickson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rickson.
Mulligan preventing the sweep.
Mulligan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Rickson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rickson has his foot on Mulligan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mulligan works his way back into a safe position though.
Mulligan is working Rickson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mulligan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mulligan chips away with some ground and pound.
Mulligan stands up over Rickson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rickson is working an open guard so Mulligan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rickson lands with a kick to the temple. Mulligan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mulligan connects with a single shot there.
Mulligan misses with a wild combination.
Rickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rickson works over Mulligan's head and body with a nice combination.

Mulligan clinches up against the cage.
Mulligan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rickson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Mulligan turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mulligan manages to end up in side control.
Mulligan working the body and head with strikes.
Rickson regains half guard.
Blackjack Mulligan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mulligan thows a huge punch but Rickson dodges it nicely.
Mulligan is tying to control. Rickson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rickson tries to roll over but Mulligan keeps him under control.
Rickson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rickson wants to sweep but no luck.
Mulligan lands a couple of digs.

Rickson is looking for a triangle but Mulligan pushes his legs off easily.
Rickson keeping moving, preventing Mulligan from controlling successfully.
Mulligan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mulligan lands a couple of elbows.
Mulligan is looking to work some ground and pound but Rickson has wrist control.

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 avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mulligan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rickson connects with a high kick.
Rickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rickson tries a head kick but it misses.
Mulligan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rickson tries to clinch but Mulligan moves away

and Mulligan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rickson's guard now.
Mulligan passes Rickson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mulligan blocks the strikes from Rickson.

Rickson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rickson is looking for a sweep. Mulligan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mulligan connects with a nice short shot to Rickson's temple.
Mulligan blocks the strikes from Rickson.
Mulligan winds up and cracks Rickson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mulligan prevents Rickson from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rickson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mulligan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rickson.
Rickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big right from Mulligan misses.
Rickson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rickson dodges the punch combination from Mulligan.
Rickson closes the distance but Mulligan moves to the side

and Mulligan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rickson!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mulligan lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rickson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Benny Rickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rickson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Blackjack Mulligan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mulligan controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blackjack Mulligan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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