PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nursultan Nasarbajew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adrian McMullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adrian McMullen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nursultan Nasarbajew's chin.

Nasarbajew
vs
McMullen

178 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
26
176 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

VICIOUS

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nursultan Nasarbajew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Adrian McMullen!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nasarbajew has his takedown stuffed

and McMullen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nasarbajew!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The strikes coming from McMullen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

McMullen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McMullen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McMullen lands an elbow.
McMullen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
McMullen in side control, throwing shots but Nasarbajew defends.
McMullen is trying to ground and pound but Nasarbajew uses the momentary lack of control by McMullen to regain half guard.
McMullen stalling away here and it's allowed Nasarbajew to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMullen forces his way into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw McMullen working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

McMullen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McMullen misses with a head shot. Nasarbajew uses the momentum to regain guard.
McMullen throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMullen is looking to work some ground and pound but Nasarbajew has wrist control.
McMullen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nasarbajew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McMullen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McMullen passes into half guard.
McMullen trying to mount his opponent but Nasarbajew defends it.
McMullen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMullen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nasarbajew with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McMullen working Nasarbajew over with strikes.
McMullen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

McMullen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

McMullen is working for a kimura but Nasarbajew is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasarbajew is trying to stand back up but McMullen is controlling him
Nasarbajew avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McMullen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McMullen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nasarbajew does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adrian McMullen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nasarbajew misses with a takedown

and McMullen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McMullen trying to control the action but Nasarbajew is working from the bottom.

McMullen is trying to work for a kimura but Nasarbajew is defending well.
Nasarbajew is looking to escape.

McMullen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

McMullen is looking for a kimura but Nasarbajew is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McMullen to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McMullen is looking for a kimura here.

McMullen looking for a submission but Nasarbajew manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
McMullen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMullen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McMullen stops Nasarbajew from standing up.
McMullen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McMullen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McMullen is looking to work some ground and pound but Nasarbajew has wrist control.
McMullen trying to control but Nasarbajew is working from the bottom.
McMullen throwing strikes from guard but Nasarbajew blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMullen postures up in Nasarbajew's guard and throws a big left but Nasarbajew blocks it.
McMullen throws a big right hand that misses.
McMullen looking to sit in guard and control but Nasarbajew gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McMullen has his foot on Nasarbajew's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nasarbajew works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nasarbajew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nasarbajew working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McMullen has momentary wrist control but Nasarbajew slips an elbow through the middle.

McMullen working for a triangle but Nasarbajew defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nasarbajew accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Nasarbajew got a little sloppy there for a moment and McMullen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nasarbajew has managed to get both his arms back between McMullen's legs - danger averted.
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!

McMullen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nasarbajew defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasarbajew in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nasarbajew missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

McMullen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nasarbajew gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Nasarbajew avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McMullen is breathing heavily.
Nasarbajew postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Nasarbajew got a little sloppy there for a moment and McMullen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nasarbajew has managed to get both his arms back between McMullen's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nasarbajew throwing strikes from guard but McMullen blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McMullen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nasarbajew throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adrian McMullen 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!

Nasarbajew fails with the takedown

and McMullen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McMullen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

McMullen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McMullen works his way into side control.
McMullen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMullen tries to score with some ground and pound. Nasarbajew controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Nasarbajew regains half guard, as McMullen was trying to land strikes.

McMullen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

McMullen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

McMullen is working for a kimura but Nasarbajew is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMullen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McMullen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nasarbajew is refusing to be controlled, as McMullen sits in half guard.
McMullen wants to free his trapped foot but Nasarbajew is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMullen is trying to control the action in half guard but Nasarbajew is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McMullen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

McMullen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nasarbajew is trying to stand.

McMullen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nasarbajew is just riding it out for now. McMullen eventually gives up the hold.
Nasarbajew wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasarbajew avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McMullen.
McMullen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasarbajew defending well though.
McMullen misses with a head shot. Nasarbajew uses the momentum to regain guard.
McMullen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nursultan Nasarbajew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adrian McMullen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McMullen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adrian McMullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McMullen 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adrian McMullen!