PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zep Mathulian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Sullivan Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sullivan's choice of entrance music: Crook4Life. Jacob Sullivan Sullivan looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Mathulian
vs
Sullivan Sullivan

178 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zep Mathulian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob Sullivan Sullivan!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mathulian gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mathulian is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sullivan dives into side control.
Mathulian is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sullivan off and has taken his back!
Sullivan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sullivan turns into Mathulian and is now in his guard.
Mathulian keeping full guard, as Sullivan tries to pass.

Mathulian has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sullivan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mathulian scores with a short punch from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan stopping the sweep attempt from Mathulian.

Sullivan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mathulian manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sullivan has Mathulian in his guard.
Mathulian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sullivan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mathulian has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mathulian thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mathulian is pushing down on Sullivan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sullivan is fighting to maintain full guard but Mathulian has managed to sneak the leg through.

Sullivan actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sullivan looks gassed!
Mathulian looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mathulian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Mathulian is trying to work for a kimura but Sullivan is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mathulian tries to clinch but Sullivan moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sullivan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mathulian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sullivan is one step ahead there.
Sullivan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mathulian is trying to control but Sullivan manages to pass to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sullivan tries to control but Mathulian wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathulian regains half guard.

Sullivan seems to be working for a kimura but Mathulian defends the submission attempt.
Mathulian is looking for a sweep. Sullivan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathulian moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sullivan wants to pass the guard but Mathulian is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Sullivan Sullivan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sullivan swats away the attempt to clinch by Mathulian.
Mathulian tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zep Mathulian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mathulian gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mathulian misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sullivan.
Sullivan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mathulian avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mathulian wants a takedown but no success here.
Mathulian misses with an elbow strike.
Mathulian lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Jacob Sullivan Sullivan has been cut.
Sullivan avoids the elbow strike from Mathulian, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Mathulian.
Sullivan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mathulian pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sullivan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zep Mathulian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Sullivan Sullivan.
Sullivan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathulian rushes Sullivan and presses him up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Mathulian.

Mathulian jumps guard.
Mathulian doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mathulian looking for a sweep. Not yet Mathulian, not yet.
Mathulian is trying to keep Sullivan in close.
Mathulian wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two 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.
Sullivan trying to control but Mathulian is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sullivan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sullivan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mathulian is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan controlling the position easily from mount.
Mathulian is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sullivan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mathulian is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mathulian tries to hold on but Sullivan pushes him away.
Sullivan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mathulian tries to reverse the position but Sullivan maintains control.
Sullivan wants to control the pace but Mathulian is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sullivan avoids the attempt from Mathulian to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jacob Sullivan Sullivan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jacob Sullivan Sullivan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Sullivan or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathulian which made him look bad.
Sullivan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mathulian tries to avoid it but Sullivan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mathulian to the ground. Mathulian escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sullivan shoots for a double leg takedown but Mathulian sprawls well. He's pushed Sullivan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zep Mathulian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Sullivan Sullivan.
Mathulian with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sullivan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mathulian's guard now.
Mathulian is trying to control the position but Sullivan postures up.

Mathulian has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sullivan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sullivan won't allow Mathulian to sweep him here.

Mathulian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sullivan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sullivan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan stands up over Mathulian, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mathulian is trying to hold Sullivan in close to prevent damage but Sullivan has managed to pass into half guard.

Sullivan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mathulian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sullivan is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mathulian is trying to stand.
Mathulian throws a strike from the bottom but Sullivan passes into side control!
Mathulian is trying to get back to half guard.
Mathulian manages to get back to half guard.
Sullivan trying to control from half guard but Mathulian is working away.
Jacob Sullivan Sullivan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sullivan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathulian is looking to improve his position.
Mathulian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mathulian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mathulian tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sullivan passes Mathulian's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mathulian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sullivan is working away from the top position though.
Mathulian is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sullivan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sullivan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathulian is staying active underneath Sullivan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zep Mathulian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacob Sullivan Sullivan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathulian punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Sullivan Sullivan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sullivan 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Sullivan Sullivan!