PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ian Mueller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Kaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ian Mueller has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mueller
vs
Kaga

209 cm
24
194 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ian Mueller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shinji Kaga!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mueller avoids it really well and circles away.
Kaga throws a body shot but no joy.

Kaga darts in and clinches Mueller up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mueller.
Kaga tries to pull guard but Mueller won't allow it.

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

Kaga gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller tries to pull guard but Kaga forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kaga.
Mueller jumps guard but Kaga stands there with Mueller around his waist. Mueller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mueller is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kaga to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Mueller. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller lands a nice elbow.
Kaga tries to land knees in the clinch but Mueller avoids the damage to the body.
Kaga working hard to break the clinch.
Mueller fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mueller gets control of Kaga's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mueller will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kaga trying to control but Mueller is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mueller holds on and takes a little breather.
Kaga looking to sit in guard and control but Mueller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mueller working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mueller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mueller stops Kaga from standing up.

Kaga has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mueller is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kaga.
Mueller throws an elbow but Kaga slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mueller controlling the position.
Mueller has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kaga is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mueller working the ground and pound.
Kaga trying to control but Mueller flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Kaga is in bad spot here.
Mueller is trying to stick to Kaga's back but Kaga is turning into Mueller. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mueller's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kaga.
Mueller trying to control the position here.
Kaga prevents Mueller from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mueller pulls Kaga in close to his closed guard and prevents Kaga from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kaga trying to control but Mueller is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kaga has gone for a leg lock! Mueller slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kaga's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kaga clinches.
Mueller is trying to pull guard but Kaga turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kaga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mueller takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kaga drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kaga jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaga keeping moving, preventing Mueller from controlling successfully.
Mueller throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaga wants to sweep but no luck.
Kaga is striking but Mueller is not phased and passes to half guard.
Kaga wants to control but Mueller is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mueller thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kaga's head.
Mueller throwing shots but Kaga is blocking nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kaga tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mueller defends well and Kaga ends up having to push Mueller into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

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.
Kaga is looking to score with low kicks.
Kaga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mueller was well out of range. Poor timing from Kaga.
Mueller tries to counter with a takedown but Kaga is quick to defend against it.

Kaga clinches.
Mueller fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kaga gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mueller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kaga just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Mueller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaga tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mueller just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kaga is trying to break the clinch but Mueller is controlling him.
Kaga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mueller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kaga wants to break free but Mueller has control.
Mueller fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mueller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kaga is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kaga is breathing heavily.
Mueller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kaga just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mueller tries to pull guard but Kaga holds him up against the cage and eventually Mueller drops back down to his feet.
Mueller jumps guard but Kaga turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mueller tries to circle away but Kaga has him pinned against the cage.
Mueller jumps guard but Kaga turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mueller tries to pull guard but Kaga won't allow it.
Mueller is trying to pull guard but Kaga turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Kaga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kaga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mueller stuffs the takedown attempt from Kaga. Kaga gets slowly back to his feet.
Mueller half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Kaga forces Mueller back against the cage and clinches.
Kaga stalling the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kaga as Mueller tries to tie him up.
Kaga trying to stall but Mueller improves his position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mueller takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Kaga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mueller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kaga changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mueller tries to avoid it but Kaga manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mueller to the ground. Mueller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kaga closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kaga scores with a nice hook to the head.

Mueller drags the fight down to the ground.
Kaga trying to control but Mueller is working from the bottom.
Kaga stopping the sweep attempt from Mueller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kaga tries to stand but Mueller is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaga looking to pass the guard.
Mueller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaga wants to control from the top but Mueller keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kaga throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mueller sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Kaga gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mueller's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shinji Kaga seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mueller fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kaga is looking to control Mueller's arms but Mueller gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kaga has his back to the cage.

Kaga pulls guard effortlessly.
Kaga is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mueller is pressing down on Kaga's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Kaga has gone for a leg lock! Mueller slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kaga's guard.

Kaga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mueller is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaga has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mueller has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mueller decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kaga to his feet.
Mueller tries a low kick but Kaga avoids it.
Kaga shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mueller sprawls well. Mueller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kaga gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kaga closes the distance and pushes Mueller back into the cage.

Mueller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kaga gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mueller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ian Mueller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Kaga.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mueller jumps guard but Kaga turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shinji Kaga.
I think Kaga 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ian Mueller!