PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mehmet Muhammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cadan Ness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cadan Ness told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Muhammad
vs
Ness

188 cm
26
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
194 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mehmet Muhammad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cadan Ness!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ness throws a jab when Muhammad was well out of range.
Ness tries to bum rush Muhammad with a series of wild strikes but Muhammad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Muhammad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ness.
Ness wants to counter the offense by Muhammad and move into the clinch position.
Ness throws a jab but it's blocked by Muhammad.
Muhammad changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Muhammad decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Muhammad controlling the action here.
Ness is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Muhammad's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Muhammad's back!
Ness keeps control of the position as Muhammad tries to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ness doesn't have the hooks in and Muhammad manages to turn into his guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ness throws a shot to the body.
Ness looks to throw the jab but Muhammad is out of range.
Cadan Ness seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ness throws a jab but it's blocked by Muhammad.
Muhammad feinted with a counter takedown.

Ness gets caught flat footed, as Muhammad shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Muhammad is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muhammad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Muhammad showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ness pulls Muhammad in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ness thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ness wants to clinch up but Muhammad keeps it at a distance.
Muhammad changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ness ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ness throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ness staying out of range there.
Ness throws a jab when Muhammad was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ness shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ness throws a jab when Muhammad was well out of range.
Muhammad tries to counter with a takedown but Ness is quick to defend against it.

Muhammad shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ness trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muhammad controlling the action here.

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

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Muhammad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ness doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Muhammad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad trying to pass the guard but Ness defending well.
Ness trying to control from the bottom.
Muhammad looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Muhammad content to control rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ness misses with a body shot.
Ness's coach down at All Time Wrestling - 12 ELITE COACHES was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ness's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ness connects with a body shot that sends Muhammad's belly button to the back.
Muhammad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ness moves away.
Muhammad has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mehmet Muhammad will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Muhammad loads up on a big right hand but Ness slips the punch.
Ness throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ness throws a body shot but no joy.

Muhammad closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Muhammad lands in his opponent's guard.
Muhammad is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhammad wants to control from the top but Ness keeps moving.
Muhammad pushes down on Ness's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhammad perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ness is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Muhammad's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Muhammad's back!
Muhammad can't escape the position.
Muhammad manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ness's guard. Nice work there by Muhammad.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Ness misses the target.
Muhammad avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Muhammad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Muhammad throws a hook but Ness avoids it easily.
Ness punishes Muhammad's body with a nice straight punch.
A big right from Ness misses.
Muhammad tries to counter with a takedown but Ness is quick to defend against it.
Ness thuds a left hand into Muhammad's body.
Ness lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Muhammad at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ness.
Ness swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Muhammad shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Muhammad showed some decent athleticism there.

Muhammad is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ness defends it well.
Muhammad wants to free his trapped foot but Ness is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Muhammad seems to be working for a kimura but Ness defends the submission attempt.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ness wants to control but Muhammad is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ness gets back to full guard.
Muhammad has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ness is trying to control the position but Muhammad postures up.
Muhammad looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ness jabs Muhammad right on the nose. Muhammad blinks but takes it well.
Ness misses with a hook.
Ness scores with a shot to the body.

Muhammad drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Muhammad sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ness's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Muhammad wants to work for an arm triangle but Ness is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Muhammad seems content to control.

Muhammad is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ness is trying to get back to full guard.

Muhammad seems to be looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ness trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mehmet Muhammad will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ness wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Ness misses the target.

Muhammad fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ness sprawls well initially but Muhammad persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ness wants to control but Muhammad is keeping busy.
Muhammad content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Muhammad is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ness is trying to stand back up but Muhammad is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ness is looking to control Muhammad's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ness avoid being mounted?
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Muhammad controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cadan Ness seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Muhammad staying out of range there.
Nice shot lands for Muhammad.
Ness uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muhammad.
Ness tries to bum rush Muhammad with a series of wild strikes but Muhammad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Muhammad listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Muhammad shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ness's guard.
Muhammad showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mehmet Muhammad is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ness wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Muhammad is now in half guard.
Mehmet Muhammad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Muhammad keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Muhammad working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Ness's thigh. Ness counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Muhammad is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Muhammad takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Muhammad staying out of range there.
Cadan Ness has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ness swinging wildly here.
Ness misses with a left hand

and Muhammad counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Muhammad sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ness is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muhammad engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mehmet Muhammad showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Muhammad, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!