PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Heath Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Denisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Denisov looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Mullen
vs
Denisov

152 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Heath Mullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Denisov!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mullen enables Denisov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mullen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Denisov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Mullen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Denisov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Denisov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mullen wants to sweep here but Denisov controlling him for the moment.
Mullen wants to stand and escape but Denisov is having none of it.

Denisov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mullen really is a fat lump.
Mullen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mullen has his foot on Denisov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Denisov 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.
Denisov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denisov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mullen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mullen is looking to stand back up but Denisov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mullen.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mullen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Denisov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mullen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mullen throws a strike but Denisov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Mullen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mullen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Denisov wants to sweep but no luck.
Mullen throws a big elbow that misses.
Denisov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mullen is one step ahead there.
Mullen throws an elbow that misses. Denisov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mullen's guard. Nice move by Denisov!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov stops Mullen from standing up.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Mullen looking for a guillotine here but Denisov defends easily.
Denisov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mullen's head.
Denisov scoring with some ground and pound.
Denisov works over Mullen with some ground and pound from guard.

Mullen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Denisov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mullen's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denisov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Denisov's coach down at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Denisov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Mullen clinches.

Denisov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mullen regains guard immediately.
Denisov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mullen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mullen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Denisov trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.
Mullen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen is looking to stand up but Denisov isn't so interested in that idea.
Mullen is trying to control the position but Denisov postures up.

Mullen looking for a guillotine here but Denisov defends easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Denisov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Denisov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Denisov drives through with a takedown into Mullen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Denisov trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.
Mullen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mullen looking for a guillotine here but Denisov defends easily.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen wants to stand and escape but Denisov is having none of it.
Denisov lands a couple of elbows.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Denisov is breathing heavily.

Denisov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And Denisov tries to counter it with a takedown but Mullen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Denisov misses the body punch

and Mullen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mullen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Denisov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mullen.
Mullen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Denisov defending well though.
Denisov trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov has his hands clasped together around Mullen's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mullen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mullen lands a couple of digs.
Mullen throwing strikes but missing.
Denisov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mullen.
Denisov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Denisov wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mullen closes the distance and pushes Denisov back into the cage.

Mullen jumps into guard, dragging Denisov to the mat.
Mullen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Denisov lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mullen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mullen looking for a guillotine here but Denisov defends easily.
Denisov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Denisov stops Mullen from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mullen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denisov cracks Mullen with a solid left hand.
Denisov scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Mullen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mullen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Denisov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mullen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Denisov on his heels. He'll look to pass Denisov's guard now, I'm sure.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mullen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mullen is looking to work some ground and pound but Denisov has wrist control.
Mullen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mullen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Denisov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen preventing the sweep.
Denisov is trying to keep Mullen in close.
Mullen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Denisov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Heath Mullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mullen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mullen lands in his opponent's guard.
Denisov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Denisov is pulling down on Mullen's head. It's preventing any offense from Mullen, at least for the moment.
Mullen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Denisov has his hands on Mullen's head, controlling 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.
Mullen throws a big right hand that misses.
Denisov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mullen.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Denisov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mullen drives through with a takedown into Denisov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Denisov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Denisov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mullen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Denisov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mullen throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mullen with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mullen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mullen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Denisov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mullen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Denisov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Denisov has his hands on Mullen's head, controlling the position.
Denisov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Mullen is now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Denisov wants to improve his position but Mullen is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heath Mullen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mullen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heath Mullen!