PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Mullins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Linfield Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linfield Ballard is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Mullins
vs
Ballard

204 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

191 cm
23
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Mullins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Linfield Ballard!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballard tries to bum rush Mullins with a series of wild strikes but Mullins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ballard throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mullins counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mullins controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mullins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ballard is trying to control the position but Mullins postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mullins stands up from Ballard's guard - Mullins perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ballard tries to clinch up.
An inside leg kick from Ballard misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mullins clinches.
Ballard is trying to break the clinch but Mullins is controlling him.
Ballard tries to break free but Mullins pushes him back against the cage.

Mullins breaks the clinch.
Linfield Ballard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ballard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mullins's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mullins holds on and takes a little breather.
Ballard trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ballard won't allow Mullins to sweep him here.
Mullins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ballard manages to get himself to full guard.

Mullins seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ballard trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullins stops Ballard from standing up.
Ballard being controlled here, momentarily.
Ballard is trying to keep Mullins in close.

Mullins decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ballard goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mullins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mullins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ballard.
Mullins lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ballard.

It looks like Gary Mullins has been cut.
A head kick by Ballard misses

and Mullins counters with a takedown into side control.
Mullins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ballard is trying to control Mullins's posture but Mullins avoids it.
Mullins advances nicely into full mount.

Mullins is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Ballard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mullins moves out of range of the body kick.
Ballard tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mullins counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ballard thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ballard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mullins is trying to defend but Ballard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ballard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Mullins has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ballard is on him like a limpet, forcing Mullins back against the cage.
Mullins avoiding damage.
Nice body punch from Mullins.
Ballard tries to throw a body punch but Mullins avoids it by throwing Ballard back against the cage.
Mullins is working Ballard over against the cage.
Mullins has Ballard pressed against the cage.

Mullins pulls guard successfully.
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 Gary Mullins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gary Mullins's cut.
That's time! Mullins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mullins ducks under a wild hook from Ballard.
Ballard throws the left hand but Mullins avoids the punch easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Mullins misses the target.
Ballard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mullins went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ballard misses with a body kick.
Mullins is looking to counter punch.

Ballard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mullins looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ballard tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Mullins is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullins gets full guard.
Ballard preventing the sweep.
Mullins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ballard manages to get himself to full guard.

Mullins stands up and waves to Ballard to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard clobbers Mullins with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Mullins instigates a clinch.

Ballard jumps guard.

Mullins stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ballard tries to work over Mullins's front leg with a kick but Mullins checks it.
A head kick misses from Ballard.
Mullins attempts a counter takedown but Ballard avoids it well and moves away.
Ballard misses with a right hand
and Mullins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ballard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Ballard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mullins's guard.

Mullins is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mullins leaning against his opponent.
Mullins changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ballard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A lazy body kick from Ballard

and Mullins counters by clinching up.
Ballard working hard to break the clinch.
Ballard wants to get back to striking at distance but Mullins won't allow it.

Ballard has picked Mullins up - he's going for a ride! Ballard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballard is pressing down on Mullins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mullins is holding on for now.
Mullins works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ballard trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullins controlling Ballard's posture.

Mullins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mullins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ballard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ballard wants to get up but he can't break Mullins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mullins lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mullins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mullins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ballard is working an open guard so Mullins takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ballard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mullins is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ballard throws a series of punches but Mullins moves out of range.
Ballard is breathing heavily.
Ballard throws a sloppy head kick and Mullins moves out of range easily.
Mullins is looking to counter with head kicks.
Ballard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mullins.

Ballard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mullins moves into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ballard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mullins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mullins takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mullins's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Linfield Ballard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gary Mullins's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ballard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mullins!
Mullins tries to buck Ballard off but Ballard is having none of it.
Mullins sneaks back into half guard.
Ballard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mullins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mullins wants to get back to full guard.
Mullins has hold of Ballard's hands but Ballard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mullins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ballard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ballard's back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Mullins controlling the positon.
Ballard looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gary Mullins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mullins seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ballard for as long as he can get away with.

Ballard defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mullins's arms.

Mullins looking to break Ballard's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ballard remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mullins will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Mullins is persistently looking for the submission but Ballard is defending it well.
Ballard wants to control his opponent's hands but Mullins gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullins controlling from the back.
Further stalling from Mullins.
Ballard wants to escape the position.
Mullins has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ballard's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballard can't escape the position.
Ballard trying to control the hands but Mullins breaks the grip.

Mullins looking for the RNC.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Ballard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Mullins is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Mullins controlling well, preventing Ballard from escaping the position.
Mullins just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullins is hanging on to Ballard's back as he tries to escape.

Mullins working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Mullins controlling the position well here. Ballard rolled but Mullins kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Ballard is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Ballard is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mullins controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Mullins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mullins 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gary Mullins!