PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cole Mccullough (ranked 5876 p4p, 475 weight class) and Shamil Mutalimov (ranked 5189 p4p, 440 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Mccullough
vs
Mutalimov

170 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cole Mccullough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Shamil Mutalimov!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mutalimov has managed to clinch.
Mutalimov effectively controlling the action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mccullough.

Mutalimov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mccullough preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Mutalimov wants to control but Mccullough is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mccullough manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccullough keeping moving, preventing Mutalimov from controlling successfully.
Mutalimov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mccullough is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mccullough is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mutalimov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mccullough.
Mccullough throwing shots but Mutalimov is blocking nicely.
Mccullough wants to pass the guard but Mutalimov is defending well.
Mccullough performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mccullough looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mccullough missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mutalimov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mccullough.
Mccullough trying to control the pace.
Mccullough tries to pass to full mount but Mutalimov defends it.
Mutalimov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mccullough wants to take a breather but Mutalimov is having none of it.

Mccullough is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mccullough thows a huge punch but Mutalimov dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutalimov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mccullough.
Mccullough throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mccullough scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mccullough not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mccullough keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mutalimov is trying to stand back up but Mccullough is controlling him
Mccullough throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Mutalimov to regain full guard.
Mccullough throws a big elbow that misses.
Mutalimov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mccullough accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mccullough 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.
Mccullough throwing strikes from guard but Mutalimov blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mccullough is looking to work some ground and pound but Mutalimov has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough stands and throws Mutalimov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mccullough throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Mccullough is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mutalimov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mccullough tries to score with some ground and pound. Mutalimov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mutalimov parries the strikes from Mccullough easily there. Mccullough is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mutalimov to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mccullough fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Mutalimov is trying to get back to half guard.
Mccullough trying to control the action but Mutalimov is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Mccullough dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mutalimov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mccullough throws a hook to the side of Mutalimov's head but Mutalimov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Mutalimov closes the distance and clinches.
Mutalimov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mutalimov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mccullough misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mutalimov lands an elbow inside.
Mccullough is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mutalimov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mutalimov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mutalimov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mccullough is defending well for now.
Mccullough misses with a punch to the body.
Mccullough can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccullough swings wildly with an uppercut but Mutalimov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mutalimov lands an elbow that stopped Mccullough in his tracks for a moment.
Mccullough tries to break free but Mutalimov pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mccullough.
Mccullough changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mutalimov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mutalimov misses with a head kick.
Mccullough shoots in for a takedown but Mutalimov shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cole Mccullough. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mutalimov tries a head kick but it misses.
Mccullough swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Mutalimov closes the distance and pushes Mccullough back into the cage.
Mutalimov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mutalimov trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mutalimov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mutalimov staying out of range there.
Mutalimov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mutalimov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mccullough.
Mccullough shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Mutalimov clinches with his opponent.
A bit of stalling here from Mutalimov.
Mutalimov lands an elbow inside that Mccullough shrugs off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mccullough tries to work over Mutalimov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice elbow from Mutalimov.
Mccullough swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mutalimov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mccullough up against the cage.
Mutalimov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough takes an elbow to the forehead.

Mutalimov manages to break the clinch.
Mccullough misses the jab.
Mutalimov tries to counter by closing the distance.

Mutalimov rushes Mccullough and presses him up against the cage.
Mccullough takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mutalimov gets underhooks to prevent Mccullough's takedown attempt.
Mccullough goes for a takedown attempt but Mutalimov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Mccullough drives through with a takedown into Mutalimov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Mutalimov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mutalimov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mccullough can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutalimov lands an elbow inside.
Mutalimov lands an elbow inside.
Mutalimov lands an elbow that stopped Mccullough in his tracks for a moment.
Mccullough wants to break free but Mutalimov has control.
Mutalimov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mutalimov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mccullough has a couple of punches blocked by Mutalimov.
Nice elbow from Mutalimov.
Mccullough takes an elbow to the temple.
Shamil Mutalimov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mccullough has a couple of punches blocked by Mutalimov.
Mccullough is trying to pull guard but Mutalimov has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Mccullough's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mccullough takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mccullough misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mutalimov is stalling here.
Mccullough misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mccullough misses with an uppercut. Mutalimov saw that one coming.
Mutalimov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mutalimov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mccullough. That did some damage!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mutalimov.

Mutalimov moves into the clinch.
Mccullough being controlled against the cage.

Mutalimov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mccullough regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mccullough is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mutalimov defends well.
Mccullough seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutalimov wants to pass the guard but Mccullough is keeping the position.
Mccullough is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mccullough trying to mount his opponent but Mutalimov defends it.
Mccullough thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mutalimov's head.
Mutalimov is looking for a sweep. Mccullough is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mccullough in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mccullough is working for a submission of some sort.
Mccullough is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mccullough not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mutalimov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mccullough. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mutalimov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mccullough.

Mccullough is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mutalimov is just riding it out for now. Mccullough eventually gives up the hold.

Mccullough is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough thows a huge punch but Mutalimov dodges it nicely.
Mccullough lands strikes from half guard.

Mccullough is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mccullough is looking to take a break and control but Mutalimov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.

Mccullough is trying to work for a kimura but Mutalimov is defending well.
Mutalimov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mccullough.
Mccullough trying to control the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mccullough not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Mccullough showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mccullough 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Mccullough!