PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryant (ranked 546 p4p, 18 weight class) and Nicolas Muller (ranked 411 p4p, 11 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Bryant
vs
Muller

192 cm
34
265 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

219 cm
30
282 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
IniTech Nutrition

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicolas Muller!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muller displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bryant throws out the jab.
A jab from Bryant misses.
Muller throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Bryant wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Muller chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bryant can pounce on him.
Muller takes one on the button.

It looks like Nicolas Muller has been cut.
Muller tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bryant paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bryant misses with a wild body shot.
Muller tries a quick counter leg kick but Bryant is wise to it.
Bryant misses the jab.
Bryant stuns Muller with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Muller tries to clinch up.
A quick step to the side and Bryant tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant tries to land a leg kick but Muller saw it coming and moves away.
Kobe Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryant throws a low kick, looking for Muller's leg but Muller calmly moves out of range.
Bryant scores with a decent looking hook.
Bryant shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bryant connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Muller ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bryant thuds his right hand into Muller's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bryant blocks the body kick.
Muller with a nice cross.
Bryant misses with a looping right.
Bryant connects with a solid leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bryant.
Muller moves forwards but Bryant connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Muller is rocked!
Muller tries to clinch but Bryant is having none of it.
Bryant throws a lazy right hand but Muller sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Muller staying out of range there.
Muller now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Muller tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bryant manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
An attempted straight right counter from Bryant misses the target.
Bryant missing with a left hand there. Muller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Muller looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muller clinches up with Bryant and pushes him back against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Bryant has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Muller lands with a light punch inside.
Muller lands a nice elbow.
Bryant avoiding damage as Muller throws knees to the body.
Bryant working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Muller throws an elbow but misses.
Bryant takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bryant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bryant displaying some good clinch control by pressing Muller up against the cage.
Bryant lands a hook that snaps the head of Muller backwards.
Bryant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Muller with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Muller throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Muller misses with a knee strike.
Muller lands a nice elbow.
Bryant misses with a punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Muller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muller tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bryant avoids it.
Muller tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bryant tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The referee calls for Muller to work.
Muller landing knees to the head.

It looks like Kobe Bryant has been cut.
Muller will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bryant up against the cage.
Bryant lands a nice uppercut.
Muller tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bryant struggles to land a body shot inside as Muller controls his hands.
Muller using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bryant has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bryant pushes Muller back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Muller lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bryant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Muller's elbow.
Muller blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant tries to work over Muller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Muller lands a nice elbow.
Bryant swings wildly with an uppercut but Muller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bryant lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Muller after a bit of a struggle.
Muller crunches a lovely knee into Bryant's ribcage.
Bryant is breathing heavily.
Muller misses with a knee to the head.
Muller lands an elbow inside that Bryant shrugs off.
Muller lands an elbow just above Bryant 's eye.
Muller creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bryant pushes Muller back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Muller tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bryant's elbow.
Bryant lands with a left to the head.
Muller blocks an uppercut.
Bryant can't find room to land a body shot as Muller controls the action.
Bryant avoids a wild elbow strike from Muller.
Muller is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bryant is defending well for now.
Bryant dodges an elbow strike from Muller.
Muller stalling in the clinch but Bryant improves position.
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 Kobe Bryant will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bryant throws a right hand that misses
and Muller cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bryant shoots in looking for a takedown but Muller manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bryant's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Muller tries to clinch but Bryant is having none of it.
Bryant shoots in but Muller avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bryant finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bryant attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Muller wants to counter with a clinch but Bryant pushes him away.
Muller avoids a kick to the body.
Bryant blocks a head kick by Muller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muller looks for the body kick but Bryant saw that one coming.
Bryant tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Muller is able to avoid easily.
Bryant fails to land the takedown.
Muller throws out a counter right but Bryant avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryant misses with a right hand
and Muller counters with a left to the body.
Nicolas Muller is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muller misses the shot to the body.
Muller throws a lazy body kick

and Bryant counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Muller lands an elbow that stopped Bryant in his tracks for a moment.
Bryant wants a takedown but no success here.
Muller with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bryant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Muller lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Muller tries to land a knee to the head but Bryant blocks with his arms.
Bryant takes an elbow to the temple.
Bryant is working Muller over against the cage.
Muller gets through Bryant's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Muller lands a knee to the head.
Nicolas Muller seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bryant tries to stall but Muller uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bryant misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muller unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bryant lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice elbow from Muller.
The referee calls for Muller to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muller creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bryant's defenses.
Muller scores with a knee to the head.
Muller leaning his opponent against the cage.
Muller misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bryant takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bryant blocks an elbow strike from Muller.
Muller lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bryant avoids the elbow strike from Muller, against the cage.
Muller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bryant blocks it with crossed arms.
Bryant takes an elbow to the forehead.
Muller misses with a knee strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Muller throws an elbow but misses.
A short right from Bryant on the inside.
Bryant lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bryant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muller utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bryant misses with a hook to the ribs.
Muller looking to throw knees to the head but Bryant is blocking nicely.
Bryant scores with a shoulder strike.

Bryant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good shot there by Bryant.
Bryant lands a slapping body shot.
A cross from Bryant lands.
Bryant throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bryant misses with a right hand

and Muller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Muller tries to stall but Bryant uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Muller stalling.
The referee is keeping an eye on Muller - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bryant misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bryant swings wildly with an uppercut but Muller uses good head movement to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Muller throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Muller pushes off an throws an elbow but Bryant leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Muller crunches a lovely knee into Bryant's ribcage.
Bryant avoids the elbow strike from Muller, against the cage.
Bryant can't find room to land a body shot as Muller controls the action.
Bryant avoiding damage as Muller throws knees to the body.
Muller comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bryant lands a body punch.
Muller misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bryant.
Muller tries to land knees in the clinch but Bryant avoids the damage to the body.
Bryant tries to stall but Muller uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bryant.
Muller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bryant tries a body shot but Muller blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Muller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Bryant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bryant throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Muller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Muller is trying to stall.
Muller controlling the action here for a moment.
Muller throws an elbow that misses.
Bryant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bryant avoiding damage as Muller throws knees to the body.
Bryant is trying to stall.
Bryant misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant pushes Muller back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Bryant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bryant.
Bryant shoots in for a takedown but Muller shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muller slips under a jab.
Muller slips a straight right by Bryant.
Some wild striking there from Muller.
Nice body kick from Muller.
Muller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bryant misses with a lunging right hand
and Muller counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Muller defending well as Bryant loads up on a big left hand.
A head kick by Bryant misses
and Muller counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bryant waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Muller.
Bryant tries for a takedown but Muller circles away easily
and Muller counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bryant is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant misses with a body shot
letting Muller counter with a right hand.
Bryant throws a leg kick
and Muller counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Muller turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A nice combination there by Muller.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bryant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Muller throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bryant thows a leg kick but Muller checks it
and Muller counters with a thumping low kick.
Muller throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Muller pushes Bryant away with a front kick.

Muller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bryant misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muller has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Muller creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bryant's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muller scores a nice knee to the body.
Muller with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bryant misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Muller.
Muller lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Muller - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bryant blocks the elbow strike.
Bryant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Bryant pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bryant misses with a low kick.
Kobe Bryant is winning the standup battle so far.

Muller has managed to clinch.
Muller leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Muller.
Muller leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant working aggressively here.
Bryant throws a punch but it's blocked by Muller.
Muller throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Muller tries to land a knee to the head but Bryant blocks with his arms.
A short left from Bryant.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A left hand lands to the body for Bryant.

Bryant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Muller misses with a combination
and Bryant counters with a nice low kick that buckles Muller's knee momentarily.
Muller getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bryant misses with a low kick.
Bryant misses with a body kick.

Muller moves into range and clinches up with Bryant.
Bryant lands a nice shot to the body.
Bryant misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas Muller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Muller 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Muller!
Our winner, Nicolas Muller, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.