PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleveland Mayer (ranked 25143 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daren Cullen (ranked 5894 p4p, 0 weight class). Daren Cullen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cleveland Mayer's chin.

Mayer
vs
Cullen

156 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

196 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cleveland Mayer!
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, Daren Cullen!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cullen connects with a high kick.

It looks like Cleveland Mayer has been cut.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cullen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mayer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mayer throws a big counter combination but Cullen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cullen throws a one two combo.
Cullen throws a leg kick but Mayer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cullen lands a right hook to the body.
A combination from Cullen does no damage.
Cullen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mayer eats them both and turns towards Cullen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cullen lands a jab-cross combination.
Cullen scores with a head kick. Mayer tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cullen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mayer.
Cullen lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Cullen.
Cullen lands a body shot.
A jab lands there for Cullen.
Daren Cullen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cullen throws a right hand that Mayer ducks under and follows up with a left that Mayer also avoids with ease.
Cullen tries to land a front kick but Mayer steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cullen.
Cullen throws a series of punches but Mayer avoids them all with ease.
As Cullen looks to move away, Mayer throws a big counter combo but Cullen just gets out of the way.
Cullen looks winded!
Cullen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A combination from Cullen does no damage.
Cullen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mayer is looking for a counter combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mayer throws a sloppy head kick and Cullen moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen looks to throw the jab but Mayer is out of range.
Cullen swinging wildly here.
Cullen looks for the body kick but Mayer saw that one coming.
Mayer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Mayer misses the target.
Cullen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Mayer. That one must have hurt.

Mayer throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cullen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mayer is in Cullen's guard.
Mayer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cullen wants to sweep here but Mayer controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayer lands a couple of digs.
Mayer slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cullen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mayer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mayer scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mayer 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.
Mayer lands a couple of elbows.
Mayer working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cullen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mayer stays in close to Cullen's body and controls the position.
Mayer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cullen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mayer.
Mayer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cullen enables Mayer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cullen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cullen is looking to stand back up but Mayer counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cullen.

Mayer thows a huge punch but Cullen dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daren Cullen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cleveland Mayer's cut.
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.

Mayer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cullen's guard.
Cullen wants to stand up but Mayer is controlling him.
Mayer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cullen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mayer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mayer throws a big elbow that misses.

Mayer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cullen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mayer is controlling him.
Cullen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer postures up in Cullen's guard and throws a big left but Cullen blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cullen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mayer has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Daren Cullen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cullen throws a head kick but Mayer moves out of range.
Cullen looks to land a combination but Mayer avoids it well.

Mayer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cullen's guard.
Cullen wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mayer manages to pass to side control.

Mayer is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mayer.
Mayer throwing shots but Cullen is blocking nicely.
Mayer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mayer is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Cullen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Cullen taking some punishment here, with Mayer in his half guard.
Mayer lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mayer postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cullen to stand up.
Mayer connects with a solid leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mayer lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cullen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cullen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Mayer throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cullen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mayer is in Cullen's guard.
Cullen wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mayer manages to pass to side control.

Mayer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mayer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mayer connects with a nice short shot to Cullen's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleveland Mayer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cleveland Mayer's cut.
That's time! Mayer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mayer pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cullen is out of range and Mayer settles back down.
Cullen throws a right and a left that Mayer avoids nicely.
Mayer walks into a stiff left hand from Cullen.
Mayer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cullen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Cullen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
An attempted straight right counter from Mayer misses the target.
Cullen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mayer at a distance.
Cullen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cleveland Mayer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cullen throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cullen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Danga de danga de dang - Cullen scores with a four punch combination!
Mayer attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cullen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen misses with a few strikes there.
Cullen throws a hook but Mayer blocks it.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Mayer is just out of range.
Cullen misses with a combination
and Mayer counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mayer really is a fat lump.

Mayer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cullen wants to get back to his feet but Mayer is dominant here and he's now got Cullen's back!
Mayer looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
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.

Mayer has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Cullen is in real trouble here. Mayer gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Cullen is tapping out! Mayer wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Cleveland Mayer!