PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Marko (ranked 3555 p4p, 324 weight class) and Fionn Mulligan (ranked 21708 p4p, 475 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marko
vs
Mulligan

208 cm
24
269 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

200 cm
27
225 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cain Marko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Fionn Mulligan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mulligan moves into the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Marko has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Marko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Fionn Mulligan has been cut.
Mulligan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mulligan stalls.
Mulligan stalling.
Mulligan receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

Mulligan jumps into guard, dragging Marko to the mat.
Mulligan controlling Marko's posture.
Marko stopping the sweep attempt from Mulligan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mulligan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marko.
Marko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mulligan wants to sweep here but Marko controlling him for the moment.
Mulligan controls Marko momentarily but Marko frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulligan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mulligan is on top in guard.

Marko has his hands on Mulligan's head, controlling the position.
Mulligan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marko's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mulligan working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Marko flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mulligan lands a nice short elbow.

Mulligan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marko defends it well.
Marko is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko is trying to stand up here but Mulligan is controlling him well.
Marko is looking for a sweep. Mulligan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mulligan trying to control the action but Marko is working from the bottom.
Mulligan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marko is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mulligan works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mulligan is trying to take his opponent's back.
Marko manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mulligan works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mulligan wants to control the pace but Marko is squirming around nicely.
Mulligan dominating with strikes here.
Marko tries to hold on but Mulligan postures up.
Mulligan throwing strikes here but Marko is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Mulligan working for a submission but Marko is keeping him at bay.
Mulligan landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulligan controlling from the full mount.
Mulligan avoids the attempt from Marko to control.
Mulligan wants to take his opponent's back but instead Marko manages to regain half guard.
Mulligan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulligan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Marko!

Mulligan looking to secure an arm triangle but Marko defends it well.
Mulligan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fionn Mulligan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fionn Mulligan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mulligan forces Marko back against the cage and clinches.
Marko blocking some punches.
Mulligan misses with a punch on the inside.

Mulligan gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Mulligan is standing up over Marko. Marko looks to escape but Mulligan dives into side control.

Mulligan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marko keeps working.
Mulligan tries to move to mount but Marko blocks the move with his legs.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mulligan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mulligan is looking to take a break and control but Marko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko stops Mulligan from passing to mount.
Mulligan has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Marko!
Fionn Mulligan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mulligan trying to control but Marko is having none of it.
Marko is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Marko takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Marko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mulligan takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marko is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Mulligan gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Marko turns into Mulligan and is now in his guard.
Marko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mulligan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marko is controlling him.
Marko is looking to work some ground and pound but Mulligan has wrist control.

Mulligan manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mulligan shoots in and bounces Marko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mulligan is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mulligan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marko is keeping the position for now.
Marko trying to keep a closed guard but Mulligan is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mulligan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mulligan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mulligan stops Marko from standing up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Marko throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.

Mulligan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mulligan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marko is keeping the position for now.
Mulligan trying to control but Marko is working from the bottom.
Mulligan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mulligan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marko keeps working.

Mulligan stands up.
Marko on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Mulligan forces Marko back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fionn Mulligan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fionn Mulligan's cut.
That's time! Marko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Marko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mulligan manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Marko closes the distance and clinches.
Mulligan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marko avoids it.
Mulligan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marko avoids it.
Mulligan can't break the clinch.
Marko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mulligan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mulligan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mulligan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mulligan advances to mount.
Mulligan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Marko looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mulligan prevents Marko from getting the reversal.
Marko tries to hold on but Mulligan pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Mulligan.

Mulligan throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Marko has his hands clasped together but Mulligan breaks the hold and Marko is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Mulligan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fionn Mulligan!
A relieved looking Fionn Mulligan thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.