MFLN 1: It Begins! PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joonas Kolstela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wizard Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalifa has chosen Ink My Whole Body as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kolstela
vs
Khalifa

193 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joonas Kolstela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wizard Khalifa!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kolstela scores with a jab to the head.

Kolstela moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kolstela.
Kolstela makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kolstela pushes Khalifa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Khalifa decides to pull guard.

Khalifa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kolstela wants to stand but Khalifa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kolstela won't allow Khalifa to get back to his feet.

Khalifa scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Khalifa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kolstela swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khalifa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kolstela throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kolstela swivels and escapes.
Khalifa looks gassed!
Khalifa throws a head kick but Kolstela moves out of range.
Kolstela swats away the attempt to clinch by Khalifa.
Kolstela scores with a punch to the head.
Khalifa misses with a straight right.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kolstela.
A lazy left from Kolstela finds it's target.
Kolstela lands with a kick to the ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kolstela throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Kolstela cracks Khalifa with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Khalifa looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Kolstela finish him?

Khalifa is rocked!

It looks like Wizard Khalifa has been cut.
Kolstela closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Khalifa out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Joonas Kolstela!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
100%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mr Jobber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Nunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mr Jobber has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Jobber
vs
Nunes

150 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 40 - 0

175 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mr Jobber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruno Nunes!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jobber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jobber doesn't manage to clinch there - Nunes circles away.
Nunes jabs at Jobber's body.

Nunes lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Jobber sprawling to the canvas. Nunes follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Jobber hang on?

Jobber is rocked!

It looks like Mr Jobber has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nunes drops an elbow to the side of Jobber's head.
Oh Jobber is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nunes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nunes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Let's hope that Nunes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jobber could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jobber seems to have got his legs back now.

Nunes stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nunes lands with an overhand left.

Nunes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jobber is trying to defend but Nunes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nunes is taking a breather. Jobber says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jobber is in trouble now - Nunes has advanced to mount!
Nunes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nunes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Jobber really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
BOOM! Nunes connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nunes controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bruno Nunes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jobber takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jobber is looking to clinch but Nunes is avoiding it.
Jobber with a poor takedown
and Nunes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Nunes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nunes showed some decent athleticism there.
Jobber is breathing heavily.
Nunes is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nunes looking to finish Jobber with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jobber!
Nunes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nunes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nunes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bruno Nunes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nunes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nunes feints a kick and comes over the top with a right hand, followed by a left hook - both land, sending Jobber crashing to the mat! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Bruno Nunes!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
86%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tagmon Ozaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Vegar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ozaka
vs
Vegar

183 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Donkey Punch Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tagmon Ozaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lars Vegar!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vegar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ozaka tries to get to full guard but Vegar has control of the leg.
Vegar passes into side control, despite Ozaka's attempt to control the position.
Vegar landing a few strikes.

Vegar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ozaka is trying to get back to half guard.
Vegar is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozaka is looking for a sweep.
Ozaka wants to control but Vegar postures up.

Vegar has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Ozaka is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Vegar yanks on the arm and Ozaka is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Vegar.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lars Vegar!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
51%

Undercard bout

Co-main event

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phillip McDowel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simpson has chosen Brickhouse as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McDowel
vs
Simpson

177 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phillip McDowel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mason Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDowel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Simpson tries for a takedown but McDowel circles away easily

and McDowel counters with a takedown into side control.
McDowel controls the position from side control.
McDowel trying to control the action but Simpson is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
McDowel trying to control the position but Simpson is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Simpson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McDowel asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDowel content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Simpson tries to buck McDowel off but McDowel is having none of it.
Simpson regains half guard.
Simpson wants to control but McDowel is keeping busy.
Simpson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two 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.
McDowel is controlling the pace.
Simpson is looking to escape.
McDowel is controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Phillip McDowel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Simpson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Simpson throws a low kick but McDowel avoids it.
Simpson with a poor takedown
and McDowel counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McDowel counters with a takedown into side control.
McDowel just content to control the position.
McDowel working away.
You can see the frustration on Simpson's face as McDowel controls the position.
McDowel'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.
Simpson can't do much from the bottom here.
McDowel is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Simpson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Simpson can't do much from the bottom here.
McDowel controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson is trying to control McDowel's posture but McDowel avoids it.
McDowel controlling from side mount.
Simpson struggling a bit here.
Simpson seems a little lost for a moment, as McDowel dominates the positioning.
Simpson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip McDowel dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Simpson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McDowel on the side of the head.
McDowel closes the distance and clinches up with Simpson, looking for a takedown. McDowel pushes Simpson against the cage but Simpson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Simpson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDowel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheers as Simpson lands an impressive looking overhand right. McDowel doesn't seem phased though.
McDowel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Phillip McDowel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by McDowel or perhaps it was just good defense by Simpson which made him look bad.
Simpson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McDowel ducks right into an uppercut from Simpson.
Simpson thuds his shin into the meat of McDowel's side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDowel circles away from the clinch attempt

and McDowel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McDowel postures up.
McDowel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McDowel prevents Simpson from getting back to his feet.
McDowel trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDowel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Simpson is trying to control the position but McDowel postures up.
McDowel sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDowel wants to control from the top but Simpson keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Simpson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McDowel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
McDowel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Simpson.
McDowel fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phillip McDowel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simpson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Simpson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDowel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McDowel slips a jab and a cross from Simpson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDowel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simpson is fending him off so far but McDowel persists. Nope, Simpson circles away and we're back to standing.
Simpson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simpson fails with a takedown attempt.
Simpson wants to clinch.
McDowel closes the distance and clinches up with Simpson, looking for a takedown. McDowel pushes Simpson against the cage but Simpson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Simpson or perhaps it was just good defense by McDowel which made him look bad.
Simpson misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McDowel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Simpson lands a jab.
Simpson wants to clinch but McDowel slips to the side

and McDowel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Simpson's guard.
McDowel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson keeping moving, preventing McDowel from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Phillip McDowel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Simpson misses with a double jab

and McDowel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McDowel trying to pass the guard but Simpson defending well.
McDowel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Simpson is looking to improve his position.
McDowel slows the pace down in half guard.
Simpson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McDowel in particular looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDowel wants to pass the guard but Simpson is defending well.
McDowel seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Phillip McDowel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Simpson shoots and misses

and McDowel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Simpson wants to stand but McDowel is controlling the position.
McDowel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDowel trying to control but Simpson is working from the bottom.
McDowel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McDowel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McDowel wants to pass the guard but Simpson is keeping the position.
McDowel looking to sit in guard and control but Simpson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Simpson 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to stand but McDowel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Simpson throws a big right hand that misses.
McDowel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McDowel tries to get out of the position.
Simpson wants to stand but McDowel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Simpson throws and elbow that misses. McDowel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Simpson's guard. Nice move by McDowel!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McDowel controlling from the top position.
Simpson can't keep his opponent in guard - McDowel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mason Simpson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDowel seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Simpson missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phillip McDowel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McDowel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillip McDowel!