PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Muller (ranked 4876 p4p, 5250 weight class) and Ronan Raw (ranked 157 p4p, 169 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Muller
vs
Raw

176 cm
25
300
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
300
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Muller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronan Raw!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Ben Watson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raw lands with a kick to the temple. Muller shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Raw defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Muller.

Raw pushes Muller up against the cage in a clinch.
Raw taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Raw lands a knee to the head.
Muller tries to break free but Raw pushes him back against the cage.

Raw ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Raw no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Raw looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Muller passes into side control.
Muller tries to stand but Raw is controlling his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raw regains half guard.
Muller throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Raw to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raw is keeping the position for now.
Raw tries to strike from the bottom.
Muller trying to control the position from guard on top but Raw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raw is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muller passes into half guard.
Muller is trying to control. Raw wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two 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.
It looks like Muller is going to stand back up.
Muller trying to control from half guard but Raw is working away.

Muller wants to work for an arm triangle but Raw is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Muller is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Raw slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Muller wants to control from the top but Raw keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Raw is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Raw has Muller up against the cage in a clinch.
Muller is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Muller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stalling in the clinch from Raw.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Raw decides to pull guard.
Muller could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Raw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Raw keeping moving, preventing Muller from controlling successfully.
Muller is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Muller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Raw is looking to sweep but instead, Muller has passed into half guard.
Muller is looking to stall here but Raw recovers full guard.
Raw really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Muller. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muller wants to control from the top but Raw keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ronan Raw 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.

Muller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Raw counters by moving into the clinch.
Raw pressing his opponent against the cage.
Muller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raw putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Muller in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Raw breaks the clinch.
Muller moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Ronan Raw has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raw scores with a crisp jab that stopped Muller in his tracks.
Raw misses the shot to the body.
Raw stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Muller. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Raw closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Muller to the mat! Muller manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Muller is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Muller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Raw controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Raw stopping the sweep attempt from Muller.
Muller is trying to control the position but Raw postures up.
Raw has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raw content to stall in guard here.
Raw lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Muller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raw is one step ahead there.
Muller keeping full guard, as Raw tries to pass.
Muller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raw is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muller is trying to keep Raw in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Raw throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Muller's waist but Muller gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Raw off to one side.

Raw bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Muller is looking to reverse the position.
Muller is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Raw off and has taken his back!
Raw is breathing heavily.
Raw is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muller wants to control but Raw is keeping busy.
Raw wants to get back to his feet.
Muller wants to control but Raw is keeping busy.
Muller lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Muller's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raw is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thomas Muller will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ronan Raw's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Muller will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Muller fails to land the takedown.

Raw has managed to clinch.
Muller tries to break the clinch but Raw is controlling the position.
Muller wants to break the clinch but can't.

Raw successfully pulls guard.
Raw wants to sweep here but Muller controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raw has Muller pulled in close to control his posture.
Muller won't allow Raw to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muller wants to pass the guard but Raw is keeping the position.
Muller being controlled here momentarily.
Thomas Muller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raw wants to sweep but no luck.
Raw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raw has his hands on Muller's head, controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Muller slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two 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.
Muller trying to control the position but Raw is working away.
Muller cracks Raw with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Muller tries for a kimura but Raw is defending well.

Muller decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muller wants to clinch up but Raw keeps it at a distance.

Muller shoots in and gets a takedown into Raw's guard.
Muller wants to control from the top but Raw keeps moving.
Muller postures up and lands a big shot to Raw's brow.

Muller thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muller trying to control the position from guard on top but Raw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raw seems keen to control Muller's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Muller keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Muller misses with a low kick.
Raw tries a head kick but it misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Raw rushes Muller and presses him up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Raw.
Muller fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thomas Muller.
I think Muller 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Muller!