PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Devon Black (ranked 2822 p4p, 5804 weight class) and Nick Mullen (ranked 332 p4p, 483 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Black
vs
Mullen

179 cm
20
162
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
20
165
3 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL Hoodie!)

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mullen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Black napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Black struggling a bit here.
Mullen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Black sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Black is looking for a sweep.
Black isn't going anywhere.
Mullen trying to control the action but Black is working from the bottom.
Mullen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Black haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Mullen trying to control the position but Black is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black regains half guard.
Mullen trying to pass the guard but Black defending well.
Black is refusing to be controlled, as Mullen sits in half guard.
Black on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mullen is looking to advance position but Black won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mullen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Black has managed to free his arm - good work.
Black wants to control but Mullen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Mullen trying to control the action but Black is working from the bottom.

Black looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mullen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Black wants to control but Mullen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Black is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black regains full guard. Nicely done.
Black wants to sweep here but Mullen controlling him for the moment.
Mullen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mullen wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mullen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Black working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mullen has passed into half guard!
Mullen is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen throwing shots but Black is blocking nicely.
Still in half guard, Mullen seems content to control.
Mullen prevents Black from improving his position.
Mullen wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.
Mullen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Black gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mullen trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mullen's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Mullen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mullen moves away.

Mullen gets a double leg takedown into Black's guard.

Black escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mullen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mullen wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Mullen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mullen stands up over Black, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mullen throwing strikes but missing.
Mullen passes Black's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mullen is looking for a kimura here.

Mullen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Black is pressing down on Mullen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nick Mullen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Black is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Black trying to keep a closed guard but Mullen is proving a slippery customer.
Mullen controlling from the top position.

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.
Mullen wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.

Black is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mullen defends well.
Mullen forces his way into half guard.
Mullen moves into full mount! Black won't be happy about that!
Black wants to control but Mullen is having none of it.
Black is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen cracks Black with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mullen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mullen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Black is looking to improve his position but Mullen isn't that keen on the idea.
Mullen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Black regains half guard.
Mullen is trying to control. Black wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mullen tries to pass to full mount but Black defends it.

Mullen is trying to work for a kimura but Black is defending well.
Black wants to improve his position but Mullen is controlling well.
Mullen throwing shots but Black is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mullen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Black is working to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Mullen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mullen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Black's waist but Black gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mullen off to one side.
Mullen closes the distance and clinches up with Black, looking for a takedown. Mullen pushes Black against the cage but Black circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mullen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Black but Black pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Devon Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Mullen.
Mullen fails with a takedown attempt.
Black tries to counter with a takedown but Mullen is quick to defend against it.
Black loads up on a big right hand but Mullen slips the punch.
Mullen slips a straight right by Black.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Black as Mullen shoots in.
Black changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mullen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Black avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Black. Mullen does a little dance to reset his feet.

Mullen clinches up with Black and pushes him back against the cage.

Black jumps guard.
Mullen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Black keeping moving, preventing Mullen from controlling successfully.
Black is trying to control the position but Mullen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mullen is looking for a sweep. Black is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mullen is still trying to improve position.

Black is trying to work for a kimura but Mullen is defending well.
Black is thwarting Mullen's attempts to control the position.
Mullen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mullen is trying to control but Black manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black looking to control but Mullen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Black working for a submission but Mullen is keeping him at bay.
Mullen tries to hold on but Black pushes him away.
Mullen is desperately trying to improve his position but Black has a good base and remains in mount.
Nick Mullen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Black sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to control but Mullen wriggling away.
Mullen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mullen keeps trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mullen tries to lock up and control but Black gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devon Black showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mullen 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Mullen!
A relieved looking Nick Mullen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.