PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Petkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peter Petkov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Mullen
vs
Petkov

176 cm
19
142 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

225 cm
23
132 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brendan Mullen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Peter Petkov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mullen doesn't manage to clinch there - Petkov circles away.
Petkov fails to land the takedown.
Petkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mullen avoids it really well and circles away.
Brendan Mullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Petkov.

Mullen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkov tries to hold on but Mullen pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mullen prevents Petkov from getting the reversal.

Mullen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Petkov can't escape the position.
Petkov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mullen fails to take his opponent's back.

Mullen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Petkov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Petkov!
Petkov trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.

Mullen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Mullen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Petkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Petkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Petkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mullen is keeping the position for now.
Petkov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mullen's guard.
Petkov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mullen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Petkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Mullen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Petkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mullen wants to control but Petkov is keeping busy.
Mullen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mullen.
Petkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Petkov trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.
Mullen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Petkov looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Petkov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mullen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Mullen is trying to work for a kimura but Petkov is defending well.

Petkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mullen wants to work for an arm triangle but Petkov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Petkov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mullen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mullen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mullen is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Petkov, not yet.
Mullen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mullen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mullen looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Petkov fails with the takedown

and Mullen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Petkov's guard.

Petkov looking for a guillotine here but Mullen defends easily.
Petkov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Petkov keeping full guard, as Mullen tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Petkov manages to avoid it.
Petkov with a poor takedown

and Mullen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Petkov!
Petkov regains half guard.
Petkov is trying to maintain the position but Mullen is very close to passing his half guard.
Petkov keeping control of the position.

Mullen seems to be looking for submissions.
Petkov is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petkov is defending against the submission attempts here by Mullen.
Brendan Mullen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Petkov is looking to control Mullen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Petkov avoid being mounted?
Mullen prevents Petkov from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mullen.
Petkov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mullen's best efforts.

Petkov actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petkov trying to control here.
Petkov gets full guard.
Mullen wants to pass the guard but Petkov is keeping the position.

Mullen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mullen preventing the sweep.
Petkov keeping full guard, as Mullen tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mullen fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkov misses with a takedown

and Mullen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Petkov looking to control.

Mullen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Petkov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Petkov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Petkov!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petkov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Petkov is looking to take a break and control but Mullen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mullen manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petkov throwing shots but Mullen is blocking nicely.

Mullen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Petkov pulls his head out easily.
Petkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mullen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Petkov.
Petkov trying to control from half guard but Mullen is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Petkov misses with a takedown attempt

and Mullen counters with a takedown into side control.
Brendan Mullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Petkov.
Petkov tries to buck Mullen off but Mullen is having none of it.

Mullen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Petkov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Petkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Mullen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Petkov has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Mullen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Petkov with a poor takedown

and Mullen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Petkov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Petkov.
Mullen trying to control but Petkov is working from the bottom.

Petkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mullen is aware though and is defending well.

Mullen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Petkov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Petkov has escaped and now he's on top!
Petkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mullen is looking for a triangle but Petkov pushes his legs off easily.
Petkov controlling from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Mullen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Petkov defends it easily.
Mullen keeping moving, preventing Petkov from controlling successfully.
Petkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Petkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mullen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Petkov scoring with some ground and pound.

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 keeping moving, preventing Petkov from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Petkov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mullen counters with a shoot takedown. Petkov fights it but they end up in guard.

Mullen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Petkov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Petkov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Petkov!
Petkov controls the position.
Mullen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Petkov.
You can see the frustration on Mullen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mullen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Petkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Petkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Petkov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
An elbow from Petkov crashes against the mat.
Mullen tries to buck Petkov off but Petkov is having none of it.
The strikes coming from Petkov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Petkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mullen counters with a single leg into guard. Petkov didn't expect that.
Brendan Mullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Petkov.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petkov holds on and takes a little breather.
Petkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mullen 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petkov trying to control the position but Mullen is working away.
Petkov controlling the position from side mount.
Mullen can't do much from the bottom here.
Mullen is trying to get back to half guard.
Petkov working the ground and pound but Mullen is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Mullen clearly takes that round.
That's time! Mullen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Petkov with a poor takedown

and Mullen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Petkov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Petkov.
Mullen wants to control from the top but Petkov keeps moving.

Mullen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Petkov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mullen, into his guard.
Petkov trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.
Mullen controls Petkov momentarily but Petkov frees himself.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Mullen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petkov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkov trying to control but Mullen is working from the bottom.

Mullen working for submissions but it's allowed Petkov to get to half guard.
Petkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Petkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Petkov has his takedown stuffed

and Mullen moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mullen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Brendan Mullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Petkov.
Petkov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Mullen drags the fight down to the ground.
Petkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mullen is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Petkov frees his head nicely. Oh but Mullen has switched to an armbar! Petkov is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Brendan Mullen!
Brendan Mullen retains his bantamweight title!