PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Welsh
vs
Mullen

184 cm
33
218 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rick Welsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Welsh.
Mullen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Welsh is looking to clinch.

Mullen moves into the clinch.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Welsh blocks it with crossed arms.
Welsh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mullen to keep the fight standing.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Welsh.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Welsh fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mullen misses with a knee to the head.
Mullen lands a knee to the head.
Welsh managing to block the knees to the body from Mullen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen trying to land knees to the body.
Welsh fails to pull guard.
Welsh fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Welsh has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mullen misses with a knee strike.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Welsh's defenses.
Welsh jumps guard but Mullen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Welsh blocks with his arms.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Welsh blocks with his arms.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Welsh.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Welsh.
Mullen scores with a knee to the head.
Mullen throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mullen.
Welsh can't get the takedown.
Mullen tries to land knees in the clinch but Welsh avoids the damage to the body.
Mullen with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mullen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Mullen prevents Welsh from breaking the clinch.
Welsh takes an elbow to the temple.
A head punch on the inside from Mullen fails to land.
Mullen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Welsh has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Welsh avoids it.
Welsh jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mullen walks away with a smile on his face. Welsh gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mullen tries a head kick but it misses.
Welsh wants to clinch up but Mullen keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Welsh blocks a head kick by Mullen.
Welsh connects with a high kick.

Mullen moves into the clinch.

Welsh manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mullen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Welsh looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Welsh looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Welsh!

Welsh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mullen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Welsh working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Welsh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mullen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mullen is looking to regain half guard here but Welsh keeps moving and retains side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mullen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Welsh is not content to let Mullen control the position.
Welsh wants to get back to full guard.
Welsh gets full guard.
Welsh throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Mullen from controlling successfully.
Mullen wants to pass the guard but Welsh is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Mullen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Welsh shoots in for a takedown but Mullen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rick Welsh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mullen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A head kick misses from Mullen.

Mullen has closed the distance and engaged Welsh in a clinch.
Welsh wants a takedown but no success here.
Mullen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Welsh blocks it with crossed arms.
Welsh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mullen just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen landing knees to the body.
Mullen lands a knee to the head.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Welsh is blocking nicely.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Welsh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mullen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mullen landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mullen obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen misses with an elbow over the top.
Mullen connects with a knee to the head.
Steve Mullen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Welsh blocks with his arms.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Welsh is blocking nicely.
Mullen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Welsh in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Welsh blocks it with crossed arms.
Mullen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mullen obliges.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Welsh blocks it with crossed arms.
Mullen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Welsh is defending well for now.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Welsh is looking to take this one to the mat.
Welsh is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mullen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mullen connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen lands an elbow that stopped Welsh in his tracks for a moment.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Welsh blocks with his arms.
Welsh takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mullen missing with knees to the body.
Mullen crunches a lovely knee into Welsh's ribcage.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Welsh wants a takedown.
Mullen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mullen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mullen tries to land knees in the clinch but Welsh avoids the damage to the body.
Mullen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Welsh is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh avoiding damage as Mullen throws knees to the body.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Welsh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mullen moves into the clinch.
Welsh avoiding damage as Mullen throws knees to the body.
Mullen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mullen trying to land knees to the body.
Mullen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Welsh avoiding damage as Mullen throws knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mullen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mullen lands an elbow that stopped Welsh in his tracks for a moment.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Welsh is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Mullen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice takedown defense from Mullen. No joy for Welsh on that attempt.
Welsh wants to clinch.
Welsh is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mullen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Welsh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mullen's waist but Mullen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Welsh off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Welsh blocks a head kick by Mullen.
Mullen misses with a body kick.

Mullen moves into range and clinches up with Welsh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Welsh.
Mullen trying to land knees to the body.
Mullen missing with knees to the body.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but Welsh blocks with his arms.
Welsh drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mullen trying to land knees to the body.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Welsh can't get the takedown.
Welsh is trying to pull guard but Mullen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh fails to pull guard.
Welsh avoiding damage as Mullen throws knees to the body.
Welsh tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Welsh tries to score a body lock takedown but Mullen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Welsh drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mullen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Steve Mullen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Welsh misses with a takedown attempt
and Mullen counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Welsh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mullen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Steve Mullen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Welsh is defended easily by Mullen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen throws a sloppy head kick
and Welsh connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Welsh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Mullen clinches up with Welsh and pushes him back against the cage.
Welsh avoiding damage as Mullen throws knees to the body.
Mullen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mullen is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mullen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Welsh's efforts to push away.
Mullen looking to throw knees to the head but Welsh is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Welsh is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mullen misses with a knee to the head.
Mullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Welsh blocks it with crossed arms.
Welsh managing to block the knees to the body from Mullen.
Welsh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mullen to keep the fight standing.
Welsh is trying to pull guard but Mullen has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Mullen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mullen scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mullen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Welsh looking to stall.
Rick Welsh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Mullen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Welsh can't break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Mullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mullen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Mullen!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Steve Mullen waved his t-shirt featuring Steel Penn's Laundry 93%'s logo in front of the cameras.