PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hen Nessy (ranked 1026 p4p, 158 weight class) and Hallis Mollen (ranked 652 p4p, 90 weight class). Mollen has chosen Rise Against - Like the Angel as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nessy
vs
Mollen

180 cm
24
205 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

194 cm
22
190 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sportivité

HELLBENT
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hen Nessy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hallis Mollen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mollen misses with the combination.
Nessy fails to land the takedown.
Nessy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mollen.
Hallis Mollen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mollen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nessy.
Mollen throws a nice looking combination but Nessy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nessy slips a straight right by Mollen.
Nessy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mollen's hands.
Mollen throws a body punch but Nessy moves out of range.
Nessy slips a jab and a cross from Mollen.
Nessy misses with a hook. Mollen ducked under it nicely.
Nessy throws a hook but Mollen blocks it.

Nessy gets tackled into the cage by Mollen. Mollen maintains the clinch.
Mollen can't find room to land a body shot as Nessy controls the action.
Nessy tries for a takedown but Mollen manages to get underhooks.
Mollen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nessy misses with a body punch.
Mollen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mollen looking to slow down the pace here.
Nessy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mollen stalls.
Mollen told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mollen as Nessy tries to tie him up.
Mollen misses with the head strike.
Nessy misses with a punch to the body.
Nessy goes for a takedown attempt but Mollen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hen Nessy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mollen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nessy loads up on a big right hand but Mollen slips the punch.

Mollen moves into range and clinches up with Nessy.
The referee calls for Mollen to work.

Nessy breaks from the clinch.
Nessy lands a nice hook to Mollen's body. Mollen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Nessy gets tackled into the cage by Mollen. Mollen maintains the clinch.
I was talking to Nessy's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nessy blocks a body shot from Mollen.
Mollen blocking some punches.
Nessy has a couple of punches blocked by Mollen.
Nessy misses with a punch on the inside.
Mollen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mollen is struggling to control the position.
Mollen is trying to maintain a safe position but Nessy gets an underhook and turns Mollen into the cage.
Nessy tries to work over Mollen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nessy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mollen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nessy backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nessy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mollen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nessy throws out the jab.
Mollen tries to land a front kick but Nessy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nessy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mollen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mollen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nessy has time to react.
Nessy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mollen on the side of the head.
A right-left combo lands from Mollen.
Nessy fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mollen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mollen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nessy throws a shot from downtown. Mollen moves away and avoids it.
Mollen lands with a nice body punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mollen throws a jab when Nessy was well out of range.
Nessy throws a lazy uppercut
and Mollen counters with a right hand to the body.
Mollen tries to move into range but Nessy moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nessy takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sloppy strikes from Mollen. Those never looked like landing.
Nessy throws a looping overhand right but Mollen ducks down to avoid it.
Nessy is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mollen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nessy circles away quickly and effectively.
Mollen tries to close the distance and clinch but Nessy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nessy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mollen!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mollen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nessy asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nessy postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mollen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nessy's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mollen is trying to stand back up but Nessy is controlling him
Nice strikes from Nessy there.
Mollen is trying to get back to full guard.

Nessy is working for a submission of some sort.
Mollen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mollen is looking to escape.
Nessy prevents Mollen from improving his position.
Nessy working Mollen over with strikes.
Nessy takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hallis Mollen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mollen clinches up against the cage.
Mollen can't find room to land a body shot as Nessy controls the action.
Nessy lands a right hand.
Nessy trying to stall but Mollen improves his position.
Nessy misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nessy.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Nessy jumps into guard, dragging Mollen to the mat.
Mollen preventing the sweep.
Nessy is adopting a defensive guard.
Nessy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mollen is looking to stand up but Nessy won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mollen lands a couple of digs.
Nessy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mollen.

Nessy is working an open guard so Mollen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mollen misses with an uppercut. Nessy saw that one coming.
Nessy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mollen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mollen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A big left from Nessy misses.
Mollen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nessy connects with a single shot there.
Nessy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mollen is looking for the big counter here.
Mollen blocks a jab.
Mollen misses with a wild body shot.
Mollen slaps away a takedown attempt from Nessy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mollen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nessy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mollen.
A combination from Mollen does no damage.
Nessy moves out of range as Mollen strikes.
Hallis Mollen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nessy misses with a straight left.
Nessy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mollen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nessy with a body shot.
Nessy looks to throw the jab but Mollen is out of range.
Mollen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nessy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mollen's hands.

Nessy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mollen taking some punishment here, with Nessy in his half guard.
Mollen is trying to stand back up but Nessy is controlling him
Nessy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mollen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nessy is nestled in close to Mollen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hen Nessy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mollen wants to get back to his feet.
Mollen wants to improve his position but Nessy is controlling well.
Nessy prevents Mollen from standing back up.

Mollen pushes Nessy off and gets back to his feet.
Nessy scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nessy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nessy shoots in for a takedown but Mollen shows good takedown defense.
Mollen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nessy just misses with a punch to the body.
Mollen throws a body punch but Nessy moves out of range.
Mollen doesn't manage to clinch there - Nessy circles away.
A jab from Nessy misses.
Nessy lands with an overhand left.
Nessy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mollen throws out the jab.
A combination from Mollen does no damage.
A lazy left from Mollen finds it's target.
Mollen tries to clinch up but Nessy circles away and keeps his distance.
Mollen moves away from the strike by Nessy.
Hen Nessy is winning the standup battle so far.
Nessy throws a lazy uppercut
and Mollen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hallis Mollen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mollen takes a swing at Nessy's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Nessy misses.

Mollen clinches.
Nessy is working Mollen over against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Mollen fails to land.
Nessy blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Nessy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mollen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nessy tries to stall but Mollen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mollen as Nessy tries to tie him up.
Nessy can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Mollen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nessy up against the cage.
Nessy blocks the elbow strike.
Nessy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mollen to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hen Nessy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nessy scores with a shoulder strike.
Mollen misses with a punch to the body.
Mollen presses Nessy against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A hook to the body from Nessy.
Mollen lands a damaging elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nessy as Mollen tries to tie him up.
Mollen stalling in the clinch but Nessy improves position.
Nessy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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 Hen Nessy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Mollen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mollen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nessy slips under a jab.
Nessy attempts a counter takedown but Mollen avoids it well and moves away.
Nice shot lands for Nessy.
Nessy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mollen doesn't seem bothered though.
Mollen throws a leg kick that is checked

and Nessy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nessy lands a couple of elbows.
Nessy postures up and lands a big shot to Mollen's brow.
Nessy scoring with some ground and pound.
Mollen keeping full guard, as Nessy tries to pass.
Nessy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nessy stopping the sweep attempt from Mollen.
Nessy scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nessy distracts Mollen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nessy's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nessy stops Mollen from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nessy trying to control the position from guard on top but Mollen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mollen wants to stand but Nessy is controlling the position.
Mollen is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Nessy won't allow Mollen to sweep him here.
Nessy lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mollen is pulling down on Nessy's head to control his posture.
Mollen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nessy is controlling him.
Nessy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nessy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mollen wants to stand and escape but Nessy is having none of it.
Mollen is trying to control the position but Nessy postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nessy preventing the sweep.
Nessy landing some decent shots from guard.
Nessy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mollen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nessy.
Nessy wants to control from the top but Mollen keeps moving.
Mollen 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.
Nessy looking to pass the guard.
Nessy with a nice head shot there.
Mollen trying to keep a closed guard but Nessy is proving a slippery customer.
Mollen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nessy won't allow Mollen to get back to his feet.
Nessy distracts Mollen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mollen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nessy fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Nessy jumps guard.

Nessy is working an open guard so Mollen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nessy. Mollen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nessy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mollen throws a jab when Nessy was well out of range.
Nessy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nessy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mollen.
Nessy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mollen sprawls and moves away.
Mollen throws a hook but Nessy avoids it easily.
Mollen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mollen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mollen doesn't manage to clinch there - Nessy circles away.
Nessy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mollen in his tracks.
Nessy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mollen circles away.
Nessy misses the shot to the body.
Nessy misses with a hook.
Nessy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mollen.
Mollen takes a swing at Nessy's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Mollen!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mollen throws a combination that misses

and Nessy counters with a takedown into side control.

Mollen bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Mollen misses with a two punch combination.
Nessy tries to counter with a takedown but Mollen is quick to defend against it.
Mollen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mollen is looking to clinch but Nessy is avoiding it.
Nessy scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mollen looks to land a combination but Nessy avoids it well.
Nessy changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mollen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nessy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hen Nessy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nessy. Mollen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mollen throws a big shot that misses.
Mollen throws a series of punches but Nessy avoids them all with ease.
Mollen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nessy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A slow jab from Mollen misses its intended target.
Mollen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mollen wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hen Nessy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nessy 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hallis Mollen!
A very excited looking Hallis Mollen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.