PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mauler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leha Nik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leha Nik will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mauler
vs
Nik

188 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Mauler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leha Nik!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nik closes the distance and clinches.
Nik lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mauler backwards.
Nik lands a right hand.
Nik keeps control of Mauler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mauler tries to pull guard but Nik won't allow it.
Mauler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nik just stands there and leans against the cage.

Mauler breaks the clinch.
Nik wants to clinch up but Mauler keeps it at a distance.

Mauler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nik is trying to defend but Mauler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mauler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mauler stops Nik from getting back to his feet.
Mauler is trying to control. Nik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nik looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mauler sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mauler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nik pushes Mauler off looking to stand but Mauler dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mauler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nik sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mauler somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Mauler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mauler tries to clinch

and Nik counters by moving into the clinch.

Mauler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nik keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mauler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mauler misses with a takedown attempt
and Nik counters with a three punch combo that has Mauler backing up. Mauler nods at Nik to acknowledge the strikes.
Mauler is breathing heavily.
Mauler takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Nik lands a big right hand that sends Mauler crashing to the mat! Nik stays standing though and waves Mauler back to his feet!

Mauler is rocked!

It looks like Joe Mauler has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mauler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Oh Mauler is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nik is looking to stand up but Mauler isn't so interested in that idea.
Mauler seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mauler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nik is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mauler is controlling him.
Mauler controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mauler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nik throws a right and a left that Mauler avoids nicely.

Mauler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mauler trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nik is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mauler looking to control but Nik is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nik squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Mauler scoring with strikes but Nik is staying in there.
Mauler wants to control the pace but Nik is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nik is trying to stand up.

Mauler has control of Nik's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nik regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Mauler sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nik can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mauler wants to control the pace but Nik is squirming around nicely.
Nik really wants to buck Mauler off and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mauler looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leha Nik will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Mauler's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nik bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mauler's head backwards.
A big left from Nik misses.
Mauler shoots in and drives through. Nik sprawls well.

Nik has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nik lands with a light punch inside.
Nik lands with a short shot to the head.
Nik swings wildly with an uppercut but Mauler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mauler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mauler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nik gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Mauler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mauler tries to pull guard but Nik won't allow it.
Nik blocking some punches.
Mauler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nik pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mauler looking for a takedown.
Nik stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short right from Nik.

Nik breaks from the clinch.
Nik misses with a takedown attempt

and Mauler counters with a takedown into side control.

Mauler tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nik wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mauler is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nik has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mauler is looking to take a break and control but Nik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nik is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mauler has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mauler lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Nik is trying to buck Mauler off.

Mauler has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Nik is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Mauler yanks on the arm and Nik is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Mauler.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joe Mauler!