PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Kulen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mir
vs
Kulen

191 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Kulen!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Kulen as Mir shoots in.
Kulen tries to clinch up.
Mir shoots in for a takedown but Kulen shows good takedown defense.

Mir feints and as Kulen raises his hands in defense, Mir changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kulen controlling Mir's posture.
Mir scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kulen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mir!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kulen wants to control the pace but Mir is squirming around nicely.
Mir trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kulen looking to control but Mir is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir trying desperately to get to his feet.
Mir on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mir tries to get out of the position.
Kulen looking to finish with strikes here!
Kulen won't let Mir get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mir trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Kulen working for a guillotine from mount but Mir is in no mood to give up.
Kulen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kulen wants to control the pace but Mir is squirming around nicely.
Mir's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kulen thowing shots but they're missing.
Mir tries to buck Kulen off but he can't manage it.

Mir bucks Kulen off and manages to get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kulen throws a combination. Mir tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kulen doesn't manage to clinch there - Mir circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir shoots in looking for a takedown. Kulen tries to sprawl out of it but Mir keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kulen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mir looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kulen counters with a series of strikes. Mir will be more careful next time no doubt.

Mir drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mir throws a big right hand that misses.
Kulen wants to get back to his feet but Mir is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mir throwing strikes from guard but Kulen blocks nicely.
Mir has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mir throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mir is controlling him.
Kulen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mir working some strikes from top position.

Mir decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kulen doesn't manage to clinch there - Mir circles away.
Mir shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kulen pinned against the cage. Kulen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mir shoots in for a double leg but Kulen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kulen tries to close the distance and clinch but Mir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mir fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Mir dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kulen tries to close the distance and clinch but Mir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mir fails with the takedown.
Mir closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kulen circles away.
Mir tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kulen swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kulen moves into range and clinches up with Mir.
Kulen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kulen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mir jumps guard but Kulen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kulen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kulen stops a takedown attempt from Mir.
Mir misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kulen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kulen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mir tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kulen looking to stall.

Kulen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mir fails with the takedown.
Mir shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kulen defends it nicely.
Mir stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kulen defends it nicely.

Kulen clinches with his opponent.
Kulen is trying to break the clinch but Mir is controlling him.
Mir working Kulen over with knees to the body.
Mir fails to pull guard.
Kulen lands with a right to the head.

Kulen successfully pulls guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kulen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mir gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kulen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir cracks Kulen with a solid left hand.
Kulen wants to sweep here but Mir controlling him for the moment.
Mir lands a couple of digs.
Kulen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kulen, not yet.
Kulen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mir with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kulen 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.
Mir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mir is working Kulen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mir landing with the ground and pound.
Frank Mir overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mir lands a couple of elbows.
Mir throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kulen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mir tries to stand but Kulen is controlling from the bottom.
Mir throws a big right hand that misses.
Kulen is trying to control the position but Mir postures up.

Mir gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mir has a takedown stuffed.
Frank Mir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mir shoots for a takedown but Kulen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mir looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kulen is fending him off so far but Mir persists. Nope, Kulen circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Mir dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kulen forces Mir back against the cage and clinches.
Mir trying to land knees to the body.
Kulen prevents the takedown attempt.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mir fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kulen is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mir is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kulen is defending well for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mir is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kulen is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir missing with knees to the body.
Kulen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kulen wants to get back to striking at distance but Mir won't allow it.
Kulen misses with a punch to the body.
Kulen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mir has him pressed against the cage.
Kulen fails to pull guard.
Mir throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kulen blocks it with crossed arms.
Mir lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mir is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kulen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mir has him pressed against the cage.

Kulen jumps into guard, dragging Mir to the mat.
Mir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mir makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mir postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Mir gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horrible takedown by Mir or perhaps it was just good defense by Kulen which made him look bad.
Kulen closes the distance and clinches up with Mir, looking for a takedown. Kulen pushes Mir against the cage but Mir circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Kulen closes the distance and pushes Mir back into the cage.
Kulen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulen taking a breather.
Mir tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mir has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kulen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jack Kulen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kulen is looking to break free of the clinch but Mir has double underhooks.
Mir tries to land knees in the clinch but Kulen avoids the damage to the body.

Kulen pulls guard effortlessly.
Mir with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kulen has a closed guard, preventing Mir from standing up.

Kulen has his feet on Mir's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kulen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kulen clinches with his opponent.
Mir is working for takedown but Kulen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kulen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kulen is trying to push Mir away but Mir has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kulen has had enough of the clinch but Mir keeps him there for the moment.
Mir tries to land knees in the clinch but Kulen avoids the damage to the body.
Mir drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mir missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jack Kulen.
I think Mir 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Mir!