PBP Commentary

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

Dassler
vs
Mugabi

202 cm
24
215 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Adi Dassler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Mugabi!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mugabi misses with an uppercut

and Dassler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mugabi wants to get back to his feet.

Dassler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dassler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Dassler is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mugabi sees it coming and defends easily.

Dassler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mugabi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dassler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mugabi desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Dassler is working for a kimura but Mugabi is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dassler seems to be working for a kimura but Mugabi defends the submission attempt.

Dassler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Dassler seems to be working for a kimura but Mugabi defends the submission attempt.

Dassler is looking for a kimura here.
Dassler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dassler lands a nice short elbow.
Dassler not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Mugabi is defending against the submission attempts here by Dassler.
Dassler is looking to advance position but Mugabi won't allow it.

Dassler is looking for a kimura here.
Mugabi is trying to stand up here but Dassler is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dassler is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mugabi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dassler.

Dassler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dassler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dassler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Dassler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mugabi has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dassler is working for a kimura but Mugabi is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four 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.

Dassler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mugabi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dassler throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Mugabi to regain full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Dassler's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Dassler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mugabi is keeping the position for now.
Mugabi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dassler is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dassler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dassler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mugabi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Dassler is landing a low percentage of strikes.
John Mugabi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mugabi rushes Dassler and presses him up against the cage.
Mugabi stops a takedown attempt from Dassler.
Mugabi lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Mugabi.

It looks like Adi Dassler has been cut.

Mugabi breaks from the clinch.
Dassler moves out of range of the strikes.
Mugabi cracks Dassler with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mugabi throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Mugabi misses.
Dassler feinted with a counter takedown.
Mugabi throws an off balance right hand

and Dassler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Mugabi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mugabi throws a right hand that Dassler ducks under and follows up with a left that Dassler also avoids with ease.
Mugabi is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Mugabi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dassler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adi Dassler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dassler takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mugabi is looking to land body kicks.
A combination from Mugabi does no damage.
The fighters circling - Mugabi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mugabi is looking to score with low kicks.
Mugabi throws a nice looking combination but Dassler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Dassler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Dassler seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dassler is working for a submission of some sort.
Dassler 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.
Mugabi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mugabi trying to control but Dassler postures up.

Dassler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mugabi is looking to escape.

Dassler is looking for submissions but instead, Mugabi has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dassler scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mugabi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Dassler drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mugabi dives on top into guard.

Mugabi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dassler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Dassler working for a triangle but Mugabi defends it easily.
Dassler trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dassler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mugabi tries to stand but Dassler is controlling from the bottom.

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

Dassler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Dassler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mugabi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mugabi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mugabi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dassler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mugabi is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Mugabi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Adi Dassler's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dassler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Mugabi as he connects with a hook.
John Mugabi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mugabi scoring well with a low kick there.
Mugabi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mugabi lands a jab.
Mugabi connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mugabi throws out a loose jab but Dassler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dassler went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mugabi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mugabi just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dassler is defended easily by Mugabi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mugabi misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dassler is defended easily by Mugabi.
Dassler moves out of range of the body kick from Mugabi.
Dassler drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mugabi sprawls and moves away.
Dassler shoots in looking for a takedown but Mugabi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dassler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adi Dassler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mugabi misses with a straight left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dassler is defended easily by Mugabi.
Mugabi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
John Mugabi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Mugabi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mugabi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mugabi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dassler closes the distance and clinches up with Mugabi, looking for a takedown. Dassler pushes Mugabi against the cage but Mugabi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mugabi throws a shot from downtown. Dassler moves away and avoids it.
Dassler is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mugabi.
Dassler walks into a jab.
Mugabi tries to clinch up.
Mugabi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dassler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mugabi darts in and clinches Dassler up against the cage.
Dassler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mugabi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mugabi scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Dassler with that takedown attempt.
Mugabi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mugabi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Dassler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dassler looking to score a takedown here. Mugabi is defending well but Dassler drives through and ends up in Mugabi's guard.
Dassler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mugabi holds on and takes a little breather.
Mugabi is continuing to stall.
Dassler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dassler is pushing down on Mugabi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mugabi is fighting to maintain full guard but Dassler has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dassler missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mugabi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dassler.

Mugabi is defending against the submission attempts here by Dassler.
Dassler wants to free his trapped foot but Mugabi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Dassler is working for a submission of some sort.
Dassler throwing shots but Mugabi is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Mugabi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mugabi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Mugabi!
John Mugabi bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.