PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Deshawn Mueller (ranked 22440 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Bell (ranked 5290 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mueller
vs
Bell

168 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

167 cm
25
141 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Deshawn Mueller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Drake Bell!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mueller moves into the clinch successfully.
Bell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mueller's elbow.

Bell gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Bell wants to stand up but Mueller has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bell stalling away here and it's allowed Mueller to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Bell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mueller has control of Bell's left arm, preventing Bell from doing any damage.
Mueller avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller 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.
Bell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mueller works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mueller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mueller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bell passes into half guard.
Mueller wants to improve his position but Bell is controlling well.
Bell tries to pass to full mount but Mueller defends it.
Mueller is looking to control Bell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mueller avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bell postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mueller to stand up.

Bell closes the distance and pushes Mueller back into the cage.
Mueller is trying to pull guard but Bell has him pressed against the cage.

Bell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bell doesn't manage to clinch there - Mueller circles away.
Mueller fires out a quick counter leg kick but Bell just manages to avoid it.

Bell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mueller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bell is one step ahead there.
Bell wants to get up but he can't break Mueller's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell wants to control from the top but Mueller keeps moving.
Bell is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mueller wants to sweep but no luck.
Mueller bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bell's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mueller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mueller connects with a couple of short punches.
Mueller throwing strikes from guard but Bell blocks nicely.
Mueller stands up over Bell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bell has momentary wrist control but Mueller slips an elbow through the middle.
Mueller is looking to stand up but Bell won't let him.
Mueller stays in close to Bell's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mueller is looking to stand up but Bell won't let him.
Bell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mueller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mueller drops back looking for a leg! Bell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bell manages to kick Mueller off! Mueller jumps back into Bell's guard.
Mueller working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bell's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mueller gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mueller swats away the attempt to clinch by Bell.
Mueller lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Deshawn Mueller will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mueller pushes Bell up against the cage in a clinch.

Bell gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bell tries to pass to full mount but Mueller defends it.
Mueller is trying to get back to full guard.
Mueller is not content to let Bell control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller wants to control but Bell is keeping busy.
Mueller makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mueller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller trying to control the position here.
Bell looking to pass the guard.
Bell is looking to work some ground and pound but Mueller has wrist control.

Bell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mueller, up you get!

Bell feints and as Mueller raises his hands in defense, Bell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mueller wants to sweep but no luck.
Mueller is working hard here to advance position.
Bell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mueller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mueller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mueller is on top in guard.

Mueller working some strikes from top position.
Mueller trying to control but Bell is working from the bottom.

Mueller gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mueller keeps the fight on the outside.
Mueller circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mueller's guard.

Mueller manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Bell is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller is trying to pull guard but Bell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Bell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mueller regains guard.
Mueller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bell throws a big right hand that misses.
Mueller wants to sweep but no luck.
Mueller keeping moving, preventing Bell from controlling successfully.
Bell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mueller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bell is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bell. No joy for Mueller on that attempt.
Mueller wants to clinch.
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 Deshawn Mueller will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Bell closes the distance and pushes Mueller back into the cage.
Mueller fails to pull guard.

Mueller pulls Bell into guard.
Mueller 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.
Bell tries to stand but Mueller is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bell throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller trying to control the position here.
Bell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mueller gets caught flat footed, as Bell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell throws an elbow that misses. Mueller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bell's guard. Nice move by Mueller!

Mueller scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mueller works over Bell with some ground and pound from guard.

Mueller postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mueller, into his guard.

Mueller wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bell tries to free his leg and advance position but Mueller is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mueller is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bell trying to control but Mueller postures up.
Mueller working the head and body with strikes.
Bell regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mueller is looking to stand up but Bell won't let him.

Mueller stands up and waves to Bell to follow him.

Bell rushes Mueller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bell manages to pull guard.
Mueller postures up and lands a big shot to Bell's brow.
Mueller wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.
Mueller landing some decent shots from guard.

Mueller is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mueller trying to control but Bell is working from the bottom.
Mueller stopping the sweep attempt from Bell.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drake Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Deshawn Mueller is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mueller lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Drake Bell.
I think Mueller 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deshawn Mueller!