PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Muller (ranked 1627 p4p, 1668 weight class) and Clinch King Smash Machine (ranked 247 p4p, 253 weight class). Muller comes to the cage accompanied by Samourai - by: Shurik'n. Stefan Muller could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Clinch King Smash Machine's chin.

Muller
vs
Smash Machine

189 cm
31
220
11 - 10 - 0

194 cm
31
218
17 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Fantasy Threads

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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stefan Muller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Clinch King Smash Machine!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muller takes one on the button.
Smash Machine just misses with a punch to the body.
Muller on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smash Machine looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Muller jabs Smash Machine right on the nose. Smash Machine blinks but takes it well.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Smash Machine has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Smash Machine on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Muller looks to land a right hand but Smash Machine moved out of range.
Smash Machine drops his hands momentarily and Muller takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Muller misses with a jab, cross combination.
Muller dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Smash Machine. That did some damage!
Muller throws a body punch but Smash Machine moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smash Machine cracks Muller with a good jab.
Muller scores with a head kick. Smash Machine tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Smash Machine defending well as Muller loads up on a big left hand.
Muller looks to score with a jab to the body but Smash Machine is just out of range.
Smash Machine doesn't manage to clinch there - Muller circles away.
Smash Machine throws a right and a left that both miss.

Smash Machine fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Muller, pushing him back against the cage.
Muller is pressed up against the cage. Smash Machine has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Muller down to the mat. Muller avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Muller throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smash Machine tries to close the distance and clinch but Muller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smash Machine dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Smash Machine closes the distance and clinches.
Muller blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smash Machine blocks the elbow strike.
Smash Machine throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Muller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Muller misses with an elbow strike.
Muller's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smash Machine with a knee to the head.

It looks like Stefan Muller has been cut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smash Machine as Muller tries to tie him up.
Smash Machine avoids the elbow strike from Muller, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Smash Machine.
Muller is trying to break the clinch but Smash Machine is controlling him.
Smash Machine blocks the elbow strike.
Muller lands a right hand.
A short left from Smash Machine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smash Machine successfully pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smash Machine is on top in guard.

Smash Machine wants to pass the guard but Muller is keeping the position.
Muller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smash Machine is stalling in the full guard.
Smash Machine looking to sit in guard and control but Muller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine is trying to keep Muller in close.
Smash Machine 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.
Muller keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smash Machine's head.
Muller landing some decent shots from guard.
Muller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smash Machine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smash Machine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Muller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smash Machine escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Muller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smash Machine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Muller postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Smash Machine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Muller doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Muller manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Muller cracks Smash Machine with a solid left hand.
Muller won't allow Smash Machine to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stefan Muller will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stefan Muller's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circling - Muller throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smash Machine shapes to counter with a head kick.
Muller misses with a jab to the body
and Smash Machine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smash Machine misses with a straight right.
Muller missing with a left hand there. Smash Machine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smash Machine is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Smash Machine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muller.
As Muller backs off Smash Machine throws a huge counter combo but Muller manages to avoid it all.
Muller looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Left hook, right uppercut from Muller.

It looks like Clinch King Smash Machine has been cut.
Smash Machine shoots in but no luck this time.
Muller throws a quick counter head kick but Smash Machine was just out of range.
Smash Machine avoids the body shot from Muller.
Smash Machine throws out a counter right but Muller avoids it with no problem.
Muller misses with an uppercut.
Smash Machine moves forwards but Muller connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Smash Machine throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Muller swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Muller shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smash Machine's guard.
Muller is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smash Machine can do to turn this around?
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!

Smash Machine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smash Machine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smash Machine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Muller working some strikes from top position.
Muller stopping the sweep attempt from Smash Machine.
Muller postures up and lands a big shot to Smash Machine's brow.
Smash Machine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Muller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smash Machine works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Muller connects with a couple of short punches.

Smash Machine escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Muller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Muller working some strikes from top position.
Muller looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Muller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smash Machine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smash Machine wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smash Machine had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Muller defends it easily.

Muller got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smash Machine has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Muller has managed to get both his arms back between Smash Machine's legs - danger averted.
Smash Machine keeping moving, preventing Muller from controlling successfully.
Muller postures up and lands a big shot to Smash Machine's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smash Machine has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Muller is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Smash Machine.
Muller working the head and body with strikes.
Smash Machine takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Muller in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That has opened up Clinch King Smash Machine's cut even more.

Muller tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Muller is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smash Machine knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smash Machine tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Muller wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Smash Machine is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Muller scores with a couple of nice shots.

The cut above Clinch King Smash Machine's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Stefan Muller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smash Machine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Muller working Smash Machine over with strikes.
Smash Machine avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Muller.

Smash Machine looking for submissions off his back.
Muller looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Muller dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Smash Machine forces Muller back against the cage and clinches.
Smash Machine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Smash Machine tries to land a knee to the head but Muller blocks with his arms.
Muller blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smash Machine tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Muller avoids it.
Muller looking for a takedown.
Smash Machine keeps control of Muller as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Muller misses with the head strike.
Muller lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smash Machine backwards.
Clinch King Smash Machine seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smash Machine misses with an elbow over the top.
Smash Machine managing to block the knees to the body from Muller.
Smash Machine wants a takedown but no success here.
Muller on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smash Machine lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Muller lands an elbow just above Smash Machine 's eye.

Clinch King Smash Machine's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Smash Machine lands a good knee to the midsection. Muller won't want to take too many of those.

Smash Machine gets control of Muller's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smash Machine will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Smash Machine looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smash Machine has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Muller can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Muller postures up and lands a big shot to Smash Machine's brow.
Muller landing some decent shots from guard.
Muller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Smash Machine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Smash Machine has his foot on Muller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Muller works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muller is pushing down on Smash Machine's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smash Machine is fighting to maintain full guard but Muller has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smash Machine wants to improve his position but Muller is controlling well.

Muller is trying to work for a kimura but Smash Machine is defending well.

Muller is looking for a kimura here.
Smash Machine is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Muller's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Muller's back!
Clinch King Smash Machine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smash Machine not allowing Muller to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smash Machine is persistently looking for the submission but Muller is defending it well.
Well, with Smash Machine on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Muller is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Smash Machine looking for the RNC.

Muller defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Smash Machine's arms.
Muller looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Muller tries to roll but Smash Machine sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine not allowing Muller to control his hands.

Muller showing good submission defense here.
Smash Machine misses with a punch to the head.
Stefan Muller is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Muller rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Smash Machine is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clinch King Smash Machine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Muller 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan Muller!
Stefan Muller seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Clinch King Smash Machine stepped up to the mic, saying 'I want to thank the fans for the support! We'll be back stronger!'.