PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Muvaka (ranked 3879 p4p, 5621 weight class) and Marlon Lag (ranked 428 p4p, 515 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Muvaka
vs
Lag

210 cm
26
255
7 - 6 - 0

210 cm
26
270
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Muvaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marlon Lag!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Lag shoots in for a double leg but Muvaka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lag closes the distance and clinches up with Muvaka, looking for a takedown. Lag pushes Muvaka against the cage but Muvaka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Muvaka seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lag fails with a takedown attempt.
Muvaka seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ben Muvaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Lag.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lag.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lag closes the distance and clinches up with Muvaka, looking for a takedown. Lag pushes Muvaka against the cage but Muvaka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Lag tries to get set, Muvaka tries to push him back and clinch up but Lag manages to avoid the attempt.

Lag shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Muvaka is trying to defend but Lag finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Muvaka is looking to get back to is feet but Lag passes into side control.
Lag throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Lag working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Muvaka bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lag throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Muvaka's waist but Muvaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lag off to one side.
Marlon Lag seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lag fails with a takedown attempt.
Muvaka is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lag.
Lag looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Lag with a poor takedown

and Muvaka moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lag is trying to trip Muvaka. He has hold of a leg but Muvaka is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Lag persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Lag landing some decent shots from guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muvaka wants to get back to his feet but Lag is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Muvaka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lag on the ground.
Lag postures up in Muvaka's guard and throws a big left but Muvaka blocks it.
Muvaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Muvaka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Muvaka tries to get out of the position.
Lag working some strikes from top position.
Lag passes Muvaka's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Muvaka wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Muvaka looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lag not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lag working Muvaka over with strikes.
Lag working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lag is trying to control the action in half guard but Muvaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lag working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lag stops Muvaka from getting back to his feet.

Lag wants to work for an arm triangle but Muvaka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Lag is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marlon Lag will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lag shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Muvaka defends it nicely.
Marlon Lag is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lag throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Muvaka's waist but Muvaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lag off to one side.
Muvaka tries to counter by clinching up but Lag breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lag shoots in and bounces Muvaka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Muvaka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lag is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muvaka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lag trying to control the position from guard on top but Muvaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muvaka wants to stand up but Lag is controlling him.
Lag content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lag working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Muvaka's head.
Muvaka keeping moving, preventing Lag from controlling successfully.
Lag with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lag postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lag working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lag trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lag won't allow Muvaka to get back to his feet.

Muvaka pushes Lag off and gets back to his feet.
Lag dives in for a single leg takedown but Muvaka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Muvaka seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ben Muvaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Lag.
Lag misses with a takedown attempt - Muvaka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lag shoots and misses

and Muvaka counters by clinching up.
Lag is breathing heavily.

Lag lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Muvaka kicks Lag off and gets back to his feet.
Lag tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lag fails with the takedown.
As Lag tries to get set, Muvaka tries to push him back and clinch up but Lag manages to avoid the attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Muvaka as Lag shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lag fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Muvaka avoids it really well and circles away.
Lag shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Muvaka as he jumps to the side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Muvaka dominated that second round.
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!

Muvaka stuffs the takedown.
Muvaka is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lag.
Lag tries for a takedown but Muvaka circles away easily

and Muvaka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Muvaka.
Muvaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lag goes for a takedown attempt but Muvaka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ben Muvaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Lag.
Lag has his takedown stuffed

and Muvaka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Muvaka breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lag doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Muvaka counters by moving into the clinch.
Lag takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Muvaka lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Marlon Lag has been cut.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Muvaka here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Muvaka lands a good knee to the midsection. Lag won't want to take too many of those.

Muvaka manages to break the clinch.
Lag looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Muvaka is fending him off so far but Lag persists. Nope, Muvaka circles away and we're back to standing.
Muvaka is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lag.
Muvaka slaps away a takedown attempt from Lag, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Muvaka wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lag gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Muvaka counters by moving into the clinch.
Muvaka is leaning against Lag and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Muvaka breaks from the clinch.
Lag shoots and misses

and Muvaka counters by moving into the clinch.
Muvaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lag takes a knee right on the jaw!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muvaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Muvaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lag's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muvaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Muvaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Muvaka lands a big knee to the head and Lag goes down! Muvaka pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Muvaka!
During a confident post fight interview, Ben Muvaka thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.