PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bennie Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Orlov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Superheroes. Bennie Mullen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mullen
vs
Orlov

203 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bennie Mullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Valentin Orlov!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orlov shoots in for a takedown but Mullen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Orlov lands a nice shot to the body.
Orlov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mullen counters by moving into the clinch.
Mullen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bennie Mullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valentin Orlov.
Orlov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mullen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Orlov has Mullen pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orlov can't get the takedown.

Mullen decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen keeping moving, preventing Orlov from controlling successfully.
Mullen lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mullen wants to get back to his feet but Orlov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Orlov throws an elbow that misses. Mullen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Orlov's guard. Nice move by Mullen!

Orlov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mullen postures up in Orlov's guard and throws a big left but Orlov blocks it.
Mullen wants to stand but Orlov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Orlov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mullen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Mullen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Orlov tries to clinch but Mullen moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mullen is defended easily by Orlov.
Orlov fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Mullen with that takedown attempt.
Orlov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mullen shoots in and bounces Orlov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Orlov is controlling Mullen's posture.
Mullen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orlov has a closed guard, preventing Mullen from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen is working Orlov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mullen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mullen scoring with some ground and pound.
Orlov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Orlov has Mullen pulled in close to control his posture.
Orlov controls Mullen momentarily but Mullen frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mullen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bennie Mullen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Orlov throws a nice looking combination but Mullen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Orlov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mullen.

Mullen gets caught flat footed, as Orlov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Orlov wants to control from the top but Mullen keeps moving.
Mullen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Orlov throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Orlov stands up from Mullen's guard - Orlov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Orlov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mullen circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Orlov clinches up against the cage.

Orlov manages to pull guard.
Bennie Mullen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Orlov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Orlov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valentin Orlov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Orlov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mullen as he jumps to the side.
Orlov stuffs the takedown.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov controls Mullen momentarily but Mullen frees himself.
Mullen 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.
Orlov is breathing heavily.
Orlov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Orlov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Orlov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Orlov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mullen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mullen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mullen gets to his feet - Orlov follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Orlov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mullen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orlov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mullen counters by clinching up.
Mullen controlling the action here for a moment.

Mullen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Orlov jabs at Mullen's body.
Orlov keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov looks to clinch

so Mullen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Orlov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mullen is controlling him.
Mullen lands a couple of elbows.
Mullen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mullen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Orlov looking to control but Mullen passes into half guard.
Mullen working Orlov over with strikes.
Mullen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Valentin Orlov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mullen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A head kick misses from Orlov.
Orlov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mullen counters by moving into the clinch.

Orlov breaks from the clinch.
Bennie Mullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Orlov clinches.

Orlov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mullen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Orlov to the mat. Orlov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen throws a big right hand that misses.
Mullen throws a big right hand that misses.
Mullen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Orlov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mullen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen wanted to stand there but Orlov had control of the position.
Orlov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mullen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mullen throws a big elbow that misses.
Orlov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Orlov wants to clinch.
Orlov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Orlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two 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.

Mullen clinches up with Orlov and pushes him back against the cage.
Orlov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mullen walks away with a smile on his face. Orlov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mullen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Orlov shoots for a double leg takedown but Mullen sprawls well. He's pushed Orlov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bennie Mullen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valentin Orlov.
Orlov dives in and grabs Mullen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mullen pushes down on Orlov's head and hops out.
Mullen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mullen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov goes for a double leg but Mullen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mullen continues to drive forward.
Orlov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mullen is defending well for now.
Mullen wants a takedown but no success here.
Orlov fails to pull guard.
Orlov is trying to break free.
Mullen has Orlov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Orlov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Mullen breaks the clinch.
Orlov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Orlov swats away the attempt to clinch by Mullen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen tries to clinch but Orlov is having none of it.

Mullen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mullen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mullen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mullen lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mullen lands strikes from half guard.
Orlov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mullen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Orlov to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bennie Mullen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mullen 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bennie Mullen!
Valentin Orlov spoke after the fight, saying 'Thank you for the chance, I now know where to improve for next time.'.