PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Russel Paulman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Hoefman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulman comes to the cage accompanied by fight music . The crowd seem to be enjoying Hoefman's choice of entrance music: Young Jeezy ft Rick Ross - I'm a Boss. Russel Paulman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Melvin Hoefman's chin.

Paulman
vs
Hoefman

190 cm
23
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Russel Paulman !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melvin Hoefman!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulman shoots in and drives through. Hoefman sprawls well.

Hoefman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Paulman working for a triangle but Hoefman defends it easily.
Hoefman scoring with some ground and pound.
Hoefman postures up in Paulman 's guard and throws a big left but Paulman blocks it.
Hoefman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Paulman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Paulman working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Paulman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hoefman has worked his arm free - good work by Hoefman!

Paulman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hoefman gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoefman is looking for a sweep. Paulman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hoefman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hoefman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paulman manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paulman had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hoefman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Paulman Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hoefman's back instead.

Paulman patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Hoefman rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Paulman prevents Hoefman from improving his position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Paulman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hoefman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Paulman .
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoefman wants to control but Paulman is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoefman missing with punches from the bottom.
Paulman moves nicely into side control.
Hoefman is trying to control Paulman 's posture but Paulman avoids it.

Paulman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Paulman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hoefman, who protects the arm well.
Hoefman is looking to regain half guard here but Paulman keeps moving and retains side control.

Paulman tries for a kimura but Hoefman is defending well.

Paulman is trying to get an arm triangle but Hoefman is defending well.
Paulman is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoefman is looking to regain half guard here but Paulman keeps moving and retains side control.

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

Paulman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hoefman regains half guard.

Paulman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hoefman punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hoefman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Paulman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paulman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hoefman working a defensive guard here.

Paulman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hoefman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Paulman , into his guard.
Hoefman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hoefman distracts Paulman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hoefman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Hoefman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Paulman tries to close the distance and clinch but Hoefman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paulman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paulman scores with a jab to the jaw.

Hoefman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hoefman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Paulman working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hoefman cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hoefman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The referee warns Paulman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Paulman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Paulman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Hoefman there.
Hoefman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Paulman is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hoefman pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulman is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hoefman pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paulman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hoefman.
Paulman moves into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hoefman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hoefman drops back looking for a leg! Paulman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Paulman manages to kick Hoefman off! Hoefman jumps back into Paulman 's guard.

Paulman has his foot on Hoefman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hoefman works his way back into a safe position though.
Hoefman trying to control but Paulman is working from the bottom.
Hoefman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hoefman chips away with some ground and pound.
Hoefman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hoefman trying to control but Paulman is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulman has his foot on Hoefman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hoefman works his way back into a safe position though.
Paulman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hoefman is one step ahead there.
Hoefman connects with a couple of short punches.

Paulman working for a triangle but Hoefman defends it easily.
Hoefman landing with the ground and pound.

Hoefman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hoefman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paulman is keeping the position for now.

Hoefman drops back looking for a leg! Paulman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Paulman manages to kick Hoefman off! Hoefman jumps back into Paulman 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Paulman mounts Hoefman! Really nice guard pass there!
Hoefman manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Hoefman is defending against the submission attempts here by Paulman .
Hoefman trying to control but Paulman postures up.

Hoefman is defending against the submission attempts here by Paulman .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulman works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hoefman is trying to escape the mount.

Paulman goes for an armbar but Hoefman turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hoefman.

Hoefman preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Paulman .
Hoefman manages to reverse the position and now he's in Paulman 's guard. Nice work there by Hoefman.
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 Russel Paulman will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hoefman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paulman !
Paulman is bucking up trying to escape but Hoefman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hoefman prevents Paulman from getting the reversal.
Hoefman landing shots from mount.
Melvin Hoefman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hoefman landing shots from mount.
Paulman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by Hoefman.
Paulman is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hoefman landing shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hoefman cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hoefman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paulman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Paulman moves into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoefman distracts Paulman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoefman with a nice head shot there.

Hoefman is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Paulman has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Hoefman is looking to defend but Paulman has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Hoefman! Paulman pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Hoefman taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Russel Paulman !