PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Paul (ranked 4001 p4p, 5624 weight class) and Bofur Widehat (ranked 526 p4p, 617 weight class). John Paul has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Paul
vs
Widehat

185 cm
26
193
1 - 1 - 0

150 cm
19
185
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bofur Widehat!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Widehat shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Paul as he avoids it easily.
Paul is looking to counter the offense by Widehat and move into the clinch.
Paul stuffs the takedown.
Paul tries to counter by clinching up but Widehat breaks away and moves out of range.
Paul defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Widehat.
Paul has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
John Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bofur Widehat.

Paul gets caught flat footed, as Widehat shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Paul wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Widehat manages to pass to side control.

Widehat is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paul has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul wants to improve his position but Widehat is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widehat is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Paul!
Paul bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Paul knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Widehat on the ground.
Widehat tries to strike from the bottom.
Paul content to stall in guard here.
Widehat looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widehat keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.

Widehat is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Paul stopping the sweep attempt from Widehat.
Paul will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Widehat throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Widehat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Widehat is controlling Paul's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Widehat keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Widehat is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Widehat connects with a nice short shot to Paul's temple.
Paul is looking for a sweep. Widehat is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Paul is not content to let Widehat control the position.

Widehat is looking for a kimura but Paul is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Widehat to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Widehat is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Paul wants to improve his position but Widehat is controlling well.

Widehat is looking for a kimura but Paul is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Widehat to get the leverage.
Widehat wants to pass the guard but Paul is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Widehat not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bofur Widehat dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Paul. No joy for Widehat on that attempt.
As Widehat tries to get set, Paul tries to push him back and clinch up but Widehat manages to avoid the attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Widehat dives in and grabs Paul's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paul pushes down on Widehat's head and hops out.
Paul is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Widehat.

Widehat closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Paul's guard.
Widehat wants to pass the guard but Paul is keeping the position.
Paul avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paul tries to land a sweep but no joy.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Widehat working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Paul avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Widehat stopping the sweep attempt from Paul.
Widehat postures up in Paul's guard and throws a big left but Paul blocks it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widehat wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Widehat shoots in looking for a takedown but Paul manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Widehat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
John Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bofur Widehat.
Paul displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Widehat.
Paul wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Widehat shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Widehat not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Widehat missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Widehat seems to be working for a kimura but Paul defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widehat misses with a head shot. Paul uses the momentum to regain guard.
Widehat trying to control but Paul is working from the bottom.
Widehat throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul trying to control the position.
Paul keeping moving, preventing Widehat from controlling successfully.
Paul not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Paul clinches up against the cage.
Paul lands an elbow inside that Widehat shrugs off.
Widehat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Widehat drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paul gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Paul just misses with a elbow thrown towards Widehat's brow.
Widehat tries to pull guard but Paul holds him up against the cage and eventually Widehat drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Paul lands an elbow just above Widehat 's eye.
Paul lands an elbow that stopped Widehat in his tracks for a moment.
Widehat jumps guard but Paul turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Widehat is trying to pull guard but Paul turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Widehat tries to pull guard but Paul holds him up against the cage and eventually Widehat drops back down to his feet.
Paul is looking to control Widehat's arms but Widehat gets an underhook and turns him. Now Paul has his back to the cage.
Paul pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Widehat is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Widehat jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Paul walks away with a smile on his face. Widehat gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
John Paul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Widehat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Paul defends it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Widehat shoots in and bounces Paul off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Widehat trying to control but Paul is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul 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!

Widehat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Paul looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Widehat creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bofur Widehat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paul tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Widehat easily slips into full mount!
Paul is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widehat postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Paul looks a forlorn figure.

Widehat working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Widehat working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Widehat postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks Paul out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Widehat goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Bofur Widehat!