PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Paul (ranked 4430 p4p, 5360 weight class) and AJ Menendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Menendez's choice of entrance music: Kurt Angle Theme. AJ Menendez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jacob Paul's chin.

Paul
vs
Menendez

190 cm
24
205
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
220
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jacob Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, AJ Menendez!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Paul. Those never looked like landing.
Paul throws a right and a left that both miss.

Paul gets tackled into the cage by Menendez. Menendez maintains the clinch.

Paul drags the fight down to the ground.
Menendez stopping the sweep attempt from Paul.
Paul is trying to keep Menendez in close.
Paul pulls Menendez in to control the position.
Paul wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menendez wants to stand but Paul is controlling his posture from full guard.
Paul is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Menendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menendez throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Paul looking for subs off his back but Menendez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Paul controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Paul tries to roll over but Menendez keeps him under control.
Paul keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Paul is looking to get back to is feet but Menendez passes into side control.
Paul is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Paul misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Paul is looking to regain half guard here but Menendez keeps moving and retains side control.
Menendez gets to mount! Paul was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Paul tries to improve his position but instead Menendez has taken his back!
Menendez is hanging on to Paul's back as he tries to escape.
Paul trying to control the action but Menendez just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to roll but Menendez sticks to his back.
Menendez struggling to keep hold of the position.
Paul rolls, trying to escape but Menendez keeps control of the position.
Paul trying to get back to his feet but Menendez is in full control for now.
Paul manages to reverse the position and now he's in Menendez's guard. Nice work there by Paul.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul wants to control from the top but Menendez keeps moving.

Menendez is looking for a triangle here but Paul uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Menendez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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 Jacob Paul will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Menendez.
Menendez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Menendez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Menendez pushes Paul off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Paul closes the distance and pushes Menendez back into the cage.
Paul prevents a body shot from Menendez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paul pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Paul drives through and clinches with Menendez against the cage.

Paul gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Menendez regains guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paul is working Menendez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul trying to move into half guard but instead Menendez has managed to sweep!

Menendez trying to control but Paul is working from the bottom.
Menendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paul utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Paul seems keen to control Menendez's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Menendez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paul dives on top into guard.

Paul is stalling in the full guard.
Jacob Paul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menendez is keeping the position for now.
Menendez wants to sweep here but Paul controlling him for the moment.
Paul wants to control from the top but Menendez keeps moving.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menendez is keeping the position for now.
Menendez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paul controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paul controls from within his opponent's guard.
Paul lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Paul controlling from the top position.

That's four 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Menendez shoots for a double leg takedown but Paul sprawls well. He's pushed Menendez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Paul pushes Menendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Menendez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Paul lands a takedown into guard.
Menendez trying to keep a closed guard but Paul is proving a slippery customer.
Paul is pushing down on Menendez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Menendez is fighting to maintain full guard but Paul has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Menendez is defending against the submission attempts here by Paul.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Paul dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Paul moves into the clinch.

Paul tightens his grip and picks Menendez up, before dumping him to the ground. Menendez manages to land in guard.
Paul distracts Menendez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Menendez is adopting a defensive guard.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menendez is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menendez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paul drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Menendez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Paul has Menendez in his guard.

Menendez wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.

Paul had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Menendez defends it easily.
Paul trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Paul wants to get back to his feet but Menendez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Paul working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Menendez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Menendez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Paul working for a triangle but Menendez defends it easily.
Paul trying to keep a closed guard but Menendez is proving a slippery customer.
Paul on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Paul tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul wants to sweep here but Menendez controlling him for the moment.
Paul utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Paul is looking for a triangle but Menendez pushes his legs off easily.
Menendez stopping the sweep attempt from Paul.
Paul trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Paul tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Menendez defends well and Paul ends up having to push Menendez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Paul manages to break the clinch.
Menendez looks to land a combination. Paul sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Jacob Paul has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Menendez tries to avoid it but Paul manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Menendez to the ground. Menendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Menendez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Paul napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Paul looking for a sweep but Menendez has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Menendez is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Jacob Paul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paul walks into a stiff left hand from Menendez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menendez has a takedown stuffed.

Paul closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Menendez's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menendez wants to sweep here but Paul controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to AJ Menendez.
I think Paul 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!