PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duncan Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Paul
vs
Powers

182 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benny Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Duncan Powers!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers fails in his attempt to clinch.

Paul takes the fight into the clinch.
Paul jumps guard but Powers stands there with Paul around his waist. Paul gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Powers has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Paul clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I would not like to be Paul right now.
Let's hope that Powers has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Paul wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cage is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Paul.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Powers working for the choke.
Powers just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Paul trying to get back to his feet but Powers is in full control for now.
Paul manages to reverse the position and now he's in Powers's guard. Nice work there by Paul.
Powers working a defensive guard but Paul passes into half guard.
Paul is looking to stall here but Powers recovers full guard.

Powers scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Powers looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Powers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Paul counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Powers has a closed guard, preventing Paul from standing up.
Paul wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.

Paul gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Powers.
Paul closes the distance looking to clinch

and Powers counters by clinching up.

Powers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Paul clinches but Powers breaks the clinch

and Powers counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Duncan Powers will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Paul drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Powers can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paul controls the pace.
Powers keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Paul would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Powers is looking for a triangle here but Paul uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Powers struggling a bit here.
Paul works to advance to full mount. Powers defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Powers can't escape the position.
Paul sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Paul wants to control the pace but Powers is squirming around nicely.
Paul controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to control but Powers wriggling away.

Paul stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Paul tries for a takedown but Powers circles away easily

and Powers counters with a takedown into side control.
Powers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paul keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Powers stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Powers tries for a takedown but Paul circles away easily

and Paul decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Powers's guard.Powers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Paul throws a strike but Powers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Powers stays in close to Paul's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Paul dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Paul misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Powers closes the distance and clinches up with Paul, looking for a takedown. Powers pushes Paul against the cage but Paul circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paul shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Powers but Powers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paul throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Powers's waist but Powers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paul off to one side.
Powers shoots in for a takedown but Paul shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paul scores a takedown into full mount!
Paul controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Powers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Powers tries to hold on but Paul postures up.
Paul working the ground and pound effectively.
Paul can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Powers is looking to 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.

Paul is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Powers clinches up against the cage.
Powers wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Powers letting Paul take a breather here.

Paul tightens his grip and picks Powers up, before dumping him to the ground. Powers manages to land in guard.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Powers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
Paul wants to stand but Powers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Powers uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Powers throws a solid leg kick but Paul takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Powers.
Powers connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Powers.

Powers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Powers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Still in half guard, Powers seems content to control.
Powers is looking to take a break and control but Paul is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Benny Paul.
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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Benny Paul!