PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miha Safin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rock Paulson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Safin
vs
Paulson

200 cm
19
264 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miha Safin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rock Paulson!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulson looks to land a combination but Safin avoids it well.
Paulson wants to clinch up but Safin keeps it at a distance.
Safin tries to clinch but Paulson is having none of it.

Paulson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Paulson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Paulson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Safin looking to control.
Safin wants to stand but Paulson is controlling the position.
Safin looking to control.
Paulson cracks Safin with a solid left hand.
Paulson throwing strikes but missing.
Paulson throwing strikes but missing.
Paulson is in close to Safin's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Safin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Paulson misses with a combination
and Safin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Paulson is looking to clinch.
Paulson wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paulson.
Paulson tries to clinch but Safin moves out of range.
Paulson fails with the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paulson.
Miha Safin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rock Paulson.
Paulson closes the distance and clinches up with Safin, looking for a takedown. Paulson pushes Safin against the cage but Safin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paulson looks gassed!

Safin has closed the distance and engaged Paulson in a clinch.
Paulson tries to pull guard but Safin won't allow it.
Paulson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Paulson decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Paulson's guard.
Paulson scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Safin trying to control the position from guard on top but Paulson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Safin is fighting to break Paulson's control of his arms but Paulson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Safin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paulson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Safin is fighting to break Paulson's control of his arms but Paulson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Safin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Safin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Safin scores with a head kick.
Paulson is looking to clinch but Safin is avoiding it.
Paulson misses with a takedown attempt

and Safin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Safin.
Safin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Paulson smiles and moves away.
Miha Safin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Safin throws a right and a left that Paulson avoids nicely.
Paulson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Safin counters with a right hand to the body.
Safin throws a combination. Paulson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Safin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paulson, pushing him back against the cage.
Safin is trying to break the clinch but Paulson is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Miha Safin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Safin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paulson circles away quickly and effectively.
Paulson misses with a body shot
and Safin counters with a head kick.
Paulson shoots in and drives through. Safin sprawls well.
Safin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Safin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Paulson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Safin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Safin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Paulson's head.
Paulson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Safin counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Safin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paulson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Safin throws a good cross that connects.
Paulson tries to clinch but Safin moves away
and Safin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Safin throws a sloppy head kick and Paulson moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Safin. Safin obviously looking to wear him down.

Paulson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Safin is trying to defend but Paulson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Paulson trying to control the action but Safin is working from the bottom.
Safin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Paulson stands up over Safin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Paulson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulson drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Paulson seems to have locked his on tight now - Safin screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Paulson, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Rock Paulson!