PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurisu Ikora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Paul Paulson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Paulson
vs
Ikora

180 cm
19
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
167 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Paulson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurisu Ikora!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ikora moves out of range of the strikes.
Paulson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paulson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paulson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Paulson tries to clinch there but Ikora circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulson throws a series of punches but Ikora avoids them all with ease.
Paulson fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paulson misses with a wild combination.
Ikora blocks a head kick by Paulson.
The crowd cheers as Paulson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ikora doesn't seem phased though.
Paulson misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Paulson does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Paulson misses with a double jab.
Ikora avoids the head kick by Paulson.

Ikora feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Ikora thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ikora trying to control but Paulson is working from the bottom.
Paulson wants to sweep but no luck.
Ikora trying to control but Paulson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson wants to sweep but no luck.

Paulson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ikora is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Paulson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ikora's back instead.
Paulson is breathing heavily.
Paulson is trying to stick to Ikora's back but Ikora is turning into Paulson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Paulson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ikora.
Ikora controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No joy there for Paulson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Paulson looks to land a right hand but Ikora moved out of range.

That's four 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.
Paulson slow jab from Ikora misses its intended target.
Paulson with a poor takedown

and Ikora counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Paulson's guard now.

Paulson working for a triangle but Ikora defends it easily.

Paulson has his foot on Ikora's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ikora works his way back into a safe position though.
Ikora 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.
Ikora passes Paulson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ikora works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ikora trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurisu Ikora dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ikora with a poor takedown

and Paulson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ikora's guard.
Ikora looking for a sweep. Not yet Ikora, not yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ikora utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ikora is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Paulson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paulson is fighting to break Ikora's control of his arms but Ikora is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Paulson looking to pass the guard.
Ikora is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paulson wants to pass the guard but Ikora is keeping the position.
Ikora not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ikora trying to keep a closed guard but Paulson is proving a slippery customer.

Paulson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Paulson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ikora swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Paulson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ikora uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Paulson.
Paul Paulson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paulson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Paul Paulson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulson moves in looking to clinch but Ikora pushes him off.
Paulson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Ikora counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikora advances to half guard.
Ikora wants to take a breather but Paulson is having none of it.

Paulson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ikora slows the pace down in half guard.
Ikora is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Paulson!
Paulson working to try and regain half guard.
Paulson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ikora blocks the strikes from Paulson.
Paulson is looking to improve his position.

Ikora is trying for a kimura here. Paulson looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Ikora wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kurisu Ikora!