PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Paic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cho Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Paic
vs
Lang

189 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 Rio de Janeiro, Nikola Paic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cho Lang!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Paic. Those never looked like landing.
Lang scores with a one two! Paic had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paic circles away.
Paic looks for a takedown but Lang sprawls well.
Paic swinging wildly here.

Lang closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Paic jumps guard but Lang turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lang fails to pull guard.
Lang is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Paic to keep the fight standing.
Nikola Paic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cho Lang.

Lang pulls guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lang looking for a sweep. Not yet Lang, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paic controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lang looking for a sweep. Not yet Lang, not yet.
Paic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lang tries to strike from the bottom.

Lang working for submissions but it's allowed Paic to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang won't allow Paic to pass to mount.
Lang keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Paic winds up and cracks Lang with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Paic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Lang actively working from the bottom here.

Paic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang is staying active underneath Paic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Paic wants to get back to his feet.
Lang is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Paic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Paic's back!
Paic trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paic breaks Lang's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lang trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paic wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.
Lang wants to stand up but Paic is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nikola Paic wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Paic swinging wildly here.
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 Nikola Paic will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lang fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Paic closes the distance and clinches.
Lang jumps guard but Paic stands there with Lang around his waist. Lang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Paic is trying to force a seperation but Lang has the dominant position.

Lang breaks from the clinch.
Paic looks to score with a jab to the body but Lang is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang connects with a single shot there.
Lang works over Paic's head and body with a nice combination.
No luck for Lang with that takedown attempt.
Nikola Paic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cho Lang.
Lang wants to clinch up but Paic keeps it at a distance.
Cho Lang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lang tries a head kick but it misses.
Lang wants to clinch.
Paic throws a combination. Lang tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lang shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Paic as he avoids it easily.
Lang is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lang moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Paic sprawls well. Paic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lang gets slowly back to his feet.
Lang shoots for a double leg takedown but Paic sprawls well. He's pushed Lang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paic misses with a two punch combination.
Paic doesn't manage to clinch there - Lang circles away.
Lang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paic circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horrible takedown by Paic or perhaps it was just good defense by Lang which made him look bad.
Nikola Paic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lang shoots in for a takedown but Paic shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paic avoids a kick to the body.
Paic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lang tries to avoid it but Paic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lang to the ground. Lang escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paic tries to clinch but Lang moves away
and Lang makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Paic really felt that one!
Lang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lang takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
No luck for Lang with that takedown attempt.
Paic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Paic.
Lang shoots in for a double leg but Paic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lang takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lang wants it to stay on the feet.
Lang shoots for a double leg takedown but Paic sprawls well. He's pushed Lang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paic stuffs the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lang takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lang moves in looking to clinch but Paic pushes him off.
Lang slips a jab and a cross from Paic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nikola Paic will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Paic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Paic gets tackled into the cage by Lang. Lang maintains the clinch.
Paic is trying to pull guard but Lang turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Paic is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lang is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Paic to the mat. Paic regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lang postures up.
Lang tries to free his leg and advance position but Paic is retaining full guard.
Paic keeping moving, preventing Lang from controlling successfully.
Lang must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lang 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.
Paic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cho Lang was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Paic slips a jab and a cross from Lang.
Lang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paic.
Lang tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Paic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lang throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Paic working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paic manages to break the clinch.
Paic misses with a body kick.
Paic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lang wants it to stay on the feet.
Lang scores with a head kick.
Lang shoots in but no luck this time.
Paic leaves Lang with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nikola Paic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cho Lang.
Paic moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Paic.
Some wild striking there from Paic.
Lang shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paic as he jumps to the side.
Lang displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paic.
Lang fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lang moves into the clinch.
Paic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lang lands a shot to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Paic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Paic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paic misses with a double jab.
Cho Lang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikola Paic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lang has closed the distance and engaged Paic in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cho Lang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Paic 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cho Lang!