PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Paulsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Paulsson's choice of entrance music: Soldaat van Oranje Theme. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Paulsson

188 cm
20
199 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Underworld Clothing
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lars Paulsson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulsson slips under a jab.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Paulsson.

Paulsson rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Gracie has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paulsson avoids it.
Gracie prevents the takedown attempt.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Paulsson won't allow it.
Paulsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.

Paulsson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gracie clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Paulsson missing with strikes.
Paulsson thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Gracie has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Paulsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Paulsson is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Paulsson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Paulsson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Paulsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paulsson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Paulsson pulls Gracie in close to his closed guard and prevents Gracie from doing any damage or advancing position.
Paulsson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paulsson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Paulsson, not yet.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Paulsson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Paulsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paulsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paulsson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Paulsson.
Paulsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Paulsson chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Paulsson trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie pulls Paulsson in close to prevent any damage.
Paulsson wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Paulsson passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paulsson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Gracie controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Paulsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Paulsson closes the distance and clinches.
Paulsson blocks an uppercut.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Paulsson avoids the damage to the body.
A short left from Gracie.
A shot in the inside from Paulsson.
Gracie tries a body shot but Paulsson blocks it.

Paulsson has picked Gracie up - he's going for a ride! Paulsson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Paulsson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Paulsson tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Paulsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Paulsson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paulsson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Gracie tries to break the clinch but Paulsson is controlling the position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gracie takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
Paulsson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gracie prevents it.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paulsson is defending well for now.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Anderson Gracie has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Paulsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Paulsson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Paulsson misses with an uppercut.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Paulsson moves away.
Gracie gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Paulsson has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulsson has hold of one of Gracie's legs. Gracie is fighting the takedown attempt but Paulsson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Paulsson landing some decent shots from guard.
Paulsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paulsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Paulsson looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lars Paulsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie tries to stand but Paulsson is controlling from the bottom.

Paulsson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie keeping moving, preventing Paulsson from controlling successfully.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Paulsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Paulsson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Paulsson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Paulsson trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

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

Gracie postures up.
Paulsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Paulsson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Paulsson thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.

Paulsson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.
Paulsson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Paulsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Gracie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Paulsson has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.

Paulsson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gracie regains guard immediately.
Paulsson throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Paulsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paulsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Paulsson working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulsson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Paulsson.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Paulsson controlling him for the moment.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Paulsson throws an elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Paulsson's guard. Nice move by Gracie!

Anderson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Paulsson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Paulsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Paulsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Lars Paulsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paulsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Paulsson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

Paulsson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four 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.
Paulsson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Paulsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lars Paulsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulsson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Paulsson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Paulsson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Paulsson taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Paulsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paulsson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Paulsson!
An out of breath Lars Paulsson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.