PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Isley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bulger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as John Bulger enters the cage!

Isley
vs
Bulger

196 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
26
245 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Underworld Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Isley!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Bulger!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bulger drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bulger postures up in Isley's guard and throws a big left but Isley blocks it.
Bulger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Isley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bulger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bulger postures up in Isley's guard and throws a big left but Isley blocks it.
Bulger throws a big elbow that misses.
Isley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Isley wants to stand and escape but Bulger is having none of it.
Bulger postures up and lands a big shot to Isley's brow.
Bulger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulger won't allow Isley to get back to his feet.
Bulger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Isley is looking to stand up but Bulger isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bulger tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Isley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Bulger drives through and clinches with Isley against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Isley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've been told by Isley's head coaches at Mega Gym (10 Elite - $1000) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bulger takes a swing at Isley's ribcage but misses.

Bulger changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Isley looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Isley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bulger's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bulger is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Isley is refusing to be controlled, as Bulger sits in half guard.
Bulger scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bulger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Isley's head.
Bulger scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bulger lands strikes from half guard.
Bulger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Isley defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Isley pushes Bulger off looking to stand but Bulger dives back in and keeps control.
Bulger throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Isley to regain full guard.
Isley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bulger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bulger accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bulger landing with the ground and pound.
Isley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bulger.
Bulger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bulger throws a strike but Isley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Isley engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bulger can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isley stops Bulger from standing up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Isley sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Isley moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
John Bulger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bulger misses with a body shot.
Bulger lands a slapping body shot.
Isley connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bulger. Bulger circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bulger misses with a body shot.
Isley takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bulger misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Isley on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Isley digs a good body shot into Bulger's ribs.
Isley doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Isley is breathing heavily.
Bulger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Isley manages to avoid it.
It looked like Isley was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bulger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bulger dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Isley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Isley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bulger shoots in for a takedown but Isley shows good takedown defense.
Isley swats away the attempt to clinch by Bulger.
Bulger misses with a jab to the body
and Isley counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Isley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bulger.
Bulger jabs Isley to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bulger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Isley.
Bulger fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bulger is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Isley rather than just go for the knockout.
Isley connects with the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Bulger misses
and Isley counters with a left to the body.
Bulger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Isley.
Bulger misses the body punch
enabling Isley to counter with a crisp jab.

Bulger rushes Isley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Isley manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulger digs a good hook to Isley's body.
Paul Isley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice defenses there by Isley.
Isley tries to clinch up.
Isley cracks Bulger with a good jab.
Isley scores with a nice head shot.
Bulger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Isley manages to avoid it.
Isley fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Paul Isley is winning the standup battle so far.
Bulger throws a sloppy body shot
and Bulger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bulger ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Isley is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice takedown defense from Isley. No joy for Bulger on that attempt.

Isley darts in and clinches Bulger up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Isley.

Isley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bulger scores with a nice strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Isley moves into the clinch.
Isley taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Isley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bulger is defended easily by Isley.
Paul Isley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Bulger.
Isley getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bulger misses with a straight left.
Isley lands a jab to Bulger's midsection.
Isley lands a slapping body shot.

Bulger forces Isley back against the cage and clinches.
Bulger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Isley as the two fighters clinch.
Bulger is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bulger works on Isley's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulger throws a punch but it's blocked by Isley.
Isley scores with a shot to the side of Bulger's head.

Isley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bulger takes a swing at Isley's ribcage but misses.
Bulger misses with a jab, cross combination.

Isley moves into the clinch.
Bulger tries to work over Isley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Isley is trying to maintain a safe position but Bulger gets an underhook and turns Isley into the cage.
Isley tries to stall but Bulger uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Isley seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Bulger is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

Isley breaks the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Isley.
Isley lands with a hook. Bulger tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bulger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bulger misses with a straight right.
Isley is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Isley cracks a nice hook into Bulger's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Bulger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bulger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Isley manages to avoid it.
Bulger takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Isley is looking to clinch but Bulger is avoiding it.
Isley swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bulger.
Isley throws a combination. Bulger tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bulger misses with an uppercut
and Isley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bulger throws a right hand that misses

and Isley counters by clinching up.
Bulger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bulger misses with a body punch.
Isley prevents a body shot from Bulger.
Bulger misses with a punch to the body.
Isley is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Isley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Isley dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Isley stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Isley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bulger manages to avoid it.
Isley takes a swing at Bulger's ribcage but misses.
Bulger lands a slapping body shot.
Bulger is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Isley throws a sloppy body shot

and Bulger decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Isley's guard.
Bulger postures up in Isley's guard and throws a big left but Isley blocks it.
Bulger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bulger throwing strikes but missing.
Bulger trying to control but Isley is working from the bottom.
Bulger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
John Bulger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bulger lands a couple of elbows.
Bulger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bulger wants to control from the top but Isley keeps moving.
Bulger keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Isley's head.
Bulger throws an elbow that misses. Isley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bulger's guard. Nice move by Isley!

Bulger can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Isley controls the pace.
Bulger is looking to stand up but Isley isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Isley sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Isley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bulger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bulger can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Isley controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bulger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Isley.
As Bulger tries to get set, Isley tries to push him back and clinch up but Bulger manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Isley tries to clinch there but Bulger circles away.
Bulger misses the shot to the body.
Isley connects with a crisp jab.
Bulger looks to score with a jab to the body but Isley is just out of range.
Bulger tries for a takedown but Isley circles away easily
and Isley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Isley lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bulger throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Isley on the side of the head.
Isley staying out of range there.
Good shot there by Isley.
Bulger on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bulger tries to clinch
and Isley counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bulger tries to clinch up.
Bulger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulger with a poor takedown
enabling Isley to counter with a crisp jab.
Bulger misses with a wild combination.
Isley connects with a body shot.
Bulger misses with a hook.
Bulger has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Isley shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bulger eats them both and turns towards Isley to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bulger misses with a takedown
and Isley counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bulger thinking.
Paul Isley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Bulger.
Left hook, right uppercut from Isley.
Decent striking displayed by Isley there.
Isley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bulger.
A quick step to the side and Isley tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bulger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bulger throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Isley to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Isley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Isley 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Isley!
Paul Isley retains his heavyweight title!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Paul Isley waved his t-shirt featuring Underworld Clothing's logo in front of the cameras.
The defeated John Bulger had this to say: 'Ill be back.'.