PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Glad Tihata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Tihata
vs
Paul

180 cm
22
208 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

188 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Non-Stop Nutrition
Non-Stop Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Glad Tihata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Paul!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tihata looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tihata tries a head kick but it misses.
Paul throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paul blocks a head kick by Tihata.

Paul darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Paul is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tihata gets full guard.
Tihata keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.

Paul drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tihata looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tihata looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tihata!
Paul is trying to control Tihata's posture but Tihata avoids it.
Paul manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paul is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Tihata pulls his head out easily.

Paul looking for submissions off his back.
Tihata takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tihata wants to stand but Paul has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Tihata passes to side control.
Tihata working the head with strikes.

Tihata has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tihata tries a head kick but it misses.
Glad Tihata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul misses with a wild combination.
Tihata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tihata is looking to land body kicks.
Tihata throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.
Paul shoots for a double leg takedown but Tihata sprawls well. He's pushed Paul's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tihata misses with a head kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tihata.
Paul moves out of range of the body kick.
Tihata tries to clinch but Paul moves out of range.
Tihata doesn't manage to clinch there - Paul circles away.
Tihata throws a jab but it's blocked by Paul.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tihata missing with a left hand there. Paul was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tihata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tihata doesn't manage to clinch there - Paul circles away.
Glad Tihata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tihata throws a nice looking combination but Paul bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tihata is breathing heavily.
Tihata throws a left and a right that both miss

and Paul decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tihata's guard.
Tihata keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Paul stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tihata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paul stopping the sweep attempt from Tihata.
Paul trying to control but Tihata is working from the bottom.
Paul preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paul 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.
Tihata wants to stand and escape but Paul is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Tihata is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paul punishes Tihata's body with a nice straight punch.
Tihata misses with a double jab

and Paul counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paul.
Paul wants to pass the guard but Tihata is keeping the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Paul advances position into side control!
Paul trying to control the position but Tihata is working away.

Paul is trying to get an arm triangle but Tihata is defending well.

Paul looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tihata manages to work his way to half guard, despite Paul's best efforts.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Paul stops Tihata from getting back to his feet.
Tihata is looking to control Paul's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tihata avoid being mounted?

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Paul works his way into full mount!

Paul is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Tihata has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Paul looking to control but Tihata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tihata's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Paul is going olschool here, as he tries to force Tihata to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tihata shrugs it off.
Tihata is trying to escape the mount.
Tihata is squirming around, avoiding Paul's attempts to control the action.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Paul prevents Tihata from getting the reversal.
Tihata looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Paul looking for the choke from the back.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Paul.
Well, with Paul on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Tihata is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Paul looking for the choke but no joy.
Paul trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tihata trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Tihata is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Tihata is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Paul off. It looks like it's working - Paul slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Tihata displaying calm under pressure there.
Tihata tries a head kick but it misses.
Paul blocks a head kick by Tihata.
Paul swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tihata tries to clinch
and Paul counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Paul rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tihata moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Tihata misses.
Tihata throws a lazy head kick

and Paul counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tihata keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Tihata 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.

Paul thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Paul drops back looking for a leg! Tihata is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tihata manages to kick Paul off! Paul jumps back into Tihata's guard.

Paul drops back looking for a leg! Tihata is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tihata manages to kick Paul off! Paul jumps back into Tihata's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Paul dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tihata falls off balance throwing a combination
and Paul counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tihata misses with a body kick.
Some wild striking there from Paul.
Paul blocks a head kick by Tihata.
Tihata dodges the punch combination from Paul.
Tihata misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul swinging wilding here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tihata swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Tihata shows good takedown defense.
Tihata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tihata throws a head kick but Paul moves out of range.
Tihata throws a looping overhand right but Paul ducks down to avoid it.
Paul looks to land a combination but Tihata avoids it well.
Tihata misses with a series of wild punches.
Tihata throws a head kick that misses.
Paul defending well as Tihata loads up on a big left hand.
Tihata misses with a head kick.

That's two 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.
Tihata swings for the body but Paul moves out of range.
Tihata misses with a body shot.
Paul shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tihata pinned against the cage. Tihata gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paul punishes Tihata's body with a nice straight punch.
Paul throws a series of punches but Tihata avoids them all with ease.
Paul swinging wilding here.
Tihata is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Paul has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tihata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Paul wants a takedown.
Glad Tihata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Paul.
Paul has had enough of the clinch but Tihata keeps him there for the moment.
Tihata landing knees to the body.
Tihata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Paul goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tihata prevents it.

Paul manages to break the clinch.
Paul moves away from the strike by Tihata.
Tihata wants to slow Paul down by chopping away at his legs.

Paul shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Paul wants to control the pace but Tihata is squirming around nicely.

Paul goes for an armbar but Tihata turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Tihata.

Tihata gets to his feet - Paul follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul misses with a wild combination.
A head kick misses from Tihata.
Tihata misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Paul holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tihata is looking to break free of the clinch but Paul has double underhooks.
Paul blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Paul wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tihata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Paul is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Paul keeps control of Tihata as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Paul gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tihata regains guard.
Paul wants to pass the guard but Tihata is keeping the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tihata keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Paul passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tihata is pushing Paul's head away, looking to escape. Paul manages to hold on to the position though.

Paul is trying to get an arm triangle but Tihata is defending well.
Paul prevents Tihata from escaping the position.
Paul throws a strike aimed at the side of Tihata's head but Tihata avoids it well.
Tihata tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tihata is working hard here to advance position.

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

Paul is trying to get an arm triangle but Tihata is defending well.
Paul tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tihata's legs.
Tihata gets back to half guard.
Paul is looking to stall here but Tihata recovers full guard.
Paul wants to control from the top but Tihata keeps moving.
Tihata wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Paul manages to pass to side control.
Frank Paul has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Paul works his way into full mount!
Paul sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tihata is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tihata squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Paul has control of Tihata's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tihata regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Tihata working to try and regain half guard.

That's eight 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.
Tihata is squirming around, avoiding Paul's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tihata defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Paul.
Paul avoids the attempt from Tihata to control.

Paul jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tihata manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tihata is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Paul's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tihata tries to get to full guard but Paul has control of the leg.

Paul is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Paul wants to take a breather but Tihata is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paul missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Paul throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Paul looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Paul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Paul has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Frank Paul!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Frank Paul!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Frank Paul!

Frank Paul wins by unanimous decision!