PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Paul will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cormier
vs
Paul

189 cm
25
218 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

199 cm
18
257 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavin Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Paul!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cormier defends it nicely.
Paul shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cormier but Cormier pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cormier fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Paul sprawls well initially but Cormier persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Paul trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Cormier manages to pass to mount!
Cormier controlling his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul is trying to reverse the position but instead Cormier has taken his back - oops!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I really don't envy Paul right now.
Cormier controlling from the back.
Paul trying to control the hands but Cormier won't let him.
Cormier keeps control of the position easily here as Paul tries to buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cormier is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Paul looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Cormier is riding his opponent, not letting Paul buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul trying to control the hands but Cormier breaks the grip.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Cormier controlling the positon.
Paul trying to get back to his feet but Cormier is in full control for now.
You can see the frustration on Paul's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cormier controls the position.

Cormier has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

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.
I really don't envy Paul right now.

Cormier working for a choke but Paul is defending well.
Paul rolls, trying to escape but Cormier keeps control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier throws strikes from the back but Paul rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Paul.
Paul really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cormier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Paul wants to hit a switch here but Cormier passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Paul there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Cormier dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Paul swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cormier.
Paul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cormier.
Paul is looking to clinch but Cormier is avoiding it.
Cormier tries to counter by clinching up but Paul breaks away and moves out of range.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cormier closes the distance and clinches up with Paul, looking for a takedown. Cormier pushes Paul against the cage but Paul circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cormier leaves Paul with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul stuffs the takedown attempt from Cormier. Cormier gets slowly back to his feet.
Gavin Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paul cracks a nice hook into Cormier's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Paul throws a leg kick

and Cormier counters by clinching up.

Cormier pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Gavin Cormier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cormier looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cormier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paul can do to turn this around?
Paul tries to stand but Cormier is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cormier is keeping the position for now.
Cormier has control of Paul's left arm, preventing Paul from doing any damage.
Paul trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cormier pulls Paul in close to his closed guard and prevents Paul from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cormier has Paul up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Paul - that landed with a thud.
Paul on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cormier can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Cormier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul taking a breather.
Paul is trying to pull guard but Cormier has him pressed against the cage.

Cormier decides to pull guard.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Cormier pulls Paul in close to prevent any damage.
Paul trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cormier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Paul is aware though and is defending well.
Paul looking to sit in guard and control but Cormier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cormier with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cormier slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Paul.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier controlling the action here.
Cormier throwing shots but Paul is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Cormier dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Paul throws a combination that misses

and Cormier counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Paul wants to stand back up but Cormier manages to pass into side control.

Cormier stands up.

Cormier takes the fight into the clinch.
Paul stalling in the clinch but Cormier improves position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Cormier successfully pulls guard.
Paul must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cormier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Paul wants to stand and escape but instead Cormier has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Paul working a defensive guard but Cormier manages to pass into side control anyway.
Paul is looking to get back to his feet here but Cormier is keeping cool and he's managed to take Paul's back.
Paul covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier controlling the position well here. Paul rolled but Cormier kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Paul is trying to stand back up.
Cormier misses with a punch to the head.
Cormier connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Paul to escape the position.

Cormier looking to break Paul's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Paul remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cormier will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Paul.
Cormier lands a shot to the body.
Cormier is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Paul rolls, trying to escape but Cormier keeps control of the position.
Paul is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Paul tries to escape but Cormier has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cormier working for a choke but Paul is defending well.
Cormier is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gavin Cormier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cormier, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gavin Cormier!