PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clubber Bull (ranked 3803 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russell Paulman (ranked 4170 p4p, 0 weight class). Bull comes to the cage accompanied by Rage. Paulman has chosen War is my Love as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Clubber Bull has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Clubber Bull seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Bull
vs
Paulman

182 cm
28
170 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

183 cm
33
180 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Clubber Bull!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Russell Paulman!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paulman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bull has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Paulman after a bit of a struggle.
Bull is trying to drag Paulman to the mat but Paulman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Paulman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Paulman lands a knee to the head.
Bull is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've been informed that Paulman has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clubber Bull. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paulman stops a takedown attempt from Bull.
Bull is working for takedown but Paulman is calmly controlling the position for now.
Paulman prevents the takedown attempt.
Paulman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bull lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bull is breathing heavily.
Paulman lands a nice elbow.
Bull looking for a takedown.
Paulman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bull takes an elbow to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paulman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Paulman landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Paulman.
A knee to the head by Paulman.
A knee to the head by Paulman.
Paulman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Paulman.
Paulman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Paulman lands an elbow just above Bull 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bull is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paulman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paulman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bull's face.
Bull takes an elbow to the temple.
Paulman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Paulman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bull's face.
Paulman lands a nice knee to the body.
Paulman with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Paulman.
Paulman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Paulman.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paulman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Bull is fighting off a takedown attempt but Paulman is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bull to the mat. Bull regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Paulman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bull's head.
Paulman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bull wants to sweep here but Paulman controlling him for the moment.
Bull can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paulman controls the pace.
Bull trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulman landing some decent shots from guard.
Paulman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bull looking to hit a scissor sweep but Paulman is one step ahead there.
Paulman lands a couple of elbows.
Paulman is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Paulman connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman stands and throws Bull's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Paulman is chipping away with strikes.
Bull trying to remain calm as Paulman controls from the top position.
Let's hope that Paulman has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bull takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bull sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Well, if Paulman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Paulman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Paulman in particular looking to stall.
Paulman works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Bull is looking to regain half guard here but Paulman keeps moving and retains side control.
Paulman working away.
Bull is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Paulman is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bull is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Paulman off and has taken his back!
Bull controlling well, preventing Paulman from escaping the position.
Paulman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Paulman tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Paulman sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paulman is trying to get back to full guard.
Paulman is positioning himself well to prevent Bull advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paulman moves into the clinch.
Paulman is pressed up against the cage. Bull has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Paulman down to the mat. Paulman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bull is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paulman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Paulman rushes Bull and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Paulman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clubber Bull. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paulman can't get the takedown.
I was talking to Bull's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Paulman lands a damaging elbow.
Paulman lands an elbow that stopped Bull in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Clubber Bull has been cut.
A knee to the head by Paulman.
Bull tries for a takedown but Paulman manages to get underhooks.
Bull tries to score a body lock takedown but Paulman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paulman lands an elbow just above Bull 's eye.
Paulman connects with a knee to the head.
Paulman with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paulman scores a nice knee to the body.
Russell Paulman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bull drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paulman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Paulman lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paulman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulman lands a knee to the body.
Paulman lands an elbow just above Bull 's eye.
Paulman lands a damaging elbow.
Paulman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paulman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Paulman.
Bull is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Paulman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bull's defenses.
Paulman landing knees to the head.

Paulman has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bull regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paulman is stalling in the full guard.
Paulman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Paulman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bull's legs.
Paulman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Paulman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bull struggling a bit here.
You can see the frustration on Bull's face as Paulman controls the position.
Paulman is continuing to stall.
Bull is looking for a sweep.
Paulman working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulman controlling from side mount.
Bull gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Paulman is controlling the pace.
Paulman working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Paulman connects with a nice short shot to Bull's temple.
Paulman is controlling the pace.
Paulman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bull is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Paulman in particular looking to stall.
Bull tries to roll over but Paulman keeps him under control.
Paulman lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Paulman lands a nice short elbow.
Bull tries to get to full guard but Paulman has control of the leg.
Bull slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Paulman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Paulman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Clubber Bull's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bull gets tackled into the cage by Paulman. Paulman maintains the clinch.
Bull looking for a takedown.
Bull is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Paulman is defending well.
Bull takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paulman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Paulman has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bull regains guard immediately.
Paulman is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Paulman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bull can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paulman controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Paulman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bull is trying to control the position but Paulman postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paulman content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The adventures of Paulman the control monster continue. Boring.
Bull manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paulman manages to get himself to full guard.

Bull throwing strikes but missing.
Paulman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Paulman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bull manages to get himself to full guard.

Paulman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bull is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bull wants to control but Paulman postures up.
Paulman has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Bull!
Paulman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Paulman controlling his opponent.
Bull is trying desperately to improve position.
Paulman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bull keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Paulman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Russell Paulman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paulman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bull is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Paulman breaks from Bull's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Bull really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Paulman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Clubber Bull has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Paulman cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Paulman controlling the position easily from mount.
Bull is trying to escape the mount.
Paulman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulman lands a couple of good shots and Bull has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Paulman has the hooks in. Bull is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Paulman is looking for the choke from the back position but Bull is controlling his hands well.
Paulman controls the position.
Paulman keeps control of the position as Bull tries to break free.
Bull is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
More stalling from Paulman.
Bull wants to escape the position.
Paulman has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bull's body.
Bull rolls, trying to escape but Paulman keeps control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Paulman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paulman 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Paulman!
A very excited looking Russell Paulman made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Clubber Bull had this to say: 'That's a really great win u got there and I am honoured to fight and have to respect what u did today.'.