PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Sicila (ranked 25255 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Paul (ranked 7373 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Sicila has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sicila
vs
Paul

190 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

225 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Sicila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jake Paul!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid body kick from Paul.
Sicila looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Sicila circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sicila enables Paul to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sicila manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sicila is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Paul dives into side control.

Sicila is looking for a sweep.
Paul really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sicila. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Paul throwing strikes but Sicila manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Paul struggling a bit here.

Sicila stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sam Sicila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Paul gets a double leg takedown into Sicila's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sicila controlling Paul's posture.
Paul wants to stand but Sicila is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul looking to sit in guard and control but Sicila gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Paul trying to keep a closed guard but Sicila is proving a slippery customer.

Paul throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Paul not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sicila is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Paul working a defensive guard here.
Paul trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sicila showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sicila might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sicila defends well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sicila distracts Paul with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sicila is looking to stand up but Paul won't let him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sicila closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sicila lands in his opponent's guard.

Sicila got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paul has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sicila has managed to get both his arms back between Paul's legs - danger averted.
We've been hearing good reports from Sicila's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Sicila is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sicila postures up and lands a big shot to Paul's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sicila engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Paul can't keep his opponent in guard - Sicila advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Sicila dominated that round.
That's time! Sicila's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sicila fails to land the takedown.

Paul darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Paul lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sam Sicila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Paul looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sicila is positioning himself well to prevent Paul advancing to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sicila works his way to full guard. Good work.
Paul wants to control from the top but Sicila keeps moving.
Paul might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sicila haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sicila keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sicila is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Sicila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sicila drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Paul shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sicila kicks off Paul and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sicila.
Paul is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Paul darts in and clinches Sicila up against the cage.
Sicila is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Paul is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Sicila. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paul ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Paul no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sicila wants to pass the guard but Paul is keeping the position.
Sicila loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Paul looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sicila passes into side control.
Paul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sicila tries to move into full mount but can't pass Paul's legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Paul struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake Paul will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Sicila looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sicila stops Paul from standing up.
Paul trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sicila won't allow Paul to get back to his feet.

Paul escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sicila gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sicila makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sicila scoring with some ground and pound.

Paul throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sicila postures up and lands a big shot to Paul's brow.
Sicila landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sicila makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sicila preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sicila looking to score a takedown here. Paul is defending well but Sicila drives through and ends up in Paul's guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sicila seems to be working for a kimura but Paul defends the submission attempt.
Sicila throwing shots but Paul is blocking nicely.
Paul is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fighters are battling for position here. Paul manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Paul is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sicila is controlling him.
Paul being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sicila lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Paul is trying to hold Sicila in close to prevent damage but Sicila has managed to pass into half guard.
Nice strikes from Sicila there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sicila looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Paul avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sicila.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Sicila showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sicila 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Sicila!