PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Russell Paulman (ranked 4977 p4p, 501 weight class) and Rafael Winger (ranked 2895 p4p, 340 weight class). Paulman comes to the cage accompanied by War is my Love . Russell Paulman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Paulman
vs
Winger

183 cm
39
180 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

185 cm
36
186 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Russell Paulman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rafael Winger!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winger cracks Paulman with an open hand slap.

It looks like Russell Paulman has been cut.
Paulman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Paulman drops his hands momentarily and Winger takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Paulman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Winger keeps the fight on the outside.
Paulman blocks a jab.

Winger clinches with his opponent.
Winger is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Paulman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Winger prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Paulman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Paulman fails to land.
Paulman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Winger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paulman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Winger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paulman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Winger tries a knee to the head but Paulman blocks it.
Paulman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Winger gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Winger has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head and Paulman goes down! Winger dives on top of him - Paulman manages to get guard.
Paulman is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Winger tries to free his leg and advance position but Paulman is retaining full guard.
Winger working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Winger postures up in Paulman's guard and throws a big left but Paulman blocks it.
Winger postures up in Paulman's guard and throws a big left but Paulman blocks it.
Winger lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Russell Paulman's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winger throwing strikes but missing.
Paulman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Winger chips away with some ground and pound.

Russell Paulman's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Winger trying to control the position from guard on top but Paulman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Winger landing with the ground and pound.

Winger 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.
Winger is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Winger trying to control the position from guard on top but Paulman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Winger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paulman is keeping the position for now.
Paulman trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Winger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paulman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Winger wants to control from the top but Paulman keeps moving.
Winger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paulman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Paulman managing to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Winger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Winger trying to control but Paulman is working from the bottom.
Paulman keeping full guard, as Winger tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulman has his hands on Winger's head, controlling the position.
Winger preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winger trying to control but Paulman is working from the bottom.
Winger slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Winger wants to control from the top but Paulman keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Paulman holds on and takes a little breather.
Paulman keeping moving, preventing Winger from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Paulman digs a good hook to Winger's body.
Winger connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Paulman's hands.

Jeez, Russell Paulman's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Paulman lands a two punch combo.
Paulman shoots in looking for a takedown. Winger tries to sprawl out of it but Paulman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Winger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Winger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Paulman gets tackled into the cage by Winger. Winger maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Paulman.
Winger with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Winger is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Paulman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Winger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paulman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Winger is defending well.
Winger throws a knee to the head but misses.
Winger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Paulman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Winger lands a right hand.
Paulman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Our sources have told us that Paulman has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Paulman throws a punch but it's blocked by Winger.
Winger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Paulman's face.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Russell Paulman's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Rafael Winger!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Rafael Winger waved his t-shirt featuring AmpUp Nutrition ($200/160q) - Laundry 15%'s logo in front of the cameras.