PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sagoya Nobonaga (ranked 2253 p4p, 280 weight class) and Russell Paulman (ranked 2580 p4p, 313 weight class). Nobonaga's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kickboxer. Paulman has chosen War is my Love as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Nobonaga
vs
Paulman

188 cm
37
182 lbs
28 - 24 - 1

183 cm
39
180 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Trashy Bar (158+q / 30$)

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 28 - 24 - 1, fighting out of New York, Sagoya Nobonaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Russell Paulman!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nobonaga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nobonaga keeps the fight on the outside.
Paulman shoots in and drives through. Nobonaga sprawls well.
Nobonaga displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paulman.
Paulman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paulman moves out of range as Nobonaga throws a body kick.

Nobonaga closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Paulman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paulman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sagoya Nobonaga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russell Paulman.
Paulman tries to score a body lock takedown but Nobonaga shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paulman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nobonaga lands a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Nobonaga.
Paulman looks winded!
Paulman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nobonaga lands a right hand that snaps the head of Paulman backwards.
Paulman can't get the takedown.
Nobonaga comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Russell Paulman has been cut.
Nobonaga landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nobonaga slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nobonaga holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Paulman takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nobonaga lands a nice shot to the body.
Nobonaga scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nobonaga stalling against the cage.
Nobonaga working Paulman over with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nobonaga scores with a shoulder strike.
Nobonaga lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paulman backwards.
Paulman tries to pull guard but Nobonaga forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nobonaga lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Nobonaga.
Nobonaga taking a breather.
Paulman misses with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nobonaga lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nobonaga tries to stall but Paulman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Paulman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nobonaga fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nobonaga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nobonaga takes the fight into the clinch.
Paulman can't find room to land a body shot as Nobonaga controls the action.
Nobonaga blocks an elbow strike.
Nobonaga is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nobonaga leaning against his opponent.
Paulman is trying to pull guard but Nobonaga has him pressed against the cage.
Paulman misses with a knee to the head.
Nobonaga scores a nice knee to the body.
Paulman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nobonaga lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paulman backwards.
Nobonaga with a knee to the head.
Paulman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nobonaga is defending well for now.
Nobonaga lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nobonaga lands a nice uppercut.
Paulman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nobonaga lands a nice uppercut.
Nobonaga dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nobonaga scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nobonaga lands a shoulder strike.
Nobonaga presses Paulman against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nobonaga working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nobonaga softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nobonaga will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Paulman up against the cage.
Paulman takes a shot to the head.
Paulman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nobonaga is struggling to control the position.
Nobonaga is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Paulman is trying to pull guard but Nobonaga turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nobonaga leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nobonaga lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That has opened up Russell Paulman's cut even more.
Nobonaga missing with knees to the body.
Nobonaga is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Nobonaga is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulman wants to take the fight to the mat but Nobonaga manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nobonaga lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nobonaga.
Paulman takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nobonaga lands with a light punch inside.
Nice elbow from Nobonaga.
Knees to the body from Nobonaga.
Paulman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nobonaga works on Paulman's body with a couple of short punches.
Nobonaga lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Paulman.
Nobonaga taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nobonaga controlling the action here for a moment.
Still in the clinch, Nobonaga scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paulman is trying to drag Nobonaga to the mat but Nobonaga just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nobonaga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Paulman backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sagoya Nobonaga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Russell Paulman's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nobonaga takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Nobonaga on the inside.
Nobonaga lands with a light punch inside.
Nobonaga landing knees to the body.
Paulman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nobonaga smiles and moves away.
Paulman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nobonaga as he avoids it easily.

Nobonaga sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Paulman to the ground! Nobonaga dives into full mount looking to finish!

Paulman is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Paulman taking shots to the head.
Paulman is still in real trouble! Can Nobonaga finish him?
Nobonaga postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Paulman looks a forlorn figure.
Paulman regains half guard.
Well, if Nobonaga 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 seems to have recovered his senses.
Paulman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nobonaga is working away from the top position though.
Paulman is breathing heavily.
Paulman is positioning himself well to prevent Nobonaga advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nobonaga stalling.
Paulman desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Paulman is not content to let Nobonaga control the position.
Paulman keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nobonaga is trying to control. Paulman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nobonaga prevents Paulman from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paulman won't allow Nobonaga to pass to mount.
Nobonaga is looking to take a break and control but Paulman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paulman is trying to get back to full guard.
Paulman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nobonaga.
Paulman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Paulman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Paulman keeping moving, preventing Nobonaga from controlling successfully.
Paulman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Paulman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nobonaga is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman keeping moving, preventing Nobonaga from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russell Paulman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nobonaga with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nobonaga connects with a solid leg kick.
Nobonaga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nobonaga throws a sloppy head kick and Paulman moves out of range easily.
Paulman sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paulman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Nobonaga moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paulman.
A short right from Nobonaga.
Nobonaga misses with a knee strike.
Paulman tries a knee to the head but Nobonaga blocks it.
Paulman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sagoya Nobonaga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russell Paulman.
Knees to the body from Nobonaga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paulman pushes off an throws an elbow but Nobonaga leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nobonaga lands an uppercut.
Paulman tries to work over Nobonaga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nobonaga lands a damaging elbow.

The cut above Russell Paulman's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
I was talking to Nobonaga's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nobonaga lands a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nobonaga.
Nobonaga taking a breather.
Sagoya Nobonaga has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Paulman utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Nobonaga.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Nobonaga scores with a knee to the head.

Russell Paulman's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Knees to the body from Nobonaga.
Nobonaga crunches a lovely knee into Paulman's ribcage.
Nobonaga working Paulman over with knees to the body.
Nobonaga manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sagoya Nobonaga dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Russell Paulman's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nobonaga punishes Paulman's body with a nice straight punch.
A head kick from Nobonaga lands but Paulman takes it in his stride.
Nobonaga connects with a solid leg kick.
Paulman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nobonaga defends well and Paulman ends up having to push Nobonaga into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nobonaga tries a head kick but it misses.
Nobonaga lands with a kick to the temple. Paulman shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice body punch from Nobonaga.

Nobonaga takes the fight into the clinch.
Paulman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Paulman letting Nobonaga take a breather here.
Nobonaga lands a nice elbow.

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 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Sagoya Nobonaga!
Sagoya Nobonaga decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.