PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Laurence Paul (ranked 7105 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Tambling (ranked 3944 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Paul
vs
Tambling

201 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
25
207 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Laurence Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Tambling!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul scores with a hook to the body. Tambling takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tambling jabs Paul to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tambling misses with a lunging right hand
and Paul counters with a series of strikes. Tambling will be more careful next time no doubt.
Paul looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tambling is fending him off so far but Paul persists. Nope, Tambling circles away and we're back to standing.
Tambling misses with a looping left.
Tambling scores with a shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Tambling as he connects with a hook.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch but Tambling swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Paul shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tambling's guard.

Tambling wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Tambling misses.
Tambling throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Paul shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tambling pinned against the cage. Tambling gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tambling.
Tambling looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laurence Paul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paul thuds his shin into the meat of Tambling's side.
Paul throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tambling.
Paul ducks under a wild hook from Tambling.
Paul shoots in but Tambling avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Laurence Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul shoots in but Tambling avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paul dives in and grabs Tambling's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tambling pushes down on Paul's head and hops out.
No joy there for Tambling, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tambling throws a body shot but no joy.
Tambling scores with a jab to the body.
Tambling looks winded!
Tambling displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paul.
Tambling let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Paul scores with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Tambling shows good takedown defense.
Paul ducks under a wild hook from Tambling.
Nice cross by Tambling.
Tambling defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paul.
Paul takes a jab right on the kisser.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paul is defended easily by Tambling.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paul.
It seemed like Tambling was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Paul has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tambling's efforts to push away.
Paul goes for a takedown attempt but Tambling pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Tambling, which made it look bad.
Paul fails with a takedown attempt.
Tambling dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paul fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paul lands with a slapping head kick.
Tambling throws a lazy uppercut
and Paul counters with a head kick. That will keep Tambling thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tambling misses with a two punch combination.
Tambling feints a jab promting Paul to slip. Tambling then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Paul slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Laurence Paul has been cut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tambling is trying to break the clinch but Paul has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tambling is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Paul goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tambling prevents it.
Tambling wants to get back to striking at distance but Paul won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paul escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ben Tambling is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tambling takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Paul shoots in but Tambling avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tambling swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Paul wants to clinch.
Paul looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tambling is fending him off so far but Paul persists. Nope, Tambling circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Laurence Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul connects with a solid leg kick.
Paul tries to clinch up but Tambling circles away and keeps his distance.
Tambling scores with the left hand. Paul knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Paul fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tambling paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paul walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tambling swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Paul looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tambling is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paul content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paul stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tambling tests Paul's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tambling lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul avoids the body shot from Tambling.
Paul is looking to clinch but Tambling is avoiding it.
Tambling looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ben Tambling seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tambling misses with a series of wild punches.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tambling swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown attempt by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Tambling, which made it look bad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It seemed like Tambling was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tambling throws a body punch but Paul moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tambling digs a good hook to Paul's body.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Tambling shows good takedown defense.
Tambling misses with a straight left.
Paul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paul moves out of range of the strikes.
Paul with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tambling counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Paul has closed the distance and engaged Tambling in a clinch.
Paul crunches a lovely knee into Tambling's ribcage.
Tambling prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tambling working hard to break the clinch.
Paul 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.

Ben Tambling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Laurence Paul's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Paul goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Tambling fails to land with a series of punches.
Tambling throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Laurence Paul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tambling leaves Paul with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Tambling. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paul is defended easily by Tambling.
Tambling swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tambling defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Laurence Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Paul - that will leave a mark!
Paul slips a jab and a cross from Tambling.
Paul ducks under a wild hook from Tambling.
Tambling defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paul.

Paul rushes Tambling and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Paul breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tambling darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nice shot by Tambling.
Tambling lands a jab-cross combination.
Paul misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Paul has Tambling up against the cage in a clinch.
Tambling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paul throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tamblings head.
Paul lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tambling stops a takedown attempt from Paul.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul manages to pull guard.

Paul looking for a triangle here. Tambling is fighting it but it looks tight! Paul pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Tambling is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Laurence Paul!