PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Paulson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Paulson

180 cm
22
165 lbs
9 - 1 - 1

180 cm
23
162 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diago Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Paulson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sanchez missing with a left hand there. Paulson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Paulson looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Paulson misses with a head kick.
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sanchez dives in and grabs Paulson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paulson pushes down on Sanchez's head and hops out.
Paulson tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Paulson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sanchez.
Paulson misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice straight punches there by Sanchez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sanchez.
Paulson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sanchez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sanchez lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Paulson throws a leg kick that misses.

Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Paulson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sanchez is working Paulson over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Paulson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paulson wants to control but Sanchez postures up.
Paulson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Paulson prevents Sanchez from improving his position.
Sanchez is trying to stand up here but Paulson is controlling him well.
Sanchez trying to hold on to Paulson's head to control him but Paulson postures up.
Sanchez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Paulson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sanchez pulls Paulson in to control the position.
Paulson working some strikes from top position.
Sanchez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Paulson is aware though and is defending well.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Paulson.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Paulson is one step ahead there.
Paulson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paulson connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanchez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanchez scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sanchez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paulson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson cracks Sanchez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Paulson looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Paulson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Paulson.
The fighters circling - Paulson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Paulson throws an overhand right that lands on Sanchez's shoulder, as Sanchez tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Paulson.
Paulson loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Paulson throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez looks to land a combination but Paulson avoids it well.
Paulson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez cracks Paulson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Paul Paulson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paulson tries to bum rush Sanchez with a series of wild strikes but Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanchez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson misses with a body kick.
Paul Paulson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paulson fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Paulson misses.
Sanchez misses with a few strikes there.
Paulson slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.

Sanchez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Paulson is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Paulson is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Paulson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sanchez throwing shots but Paulson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diago Sanchez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Paulson throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Paulson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fighters circling - Paulson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sanchez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Sanchez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Paulson is trying to defend but Sanchez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Paulson tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sanchez in particular looking to stall.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Paulson is having none of it.
Paulson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Paulson looking for subs from the bottom but Sanchez mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez content just to control the position here.
Paulson is desperately trying to improve his position but Sanchez has a good base and remains in mount.
Paulson has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Sanchez's lack of action.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura but Paulson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanchez to get the leverage.
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Paulson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!
Sanchez turns into Paulson and is now in his guard.
Paulson trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.

Paulson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanchez defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Paulson is on top in guard.

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paulson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Paulson is controlling him.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson cracks Sanchez with a solid left hand.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Paulson.
Paulson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Paulson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sanchez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice uppercut there from Sanchez.
Paulson tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Paulson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sanchez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Paulson backs up against the cage.
Sanchez falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Paulson throws a lazy right hand but Sanchez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice shot by Sanchez.
Paulson throws a hook but Sanchez avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a jab-cross combination.
Paulson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Paulson tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Paulson throws a sloppy head kick and Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Decent striking displayed by Sanchez there.
Paulson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Paulson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sanchez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Paulson tries to clinch up.
A punch lands to the side of Paulson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
No joy there for Sanchez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanchez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diago Sanchez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Paulson misses with a body shot.
Diago Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Paulson throws a big shot that misses.
Paulson tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Paulson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sanchez counters with a nice body shot.

Sanchez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Paulson blocks nicely.
Paulson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Paulson throwing shots but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sanchez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Paulson trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Paulson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Paulson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanchez has wrist control.
Paulson stops Sanchez from standing up.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanchez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez throws a nice looking combination but Paulson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Paulson, as that shot connected.
Paulson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paulson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paulson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paulson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Paulson on the side of the head.
Sanchez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Sanchez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Diago Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paulson is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.
Ground and pound from Sanchez.
Sanchez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paulson keeps working.
Paulson is looking to get back to full guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Sanchez connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sanchez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Paulson is looking to get to half guard.
Sanchez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Paulson holds of for dear life.
Paulson has given up his back here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson staying busy and making it hard for Sanchez to control.
Paulson trying to control the hands but Sanchez breaks the grip.
Paulson is really stuck here.
Paulson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with punches from the back.
Paul Paulson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sanchez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sanchez has the hooks in. Paulson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Paulson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diago Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sanchez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diago Sanchez!