PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riley Paulk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarub Golteb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Paulk
vs
Golteb

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Paulk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tarub Golteb!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paulk gets a takedown into half guard.
Paulk is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Golteb trying to control but Paulk postures up.

Paulk escapes and gets back to his feet.
Golteb doesn't manage to clinch there - Paulk circles away.

Golteb lands a big head kick that sends Paulk tumbling to the mat! Golteb takes a step backwards and waves Paulk back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Riley Paulk has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Golteb gets a clinch.
Paulk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Golteb is defending well for now.
Paulk lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Golteb drags the fight down to the ground.
Golteb is controlling Paulk's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulk stops Golteb from standing up.
Paulk trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Golteb manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Golteb distracts Paulk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Golteb stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Paulk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Golteb is squirming around, avoiding Paulk's attempts to control the action.
Paulk controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulk trying to control but Golteb is having none of it.

Paulk moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Golteb has worked his arm free - good work by Golteb!
Paulk is breathing heavily.
Golteb tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Paulk wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golteb sneaks back into half guard.
Paulk is looking to pass Golteb's guard but actually Golteb recovers to full guard.

Golteb has his feet on Paulk's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Golteb is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Golteb has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulk tries to break free but Golteb pushes him back against the cage.
Golteb has Paulk pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paulk manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Golteb breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Golteb forces Paulk back against the cage and clinches.
Golteb fails to pull guard.
Golteb tries to score a body lock takedown but Paulk shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Riley Paulk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarub Golteb.
Golteb tries to pull guard but Paulk holds him up against the cage and eventually Golteb drops back down to his feet.
Paulk is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Paulk is trying to force a seperation but Golteb has the dominant position.
Golteb drops down looking for an ankle pick but Paulk pulls his leg out and moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Golteb fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paulk, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarub Golteb dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Riley Paulk's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Golteb tries to clinch up.
Paulk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Golteb tries to avoid it but Paulk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Golteb to the ground. Golteb escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Golteb shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Paulk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Golteb won't be happy with that.
Golteb wants to control but Paulk postures up.
Paulk trying to control the position but Golteb is working away.
You can see the frustration on Golteb's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paulk wants to take a breather but Golteb manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Paulk.

Golteb has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Paulk off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Paulk tries for a takedown but Golteb circles away easily

and Golteb moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Paulk misses with some punches.
Paulk misses with a punch on the inside.
Golteb lands a damaging elbow.
Golteb drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paulk gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Golteb prevents Paulk from breaking the clinch.
Golteb keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Paulk's efforts to push away.
Golteb takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paulk gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Golteb.
Riley Paulk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarub Golteb.

Paulk breaks from the clinch.
Paulk tries for a takedown but Golteb circles away easily
and Golteb counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulk with a poor takedown

and Golteb moves into the clinch.
Golteb tries to score a body lock takedown but Paulk shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paulk is stalling here.
Paulk missing with knees to the body.
Golteb drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paulk gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Paulk holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Paulk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Golteb is defending well for now.

Golteb pulls guard.
Golteb is trying to control the position but Paulk postures up.
Golteb has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulk wants to control from the top but Golteb keeps moving.
Paulk has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Paulk is standing up over Golteb. Golteb looks to escape but Paulk dives into side control.

Paulk decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Paulk shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paulk showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Paulk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Riley Paulk's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Paulk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paulk wants it to stay on the feet.
Paulk with a lazy takedown attempt

and Golteb holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Paulk breaks the clinch.
Paulk has his takedown stuffed
and Golteb counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Riley Paulk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Golteb throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Paulk tries to keep at a distance but Golteb has taken the fight into the clinch.
Golteb drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paulk gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Golteb has Paulk pressed against the cage, preventing Paulk from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golteb managing to block the knees to the body from Paulk.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Golteb can't get the takedown.
Riley Paulk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarub Golteb.
Paulk wants to stall.
Paulk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Golteb pressing his opponent against the cage.
Golteb keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Paulk's efforts to push away.
Golteb tries to pull guard but Paulk holds him up against the cage and eventually Golteb drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Paulk's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Golteb breaks the clinch.
Paulk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Golteb cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Paulk fails with the takedown

and Golteb counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golteb tries to stand and escape but Paulk is controlling the position.
Golteb prevents Paulk from improving his position.
Paulk looks like he's trying to stand up.
Paulk wants to get back to full guard.
Paulk is staying active underneath Golteb, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Paulk wants to improve his position but Golteb is controlling well.
Golteb working over Paulk with some ground and pound. Paulk looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulk is holding on to half guard well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paulk misses with a takedown attempt

and Golteb counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Golteb wanted to stand there but Paulk had control of the position.
Paulk pulls Golteb in close to prevent any damage.
Paulk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Golteb is one step ahead there.
Golteb working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paulk throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Golteb escapes and throws Paulk's legs to the side, diving into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Golteb lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Paulk down.
Paulk tries to improve position but can't.

Golteb has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Paulk doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Golteb holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Paulk swings wildly with an uppercut but Golteb uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarub Golteb comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Golteb has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarub Golteb!