PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Silver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamal Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silver's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pirate Song. This should be fireworks!

Silver
vs
Paul

197 cm
21
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
19
226 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Silver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jamal Paul!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Paul. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Paul.
Silver wants to clinch up but Paul keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Silver which made him look bad.
Paul shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Silver wants to clinch.
Silver blocks a leg kick.
Paul misses with a low kick.
Silver tries to clinch there but Paul circles away.
Silver throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Paul comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Paul bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silver is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Paul's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Silver wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Paul is thwarting Silver's attempts to control the position.
Paul thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silver's head.
Paul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silver keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Paul prevents Silver from improving his position.
Silver has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Silver is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Paul paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Paul decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Paul is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Silver still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Silver has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Silver in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Silver wants to control but Paul is keeping him busy.
Silver working the ground and pound.
Silver lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Silver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paul keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Silver trying to pass the guard but Paul defending well.
Paul is looking to improve his position.

Silver is working for a submission of some sort.
Silver is breathing heavily.
Silver trying to control the action but Paul is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Silver tries to pass the half guard into mount. Paul knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paul lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Paul keeps the fight on the outside.
Paul throws a series of strikes that have Silver backpedaling.
Silver tries to clinch but Paul moves out of range.
Paul swats away the attempt to clinch by Silver.
Nice takedown defense from Silver. No joy for Paul on that attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Silver as Paul shoots in.
John Silver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamal Paul.
Paul moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Paul changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silver tries to avoid it but Paul manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silver to the ground. Silver escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silver shoots for a double leg takedown but Paul sprawls well. He's pushed Silver's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paul throws a head kick but Silver moves out of range.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
John Silver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silver tries to clinch but Paul moves out of range.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Paul paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silver gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Paul counters with a head kick. That will keep Silver thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Paul keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silver fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Silver closes the distance and clinches.
Silver unloads a knee to the mid-section. Paul lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silver unloads a knee to the mid-section. Paul lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silver scores with a nice hook to the head.
Silver comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Jamal Paul has been cut.
Knees to the body from Silver.

Silver lands a takedown into guard.
Paul wants to stand up but Silver is controlling him.

Silver gets to his feet - Paul follows without any prompting.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Danga de danga de dang - Paul scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like John Silver has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Silver crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Paul - the referee stops the clock and Silver gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Paul. Silver manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Silver wants to clinch
and Paul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silver wants to clinch

and Paul counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Paul.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamal Paul dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silver tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Paul connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Paul looks for the body kick but Silver saw that one coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Silver checks a leg kick.
Paul circles away from the clinch attempt
and Paul counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Paul has closed the distance and engaged Silver in a clinch.
Paul takes an elbow to the forehead.
Silver prevents Paul from breaking the clinch.
Silver misses with a short punch on the inside.

Paul gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Silver is refusing to be controlled, as Paul sits in half guard.
Silver is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Paul's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Paul's back!
Paul trying to control the position but Silver manages to sink in the hooks.
Silver scores with punches from the back.
Silver somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Silver looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver scores with punches and elbows.
Paul controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Paul is breathing heavily.
Paul takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Paul is really stuck here.

Silver has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Paul has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Silver is looking to control Paul but Paul is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Paul covering up well under a series of strikes from Silver.
Paul trying to control the position but Silver manages to sink in the hooks.
Silver is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Paul. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Silver tries to keep control of the position but Paul is staying busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silver missing with strikes.
Paul covers up after that shot from Silver.
Silver has good solid back control here.
Silver connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Paul to escape the position.

Paul is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Silver is punishing Paul with strikes - can he finish him?!
Silver just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Silver is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Silver trying to control momentarily.
Silver controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Paul is looking for a way out.

Silver patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Silver trying to control momentarily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Silver is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Paul is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Silver landing with strikes.
Silver throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Paul!
Silver cracks Paul with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Paul from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Silver softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Silver is working the ground and pound. Can Paul escape?
Silver lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Paul.
John Silver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paul tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul looking very determined here, making life difficult for Silver.
Paul rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Paul trying to hold on to Silver's head to control him but Silver postures up.
Silver passes to full mount!
Silver throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Paul is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Paul is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Silver looking to ground and pound but Paul is blocking nicely.
Paul working to try and regain half guard.
Paul wants to control but Silver is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Silver dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Silver's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silver drops his hands momentarily and Paul takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Silver lands with a slapping head kick.

Paul is rocked!
Silver looks to clinch
and Paul counters with a series of strikes. Silver will be more careful next time no doubt.
Paul is still on wobbly legs! Can Silver finish him?
Paul shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silver pinned against the cage. Silver gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paul seems to have recovered his senses.
Paul moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Paul misses with a double jab.
Silver clinches but Paul breaks the clinch

and Paul counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Silver is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silver is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Paul stays in close to Silver's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver wants to sweep here but Paul controlling him for the moment.

Paul gets to his feet. Silver looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Paul throws a sloppy head kick and Silver moves out of range easily.
Paul wants to clinch up but Silver keeps it at a distance.
Silver clinches but Paul breaks the clinch
and Paul counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Silver tries to clinch

and Paul decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silver's guard.
Paul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silver controls Paul momentarily but Paul frees himself.
Silver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silver not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Silver has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Paul is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Silver.
Silver throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Paul trying to control the action but Silver is working from the bottom.
Paul is taking a breather. Silver says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Silver is looking to get back to is feet but Paul passes into side control.
Silver wants to control but Paul postures up.
Silver keeps Paul under control for a moment.
Silver prevents Paul from moving into mount.
Silver tries to improve position but can't.
Paul looks up at the clock and then as Silver takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Paul smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Silver is trying to improve his position.
Paul working away.

Paul stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Silver. No joy for Paul on that attempt.
Paul closes the distance and clinches up with Silver, looking for a takedown. Paul pushes Silver against the ropes but Silver circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
John Silver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamal Paul.
Silver shoots for a takedown but Paul saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Paul looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Silver throws a head kick but Paul moves out of range.
Silver closes the distance looking to clinch
and Paul counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Silver rushes Paul and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Silver breaks from the clinch.
Silver tries to clinch up.
Silver moves in looking to clinch but Paul pushes him off.

Silver instigates a clinch.
Paul can't break the clinch.
Silver stops a takedown attempt from Paul.
Silver comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Silver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paul throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silver's waist but Silver gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paul off to one side.

Paul shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Paul controlling from mount.
Silver is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul avoids the attempt from Silver to control.
Paul can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silver is looking to escape.
Silver is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Silver is trying desperately to improve position.
Silver is squirming around, avoiding Paul's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silver bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Paul is pulling down on Silver's head. It's preventing any offense from Silver, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamal Paul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Paul has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamal Paul!