PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Declan Zahradnicek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Justin Paul has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zahradnicek
vs
Paul

188 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
280 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 Los Angeles, Declan Zahradnicek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Paul!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zahradnicek missing with a left hand there. Paul was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Paul looks gassed!
Zahradnicek misses with a straight left.
Zahradnicek throws a big shot that misses.
Zahradnicek throws a shot from downtown. Paul moves away and avoids it.
Zahradnicek connects with a good right hand that stumbles Paul. Paul circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That has opened up Justin Paul's cut even more.
Zahradnicek throws a hook but Paul blocks it.
Paul takes one to the side of the head.
No luck for Zahradnicek with that takedown attempt.
Zahradnicek throws a hook but Paul blocks it.
Paul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zahradnicek lands a glancing blow to the side of Paul's head.
Zahradnicek lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Paul slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahradnicek throws a looping overhand right but Paul ducks down to avoid it.
Zahradnicek changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Paul tries to avoid it but Zahradnicek manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Paul to the ground. Paul escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zahradnicek throws a shot from downtown. Paul moves away and avoids it.
Zahradnicek is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The fighters circling - Zahradnicek throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zahradnicek throws a jab but it's blocked by Paul.
A telegraphed right hand from Zahradnicek misses the target.
Zahradnicek really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big left from Zahradnicek misses.
Nice sprawl there from Paul as Zahradnicek shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Declan Zahradnicek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zahradnicek scores with a crisp jab that stopped Paul in his tracks.
Zahradnicek throws a shot from downtown. Paul moves away and avoids it.
Zahradnicek misses with a takedown attempt - Paul sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zahradnicek connects with a nice looking jab.
Zahradnicek throws a hook to the side of Paul's head but Paul sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Paul misses.
Zahradnicek is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paul sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zahradnicek misses with a wild body shot.
Zahradnicek stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul walks into a stiff left hand from Zahradnicek.
Paul steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zahradnicek.
Paul blocks a jab.
Zahradnicek throws a lazy right hand but Paul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Paul moves away from the strike by Zahradnicek.
Paul slips a jab from Zahradnicek.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zahradnicek tests Paul's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zahradnicek wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Declan Zahradnicek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zahradnicek.

The cut above Justin Paul's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Zahradnicek looks to land a left hand but Paul moved out of range nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Zahradnicek. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek throws a jab when Paul was well out of range.
Paul slips a jab from Zahradnicek.
Jab, jab by Zahradnicek - just one landing.
A swing and a miss from Zahradnicek.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paul shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paul takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Justin Paul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zahradnicek looks to land a right hand but Paul moved out of range.
Paul throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Declan Zahradnicek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Paul's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paul slips under a jab.
Declan Zahradnicek is winning the standup battle so far.
Zahradnicek scores with a sloppy right hand. Paul should have avoided that one.
Zahradnicek misses the jab.
Paul slips under a jab.
Paul avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zahradnicek looks to land a right hand but Paul moved out of range.
Zahradnicek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paul is fending him off so far but Zahradnicek persists. Nope, Paul circles away and we're back to standing.
Zahradnicek throws the left hand but Paul avoids the punch easily.
Zahradnicek waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Paul.
Paul staying out of range there.
Zahradnicek lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zahradnicek's jab looks to have found its range, popping Paul under the eye.
Paul is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahradnicek throws a lazy right hand but Paul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zahradnicek throws a hook but Paul avoids it easily.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Paul might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Zahradnicek has got the better of the exchanges.
Paul stuffs the takedown attempt from Zahradnicek. Zahradnicek gets slowly back to his feet.
Zahradnicek misses with a straight right.
Paul walks into a left hand.
Zahradnicek lands a jab.

Justin Paul's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Paul defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zahradnicek.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Declan Zahradnicek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zahradnicek here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Paul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zahradnicek shoots in looking for a takedown but Paul manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zahradnicek's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zahradnicek misses with an uppercut. Paul saw that one coming.
Paul displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zahradnicek throws out the jab.
Zahradnicek misses with a hook. Paul ducked under it nicely.

Zahradnicek closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Paul's guard.
Zahradnicek lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zahradnicek postures up in Paul's guard and throws a big left but Paul blocks it.
Zahradnicek throwing strikes from guard but Paul blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zahradnicek wants to pass the guard but Paul is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahradnicek trying to control but Paul is working from the bottom.
Zahradnicek is looking to work some ground and pound but Paul has wrist control.
Zahradnicek forces his way into half guard.
Zahradnicek throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paul is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zahradnicek scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zahradnicek working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zahradnicek thows a huge punch but Paul dodges it nicely.
Zahradnicek is trying to control. Paul wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zahradnicek missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zahradnicek looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zahradnicek is keen to just control but Paul is a slippery customer.
Zahradnicek working Paul over with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paul is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zahradnicek scores with a couple of nice shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zahradnicek not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zahradnicek missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Paul is refusing to be controlled, as Zahradnicek sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paul slips a jab from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zahradnicek shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zahradnicek jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Zahradnicek misses with a straight right.
Zahradnicek is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Paul.
Paul has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A swing and a miss from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Paul tries to avoid it but Zahradnicek manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Paul to the ground. Paul escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zahradnicek keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Paul on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Paul takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahradnicek throws out a loose jab but Paul uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zahradnicek throws a jab when Paul was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab from Zahradnicek misses.
Zahradnicek lands a jab.
Zahradnicek smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zahradnicek cracks Paul with a good jab.
A jab lands there for Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Zahradnicek misses the target.
Paul misses with a wild body shot.
Paul's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zahradnicek connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Paul scrambles back to his feet.
Paul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zahradnicek tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Paul swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Declan Zahradnicek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zahradnicek throws a shot from downtown. Paul moves away and avoids it.
Zahradnicek throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Paul stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zahradnicek looks to land a left hand but Paul moved out of range nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paul staying out of range there.
Paul needs to keep his hands up - Zahradnicek had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul slips under a jab.
Zahradnicek connects with a nice looking jab.
Paul slips a jab from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek throws a body punch but Paul moves out of range.
A cross from Zahradnicek lands.
Paul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek misses with an uppercut.
The crowd cheers as Zahradnicek lands an impressive looking overhand right. Paul doesn't seem phased though.
Zahradnicek throws a big shot that misses.
Paul slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zahradnicek throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Paul on the side of the head.
Zahradnicek listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zahradnicek shoots in and drives through. Paul sprawls well.
A swing and a miss from Zahradnicek.
Zahradnicek lands a jab.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Justin Paul's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Declan Zahradnicek!