PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kole Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lenny Lickwicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Paul might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Skyfall. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paul
vs
Lickwicks

163 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kole Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lenny Lickwicks!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lickwicks looks for a takedown but Paul sprawls well.
Lenny Lickwicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lickwicks rushes Paul and presses him up against the cage.

Lickwicks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lickwicks wants to clinch.
Paul fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lickwicks sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Lickwicks closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lickwicks closes the distance but Paul moves to the side
and Paul counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lickwicks moves out of range of the body kick from Paul.
Lickwicks looks for a takedown but Paul sprawls well.
Lickwicks tries to land a front kick but Paul steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lickwicks lands with a cross.
Lickwicks scores with a one two! Paul had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Paul fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lickwicks fails with the takedown
and Paul counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kole Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Lickwicks.
Lickwicks throws a head kick but Paul moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lickwicks shoots in for a takedown but Paul shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Paul forces Lickwicks back against the cage and clinches.
Knees to the body from Lickwicks.
Paul prevents the takedown attempt.
Lickwicks fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Paul has Lickwicks pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Paul pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lickwicks tumbling to the mat - Paul dives into Lickwicks's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lickwicks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paul controls the pace.
Paul has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lickwicks trying to control the position.
Lickwicks throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lickwicks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paul pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lickwicks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paul sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lickwicks looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paul rushes Lickwicks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lickwicks trying to stall but Paul improves his position.
Paul controlling the action here for a moment.
Lickwicks jumps guard but Paul turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Paul displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lickwicks up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lickwicks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kole Paul will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lickwicks throws a right and a left that Paul avoids nicely.
Kole Paul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lickwicks closes the distance and pushes Paul back into the cage.
Lickwicks is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Paul is defending well.

Lickwicks manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Paul engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Paul throws a big elbow that misses.
Paul engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lickwicks scores with a short punch from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lickwicks controls Paul momentarily but Paul frees himself.
Lickwicks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paul controls the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Kole Paul has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lickwicks doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Paul counters with a nice uppercut.
Lickwicks with a poor takedown
and Paul counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kole Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Lickwicks.
Lickwicks is breathing heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lickwicks. Paul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lickwicks tries to close the distance and clinch but Paul swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lickwicks fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries a head kick but it misses.
Paul tries to clinch but Lickwicks moves out of range.
Paul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lickwicks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lickwicks misses with a wild combination.
Lickwicks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paul moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lickwicks is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lickwicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paul drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lickwicks trying to remain calm as Paul controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul is trying to get an arm triangle but Lickwicks is defending well.
The referee asks Paul politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Paul prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul working away.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lickwicks trying to remain calm as Paul controls from the top position.
Lickwicks prevents Paul from moving into mount.
Lickwicks is being controlled here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kole Paul just wasn't active enough.
Lickwicks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Paul counters with a stiff right hand.
Paul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lickwicks tries for a takedown but Paul circles away easily

and Paul counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lickwicks!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paul lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kole Paul dominated that second round.
That's time! Paul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Paul looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Paul looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Paul wants to control from the top but Lickwicks keeps moving.
Kole Paul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lickwicks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lickwicks wants to stand and escape but Paul is having none of it.
Lickwicks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kole Paul has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Paul misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paul misses with a head kick.
Paul throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lickwicks looks to clinch
and Paul counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Paul fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Paul. No joy for Lickwicks on that attempt.
Paul drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Paul throws a sloppy head kick and Lickwicks moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lickwicks scores with a kick to the midsection.
Paul throws a head kick that Lickwicks semi-blocks.

Lickwicks closes the distance and clinches.

Lickwicks manages to break the clinch.

Lickwicks closes the distance and clinches.
Lickwicks wants a takedown.

Paul's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lickwicks wants to clinch.
Paul is looking to clinch but Lickwicks is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Paul. Those never looked like landing.
Lickwicks shoots in and drives through. Paul sprawls well.
Kole Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Lickwicks.

Paul clinches up against the cage.
Paul lands a damaging elbow.

Lickwicks breaks the clinch.

Paul is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lickwicks's half guard.
Lickwicks trying to control but Paul postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lickwicks tries to kick Paul off but Paul keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kole Paul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paul is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Paul cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paul controlling the position easily from mount.
Lenny Lickwicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lickwicks is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kole Paul showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paul, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kole Paul!
As Kole Paul got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Dont let anything stop you from your dreams'.