PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Paulman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lim Yun Gyu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulman kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is War is my Love . Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Paulman
vs
Yun Gyu

183 cm
27
180 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
180 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Russell Paulman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lim Yun Gyu!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yun Gyu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Yun Gyu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Yun Gyu does no damage.
Paulman darts in looking for a takedown but Yun Gyu gets double underhooks and turns Paulman into the cage.
Despite the aggression on Yun Gyu's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Paulman takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yun Gyu throws a hook to the side of Paulman's head but Paulman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yun Gyu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Paulman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yun Gyu but Yun Gyu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paulman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yun Gyu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yun Gyu misses with a series of wild punches.
Paulman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yun Gyu throws a jab but it's blocked by Paulman.

Paulman moves into the clinch.
Paulman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yun Gyu's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Paulman has hold of one of Yun Gyu's legs. Yun Gyu is fighting the takedown attempt but Paulman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yun Gyu keeping moving, preventing Paulman from controlling successfully.
Paulman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yun Gyu for as long as he can get away with.
Paulman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Paulman wants to stand but Yun Gyu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Paulman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yun Gyu defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Paulman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paulman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yun Gyu, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yun Gyu tries to circle away but Paulman has him pinned against the cage.

Paulman decides to pull guard.
Paulman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yun Gyu manages to get himself to full guard.

Paulman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Paulman wants to control from the top but Yun Gyu keeps moving.
Paulman throws a big elbow that misses.
Paulman wants to control from the top but Yun Gyu keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulman wants to stand but Yun Gyu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Paulman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paulman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lim Yun Gyu will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yun Gyu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paulman.
Paulman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yun Gyu.

Paulman gets a clinch.
Yun Gyu is trying to break free.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Paulman obliges.

Paulman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yun Gyu uses from the top position.
Yun Gyu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Paulman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yun Gyu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Paulman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Paulman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yun Gyu defending well though.
Yun Gyu taking some punishment here, with Paulman in his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulman trying to control the pace.
Paulman trying to advance position but Yun Gyu counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Paulman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Paulman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yun Gyu is keeping the position for now.
Paulman throwing strikes from guard but Yun Gyu blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Paulman stands and throws Yun Gyu's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Paulman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Paulman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Paulman.
Paulman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Yun Gyu is breathing heavily.
Paulman drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yun Gyu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Paulman lands a knee to the body.
Paulman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Yun Gyu after a bit of a struggle.
Paulman landing knees to the head.
Paulman lands a knee to the head.
Paulman connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman landing knees to the body.
Paulman connects with a knee to the head.
Paulman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Paulman wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Paulman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paulman utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Russell Paulman has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Paulman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Paulman.
Paulman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yun Gyu's face.
Yun Gyu tries to break free but Paulman pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Paulman.

Paulman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Paulman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paulman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Paulman wants to sweep here but Yun Gyu controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulman is adopting a defensive guard.
Paulman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yun Gyu manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Russell Paulman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Paulman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Paulman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yun Gyu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Paulman misses with a takedown attempt - Yun Gyu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Paulman tries for a takedown but Yun Gyu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yun Gyu leaves Paulman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Paulman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paulman darts in and clinches Yun Gyu up against the cage.
Paulman prevents Yun Gyu from breaking the clinch.
Yun Gyu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yun Gyu prevents a takedown attempt there.
Yun Gyu working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulman prevents Yun Gyu from breaking the clinch.
Yun Gyu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Paulman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Yun Gyu has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Paulman seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Yun Gyu can turn it around.
Paulman wants a takedown.
Yun Gyu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Paulman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yun Gyu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paulman misses with a takedown attempt - Yun Gyu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paulman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yun Gyu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paulman.

Paulman darts in and clinches Yun Gyu up against the cage.
Paulman lands a damaging elbow.

Paulman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yun Gyu uses from the top position.
Paulman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Paulman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Paulman working a defensive guard here.
Paulman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Paulman tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yun Gyu prevents Paulman from getting back to his feet.
Paulman trying to keep a closed guard but Yun Gyu is proving a slippery customer.
Paulman is striking off his back. Yun Gyu thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
It looks like Yun Gyu is going to stand back up.
Paulman is pressing down on Yun Gyu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Paulman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Paulman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Paulman sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Paulman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yun Gyu is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yun Gyu is looking to break free of the clinch but Paulman has double underhooks.
Paulman working Yun Gyu over with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Paulman obliges.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yun Gyu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paulman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yun Gyu's face.
Paulman working Yun Gyu over with knees to the body.
Yun Gyu is trying to break the clinch but Paulman has him pressed against the cage.
Paulman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yun Gyu prevents it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Paulman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Paulman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Paulman!
During a confident post fight interview, Russell Paulman thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.