PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lance Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baldie Curlywinkeljohn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Paul
vs
Curlywinkeljohn

180 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
182 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lance Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baldie Curlywinkeljohn!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Curlywinkeljohn tries to clinch up but Paul circles away and keeps his distance.
A big right from Paul misses.
Lance Paul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Curlywinkeljohn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Paul with a jab.

Paul gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Paul wants to stand but Curlywinkeljohn is controlling the position.
Curlywinkeljohn wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Curlywinkeljohn.
Paul avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Paul kicks Curlywinkeljohn off and gets to his feet.
Curlywinkeljohn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Curlywinkeljohn's coach down at Club Savage MMA Tokyo was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Curlywinkeljohn's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Curlywinkeljohn fails to land the takedown.
The fighters circling - Paul throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paul as he jumps to the side.
Paul thows a left - swing and a miss!
Paul lands a slapping body shot.
Paul scores with a jab. Curlywinkeljohn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Curlywinkeljohn wants to clinch
letting Paul counter with a right hand.
We've been told by Paul's head coaches at School Of Hard Knocks that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Curlywinkeljohn tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Curlywinkeljohn looks for a takedown but Paul sprawls well.
Lance Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baldie Curlywinkeljohn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn has a takedown stuffed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paul scores with a jab. Curlywinkeljohn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lance Paul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Curlywinkeljohn drives through with a takedown into Paul's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Paul is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Curlywinkeljohn is controlling him.
Curlywinkeljohn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paul works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Curlywinkeljohn stops Paul from standing up.
Curlywinkeljohn trying to control but Paul is working from the bottom.
Paul wants to stand but Curlywinkeljohn is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn working some strikes from top position.
Curlywinkeljohn postures up in Paul's guard and throws a big left but Paul blocks it.

Curlywinkeljohn drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paul dives on top into guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curlywinkeljohn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Curlywinkeljohn can do anything to dispel that myth.
Curlywinkeljohn 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.
Curlywinkeljohn trying to control the position.

Curlywinkeljohn kicks Paul off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn slips under a jab.
Paul smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Paul misses with a looping right.
Curlywinkeljohn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paul was well out of range. Poor timing from Curlywinkeljohn.
Curlywinkeljohn takes a swing at Paul's ribcage but misses.
Paul throws out a powerful jab.
Paul scores with the left hand. Curlywinkeljohn knows he should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Curlywinkeljohn drops his hands momentarily and Paul takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Paul defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Curlywinkeljohn.
Curlywinkeljohn walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Good leg kick by Paul there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Paul throws a looping overhand right but Curlywinkeljohn ducks down to avoid it.
Paul catches Curlywinkeljohn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Paul looks to throw the jab but Curlywinkeljohn is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Paul dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Curlywinkeljohn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Paul throws a poor cross that misses
and Curlywinkeljohn counters with a nice low kick that buckles Paul's knee momentarily.
Paul lands a leg kick that knocks Curlywinkeljohn off balance momentarily.
Paul cracks Curlywinkeljohn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Curlywinkeljohn dives in for a single leg takedown but Paul sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Paul sprawls well. Paul wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Curlywinkeljohn gets slowly back to his feet.
Lance Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baldie Curlywinkeljohn.
Paul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in but no luck this time.
Paul ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Curlywinkeljohn on the wrong end of a nice hook.

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

Paul kicks off Curlywinkeljohn and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Paul to counter with a crisp jab.
Curlywinkeljohn tries to clinch but Paul moves away
enabling Paul to counter with a crisp jab.
Curlywinkeljohn moves out of range of the strikes.
Curlywinkeljohn on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Paul chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Paul connects with a nice looking jab.
Curlywinkeljohn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn ducks under a wild hook from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A left lands for Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn throws a low kick but Paul avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paul misses with a looping left.
Paul lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn takes one to the chin there.
Curlywinkeljohn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in but no luck this time.
Paul cracks Curlywinkeljohn with an open hand slap.
A telegraphed right hand from Paul misses the target.
Curlywinkeljohn lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Curlywinkeljohn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Paul.
The crowd cheers as Paul lands an impressive looking overhand right. Curlywinkeljohn doesn't seem phased though.
Paul moves forwards but Curlywinkeljohn connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Baldie Curlywinkeljohn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paul bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Curlywinkeljohn's head backwards.
Curlywinkeljohn closes the distance but Paul moves to the side
and Paul counters with a straight right hand.
Paul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Curlywinkeljohn.
Curlywinkeljohn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Paul getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Paul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Curlywinkeljohn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Paul throws a hook but Curlywinkeljohn blocks it.
Curlywinkeljohn is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul sizes up Curlywinkeljohn with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots and misses
and Paul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Paul.
Paul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Paul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Curlywinkeljohn can do to turn this around?
Curlywinkeljohn staying out of range there.
Curlywinkeljohn wants to counter the offense by Paul and move into the clinch position.
Paul bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Curlywinkeljohn's head backwards.
Curlywinkeljohn walks into a straight right hand from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Paul slaps away a takedown attempt from Curlywinkeljohn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in for a double leg but Paul sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Curlywinkeljohn feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Paul is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Curlywinkeljohn presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Curlywinkeljohn jumps guard but Paul turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Paul misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn jumps guard but Paul turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Curlywinkeljohn is breathing heavily.
Paul tries to work over Curlywinkeljohn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paul using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Paul lands a body shot in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Paul.
Paul lands a shot to the body.
Paul keeps control of Curlywinkeljohn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Paul scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Paul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Curlywinkeljohn.

Curlywinkeljohn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paul scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Curlywinkeljohn takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Paul throws the left hand but Curlywinkeljohn avoids the punch easily.
Paul throws a shot from downtown. Curlywinkeljohn moves away and avoids it.
Paul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Paul dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Paul tries a head kick but it misses.
Curlywinkeljohn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Paul.
Paul missing with a left hand there. Curlywinkeljohn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in and drives through. Paul sprawls well.
Paul cracks Curlywinkeljohn with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Paul slaps away a takedown attempt from Curlywinkeljohn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Curlywinkeljohn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Paul lands a nice shot that snaps Curlywinkeljohn's head back.
Curlywinkeljohn shoots in for a takedown but Paul shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Curlywinkeljohn backs away, Paul returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Lance Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baldie Curlywinkeljohn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Paul misses with a straight left.
Curlywinkeljohn dives in for a single leg takedown but Paul sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Curlywinkeljohn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice jab there from Paul.
Paul moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Curlywinkeljohn walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Paul throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jab, jab by Paul - just one landing.
Paul misses with an uppercut.
Paul misses with a right hand
letting Curlywinkeljohn counter with a right hand.
Paul throws a leg kick which misses Curlywinkeljohn's front leg but catches the back leg as Curlywinkeljohn tries to avoid it.
Paul fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Curlywinkeljohn looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Paul stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paul wants it to stay on the feet.
Paul is looking to counter punch.
Paul works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Paul, as that shot connected.
Curlywinkeljohn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn wants to clinch but Paul slips to the side
and Paul counters with a low kick, right behind Curlywinkeljohn 's knee.
Paul misses with an uppercut. Curlywinkeljohn saw that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Curlywinkeljohn fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Paul. Curlywinkeljohn shrugs it off though.
Paul throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Curlywinkeljohn wants to counter with a clinch but Paul pushes him away.
Curlywinkeljohn takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Curlywinkeljohn swings for the body but Paul moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Paul as he connects with a hook.
Paul throws a jab when Curlywinkeljohn was well out of range.
Paul fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Curlywinkeljohn has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Curlywinkeljohn takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice straight punches there by Paul. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A low kick from Curlywinkeljohn is predictable there
and Paul cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Paul scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lance Paul is winning the standup battle so far.
Curlywinkeljohn moves away from the strike by Paul.
Curlywinkeljohn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Curlywinkeljohn wants to counter the offense by Paul and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Paul misses.
Paul lands with a right hand.
Curlywinkeljohn takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Curlywinkeljohn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paul circles away.
Curlywinkeljohn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Paul connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Paul connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Baldie Curlywinkeljohn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Paul scores with a shot to the body.
Paul throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Paul finds it's way through Curlywinkeljohn's defenses.

Curlywinkeljohn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paul, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paul lands a body punch in the clinch.
Curlywinkeljohn is looking to take this one to the mat.
Curlywinkeljohn dodges an elbow strike from Paul.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curlywinkeljohn tries to break the clinch but Paul is controlling the position.
Curlywinkeljohn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Paul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Curlywinkeljohn.
Curlywinkeljohn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Paul escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Curlywinkeljohn fails in his attempt to clinch.

Curlywinkeljohn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Paul manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Curlywinkeljohn tries a body shot but Paul blocks it.
Paul presses Curlywinkeljohn against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Paul scores with a shot to the side of Curlywinkeljohn's head.
Paul lands a right hand that snaps the head of Curlywinkeljohn backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paul is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Curlywinkeljohn is defending well for now.
Curlywinkeljohn tries to land knees in the clinch but Paul avoids the damage to the body.
Paul lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Paul lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Curlywinkeljohn backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Paul showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Paul has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

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