PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Wallace (ranked 3027 p4p, 3465 weight class) and Venali Paetmar (ranked 314 p4p, 353 weight class). Paetmar has chosen Powerwolf - Amen & Attack as his entrance music. Venali Paetmar will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Wallace
vs
Paetmar

168 cm
25
152
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
26
153
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bubba Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Venali Paetmar!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paetmar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wallace.
Wallace throws a low kick but it's checked well by Paetmar.
Wallace takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wallace misses with a right hand
and Paetmar counters with a left to the body.

Wallace is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Paetmar's half guard.
Paetmar tries to get to full guard but Wallace has control of the leg.
Wallace thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Paetmar's head.
Wallace lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wallace sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Paetmar defending well though.
Wallace not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Paetmar is looking for a sweep. Wallace is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Paetmar preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Paetmar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paetmar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wallace not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Paetmar is looking for a sweep. Wallace is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wallace 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.
Paetmar is trying to control but can't.
Paetmar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wallace.
Wallace throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paetmar trying to control here.
Wallace thows a huge punch but Paetmar dodges it nicely.
Wallace lands strikes from half guard.
Paetmar regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Wallace.
Wallace distracts Paetmar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace throws a big elbow that misses.
Wallace working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paetmar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wallace landing with the ground and pound.
Paetmar controls Wallace momentarily but Wallace frees himself.
Paetmar 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.
Wallace throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paetmar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wallace lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wallace scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wallace's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wallace tries to free his leg and advance position but Paetmar is retaining full guard.
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.
Paetmar pulls Wallace in close to prevent any damage.
Wallace working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wallace accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Paetmar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paetmar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Paetmar told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wallace accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wallace throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wallace postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wallace makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Paetmar looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Paetmar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wallace on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Wallace tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Paetmar trying to control the position from guard on top but Wallace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paetmar won't allow Wallace to sweep him here.
Wallace lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Paetmar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wallace preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wallace postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Wallace scoring with some ground and pound.
Wallace in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Paetmar is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Wallace dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wallace fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wallace with a poor takedown
and Paetmar counters with a left and a right that stings Wallace.
Paetmar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paetmar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wallace chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Paetmar can pounce on him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Paetmar enables Wallace to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Paetmar manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wallace throws a big elbow that misses.
Wallace throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Paetmar is adopting a defensive guard.
Wallace with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wallace throws a big elbow that misses.
Wallace working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Paetmar's head.
Paetmar is looking to stand up but Wallace isn't so interested in that idea.
Wallace looking to pass the guard.
Paetmar seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Wallace wants to control from the top but Paetmar keeps moving.
Paetmar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paetmar is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wallace staying out of range there.
Paetmar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Paetmar tries to land a front kick but Wallace steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wallace goes for a double leg but Paetmar avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Paetmar continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Wallace. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paetmar looks to land a combination but Wallace avoids it well.
Bubba Wallace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paetmar throws a leg kick that misses.
Wallace throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wallace tries for a takedown but Paetmar circles away easily
and Paetmar counters with a nice body shot.
Paetmar closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Wallace fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Paetmar to the ground. Wallace is now in Paetmar's guard.

Paetmar is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Paetmar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wallace dodges the punch combination from Paetmar.

Wallace throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paetmar was covering up waiting for the punch and Wallace finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace with a nice head shot there.
Paetmar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Paetmar wants to sweep here but Wallace controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wallace's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wallace prevents Paetmar from getting back to his feet.
Bubba Wallace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wallace trying to control the position from guard on top but Paetmar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paetmar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wallace scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wallace postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paetmar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wallace lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wallace throws a big right hand that misses.
Paetmar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wallace.
Paetmar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wallace is one step ahead there.
Wallace throws a big right hand that misses.
Wallace postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wallace throws an elbow that misses. Paetmar uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wallace's guard. Nice move by Paetmar!

Paetmar preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Venali Paetmar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Paetmar fails to land with a series of punches.
Wallace throws a wild body kick that Paetmar sees coming a mile off.
Wallace takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A head kick misses from Wallace.

Wallace shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Paetmar is trying to defend but Wallace finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Paetmar has one foot on Wallace's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A leg kick checked by Paetmar.
Decent striking displayed by Paetmar there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paetmar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wallace.
Wallace misses with a body shot

and Paetmar counters by clinching up.
Paetmar lands an uppercut.
Paetmar lands a knee to the head.
Paetmar avoiding damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Paetmar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wallace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wallace shoots in looking for a takedown but Paetmar manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wallace's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wallace throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wallace tries a head kick but it misses.
Wallace takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Wallace is rocked!
Paetmar scores with a kick to the midsection.
Oh Wallace is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Paetmar lands a left and a right that send Wallace crashing to the mat, dazed. Paetmar thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
A head kick by Paetmar - that's a beauty! Wallace is out but he's somehow still standing... he's going... going... gone. Like a drunk walking down the middle of the road, the inevitable face plant follows and the delayed knockout arrives. Even Paetmar can't help but laugh at the bizarre end to this one!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Venali Paetmar!