PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wolfgang Pauli (ranked 4851 p4p, 3712 weight class) and Max Mayer (ranked 573 p4p, 491 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Pauli
vs
Mayer

180 cm
18
192
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wolfgang Pauli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Max Mayer!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayer throws a lazy uppercut
and Pauli counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mayer's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Mayer's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Mayer throws an off balance right hand
and Pauli counters with a straight right hand.
A slow jab from Pauli misses its intended target.
Mayer misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Pauli to counter with a crisp jab.
Pauli scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mayer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pauli is looking to counter the offense by Mayer and move into the clinch.
Mayer misses with a takedown
enabling Pauli to counter with a crisp jab.
Mayer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Pauli thows a left - swing and a miss!

Mayer gets tackled into the cage by Pauli. Pauli maintains the clinch.
Pauli's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mayer is looking to break free of the clinch but Pauli has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer is trying to pull guard but Pauli turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wolfgang Pauli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Mayer.
Pauli's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pauli makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pauli pushes Mayer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mayer working aggressively here.
Pauli lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mayer backwards.
Pauli has Mayer pressed against the cage.
Pauli struggles to land a body shot inside as Mayer controls his hands.
Pauli leaning his opponent against the cage.
Pauli prevents Mayer from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pauli lands an uppercut.
Mayer tries to pull guard but Pauli won't allow it.
Pauli lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pauli lands with a right to the head.
Mayer tries to pull guard but Pauli won't allow it.
Pauli has Mayer pushed against the cage.
Mayer looking for a takedown.
Pauli is pressed up against the cage. Mayer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pauli down to the mat. Pauli avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pauli throws a poor cross that misses

and Mayer counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pauli struggling a bit here.
Pauli is trying to improve his position.
Pauli is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pauli avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mayer.
Pauli is looking to control Mayer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pauli avoid being mounted?
Pauli blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mayer.
Mayer wants to control but Pauli is keeping him busy.
Mayer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pauli with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mayer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pauli does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mayer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pauli defending well though.
Nice strikes from Mayer there.
Mayer working Pauli over with strikes.
Pauli trying to control but Mayer postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pauli's head.
Pauli is refusing to be controlled, as Mayer sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pauli on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Mayer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pauli knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mayer on the ground.
Mayer controlling the action here.
Mayer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mayer stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wolfgang Pauli dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Pauli. No joy for Mayer on that attempt.
Mayer with a poor takedown
and Pauli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pauli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mayer.

Pauli gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mayer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pauli on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pauli tries to get out of the position.
Mayer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pauli looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mayer throwing strikes from guard but Pauli blocks nicely.
Mayer pushes down on Pauli's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mayer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayer is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Pauli still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Pauli has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Pauli tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mayer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mayer regains half guard.
Pauli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mayer can do to turn this around?
Mayer is not content to let Pauli control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayer is trying to get back to full guard.
Mayer wants to control but Pauli passes into side.
Mayer tries to buck Pauli off but Pauli is having none of it.
Pauli slows the pace down.
Mayer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pauli wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mayer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayer scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mayer controlling the action here.
Mayer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mayer seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Mayer there.
Nice strikes from Mayer there.
Mayer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pauli does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mayer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mayer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ground and pound from Mayer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mayer in particular looking to stall.
Pauli trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mayer in particular looking to stall.
Pauli trying to control but Mayer postures up.
Mayer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pauli keeps working.
Mayer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mayer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pauli is just riding it out for now. Mayer eventually gives up the hold.
Mayer controlling the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Max Mayer 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!

Mayer avoids the body shot from Pauli.
Max Mayer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mayer takes one to the side of the head.
Mayer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pauli cracks Mayer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mayer misses with a takedown attempt
and Pauli cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mayer misses with a takedown
enabling Pauli to counter with a crisp jab.
Pauli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mayer.
Pauli throws a hook but Mayer avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mayer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mayer cracks Pauli with a big elbow.
Pauli tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Pauli that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Pauli is rocked!
Mayer postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks Pauli out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Mayer goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Max Mayer!