PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Novagrad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulson comes to the cage accompanied by Pantera - Cowboys from Hell. Alexander Novagrad has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Paulson
vs
Novagrad

177 cm
20
165 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

180 cm
20
161 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Robert Paulson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Novagrad!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novagrad slips a jab from Paulson.

Paulson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Novagrad blocks a body shot from Paulson.

Paulson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Novagrad is trying to get back to his feet.
Paulson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Novagrad is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Paulson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ground and pound from Paulson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Novagrad is not content to let Paulson control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paulson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Novagrad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Novagrad stuns Paulson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Alexander Novagrad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Novagrad misses with a double jab

and Paulson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Novagrad!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novagrad is trying to stand.
Novagrad is squirming around, avoiding Paulson's attempts to control the action.
Novagrad is trying to stand.
Novagrad looks gassed!
Paulson looking to finish Novagrad with some ground and pound. This is bad for Novagrad!
Novagrad's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Paulson trying to control but Novagrad is having none of it.
Paulson looking to control and managing it successfully.

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.
Paulson lands with some strikes.
Paulson throwing strikes here but Novagrad is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
A nice elbow there by Paulson.
Novagrad squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Paulson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Novagrad because Paulson loaded up on that one.
Paulson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Paulson tries to control but Novagrad wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poor strikes thrown by Paulson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Novagrad tries to buck Paulson off but he can't manage it.
Paulson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Paulson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Paulson.
Novagrad really wants to buck Paulson off and get back to his feet.
Paulson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Paulson controlling his opponent.
Paulson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Novagrad hang on?
Paulson controlling from the full mount.
Novagrad wants to try and get back to his feet.
Paulson controlling from the full mount.
Novagrad blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Novagrad squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Paulson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Novagrad is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Paulson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Novagrad looks a forlorn figure.
Paulson looking to ground and pound but Novagrad is blocking nicely.
Novagrad squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Paulson is landing with some decent strikes but Novagrad is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Novagrad really wants to buck Paulson off and get back to his feet.
Paulson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Paulson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Paulson landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Novagrad throws a predictable looking body shot
and Paulson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Paulson clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Paulson.
Paulson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Paulson stalling the fight.
Paulson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Novagrad backwards.
Paulson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paulson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Novagrad pulls his leg out and moves away.
Novagrad throws a hook but Paulson avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Novagrad misses the target.
Paulson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Novagrad lands a two punch combo.
Paulson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Paulson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Novagrad. Novagrad circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulson takes the fight into the clinch.
Paulson misses with the head strike.
Novagrad blocking some punches.
Paulson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Paulson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Paulson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Paulson'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.
Paulson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paulson pushes Novagrad back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Novagrad wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Paulson has him pressed against the cage.

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.
Paulson lands a right hand.
Novagrad wants to get back to striking at distance but Paulson won't allow it.
Paulson has Novagrad pressed against the cage, preventing Novagrad from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Paulson is working Novagrad over against the cage.
Paulson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Novagrad has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paulson.
A right hand to the body from Paulson.
Paulson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Novagrads head.
Paulson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Paulson misses with the head strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Paulson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Paulson lands with a left to the head.
Paulson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paulson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Paulson digs a right hand underneath Novagrad's ribcage. Novagrad let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Paulson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paulson lands with a short shot to the head.
Paulson stalling against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Paulson for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Paulson lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four 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.
Paulson has Novagrad pushed against the cage.
Paulson misses with a punch on the inside.
Paulson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Paulson content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Paulson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Novagrad pushes Paulson off looking to stand but Paulson dives back in and keeps control.
Paulson is keen to just control but Novagrad is a slippery customer.
Novagrad is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Paulson avoids the body shot from Novagrad.
Paulson slips under a jab from Novagrad.
A big right from Paulson misses.
Paulson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Paulson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paulson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Novagrad throws a big shot that misses.
Novagrad looks to land a left hand but Paulson moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Novagrad misses.
Novagrad swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Paulson to counter with a crisp jab.
Novagrad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Paulson.
Novagrad is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Paulson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Paulson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Novagrad is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Paulson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Robert Paulson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Novagrad is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Paulson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novagrad is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Paulson lands some shots froms side control.
Paulson taking a breather here.
Novagrad is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Paulson is controlling him well.
Novagrad is not content to let Paulson control the position.
Paulson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Novagrad is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Paulson landing strikes.
Novagrad is not content to let Paulson control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Novagrad is not content to let Paulson control the position.
Novagrad is pushing Paulson's head away, looking to escape. Paulson manages to hold on to the position though.
Paulson tries to move to mount but Novagrad blocks the move with his legs.
Novagrad tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novagrad holding both Paulson 's hands and preventing any damage.
Paulson missing with punches from the back.
Paulson scores with punches and elbows.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Paulson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Novagrad wants to get back to his feet.

Novagrad manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Paulson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four 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.
Novagrad looks to land a combination. Paulson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Novagrad takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Novagrad misses with a hook to the body

and Paulson counters with a shoot takedown. Novagrad fights it but they end up in guard.
Novagrad is looking to stand up but Paulson isn't so interested in that idea.
Robert Paulson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paulson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Paulson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Paulson stops Novagrad from standing up.
Alexander Novagrad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulson trying to control but Novagrad is working from the bottom.
Novagrad will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Novagrad throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Paulson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paulson, 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Paulson!