PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Van Guyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ran Paull (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ran Paull has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Van Guyen's chin.

Van Guyen
vs
Paull

180 cm
21
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

209 cm
26
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Van Guyen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ran Paull!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Guyen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Van Guyen lands in his opponent's guard.
Van Guyen trying to control the position from guard on top but Paull is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paull wants to stand but Van Guyen is controlling the position.
Paull is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Van Guyen wanted to stand there but Paull had control of the position.
Van Guyen looking to pass the guard.
Van Guyen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Paull is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ran Paull has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Paull with a poor takedown

and Van Guyen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Van Guyen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Paull sees it coming and defends easily.

Paull is defending against the submission attempts here by Van Guyen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paull is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Van Guyen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Van Guyen's back!
Van Guyen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Paull is riding his opponent, not letting Van Guyen buck him off.
Paull keeps control of the position as Van Guyen tries to break free.
Paull controls the action.
Van Guyen is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paull has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Van Guyen's body.
Van Guyen wants to escape the position.
Paull controlling from the back.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paull lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
I would not like to be Van Guyen right now.

Paull has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Van Guyen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Paull really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Van Guyen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I looks like Paull might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Van Guyen wants to get back to his feet.
Paull trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Paull gets back to his feet from a dominant position... quite strange.

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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Van Guyen.
Paull wants to control but Van Guyen postures up.

Van Guyen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Paull rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Van Guyen's guard! Nice work there by Paull!
Paull wants to control from the top but Van Guyen keeps moving.
Van Guyen is trying to hold Paull in close to prevent damage but Paull has managed to pass into half guard.
Van Guyen is trying to stand back up but Paull is controlling him
Paull passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Van Guyen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van Guyen has his takedown stuffed

and Paull counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paull.
Paull wants to get up but he can't break Van Guyen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Van Guyen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Paull trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Guyen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Guyen is trying to control the position but Paull postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Paull cracks Van Guyen with a solid left hand.
Paull trying to control but Van Guyen is working from the bottom.
Van Guyen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Van Guyen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Paull manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paull pulls Van Guyen in to control the position.
Van Guyen trying to control the position from guard on top but Paull is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Paull is looking for a triangle but Van Guyen pushes his legs off easily.
Ran Paull has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van Guyen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Paull throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Van Guyen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Van Guyen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paull wants to stand up but Van Guyen is controlling him.

Van Guyen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Paull manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Van Guyen has Paull in his guard.

That's two 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.
Paull wants to control from the top but Van Guyen keeps moving.
Van Guyen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paull controls the pace.

Van Guyen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Paull jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Guyen walks away with a smile on his face. Paull gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Paull counters with a shoot takedown. Van Guyen fights it but they end up in guard.
Paull lands a couple of elbows.
Paull trying to control but Van Guyen is working from the bottom.

Van Guyen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paull defends well.
Paull pushes down on Van Guyen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Van Guyen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Paull stops Van Guyen from standing up.
Paull would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paull is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that Paull has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Van Guyen is looking to stand up but Paull isn't so interested in that idea.
Paull sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ran Paull was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Van Guyen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ran Paull showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Paull closes the distance but Van Guyen moves to the side

so Van Guyen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Paull is trying to keep Van Guyen in close.

Van Guyen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paull dives on top into guard.
Paull is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Van Guyen looking to control.
Van Guyen keeping moving, preventing Paull from controlling successfully.

Paull stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Van Guyen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paull!
Van Guyen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Paull because Van Guyen loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Guyen goes for an armbar but Paull turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Paull.
Van Guyen trying to keep a closed guard but Paull is proving a slippery customer.
Paull would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Van Guyen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Paull can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Paull tries to stand but Van Guyen is controlling from the bottom.

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.
Van Guyen wants to stand but Paull is controlling the position.
Van Guyen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Paull puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Van Guyen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Guyen wants to get back to full guard.
Paull trying to pass the guard but Van Guyen defending well.
Van Guyen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Paull is taking a breather. Van Guyen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paull seems to be looking for submissions.
Van Guyen is looking for a sweep. Paull is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Paull postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Van Guyen to stand up.
Paull misses with a takedown attempt

so Van Guyen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Van Guyen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Paull is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Van Guyen, into his guard.
Paull controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Paull makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Guyen wants to get back to his feet but Paull is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Paull passes into half guard.
Paull looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Van Guyen.
I think Van Guyen 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Van Guyen!