PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Igor Filipovich Petruhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulson has chosen Pantera - Cowboys from Hell as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Filipovich Petruhin
vs
Paulson

189 cm
20
169 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

177 cm
22
165 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Filipovich Petruhin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Paulson!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petruhin misses with a takedown attempt
and Petruhin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Petruhin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Paulson counters with a straight right hand.

Paulson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Petruhin did well to prevent Paulson getting side control.
Paulson is looking to take a break and control but Petruhin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Petruhin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Paulson thows a big elbow that misses.
Paulson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Paulson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petruhin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Petruhin trying to control the position.
Paulson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Petruhin looking for a sweep. Not yet Petruhin, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Petruhin keeping moving, preventing Paulson from controlling successfully.
Paulson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Petruhin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Paulson counters with a single leg into guard. Petruhin didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Filipovich Petruhin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paulson postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petruhin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paulson controls the pace.
Petruhin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petruhin keeping full guard, as Paulson tries to pass.
Paulson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paulson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petruhin.
Paulson loads up on a big right hand but Petruhin slips the punch.
Paulson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petruhin moves away.
Paulson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Petruhin has time to react.

Paulson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Petruhin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paulson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paulson presses Petruhin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Paulson lands a takedown into guard.
Petruhin keeping moving, preventing Paulson from controlling successfully.
Paulson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petruhin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petruhin is trying to control the position but Paulson postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paulson trying to control the position from guard on top but Petruhin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petruhin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Paulson 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.
Paulson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paulson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Paulson throwing strikes but missing.
Paulson trying to control the position from guard on top but Petruhin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petruhin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Petruhin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petruhin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paulson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Robert Paulson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Petruhin shoots and misses
and Paulson counters with a left to the body.
Paulson throws a shot from downtown. Petruhin moves away and avoids it.
Robert Paulson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petruhin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Paulson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Paulson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paulson lands an uppercut.

Paulson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Petruhin is trying to keep an underhook but Paulson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Paulson not doing much here.
Paulson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Paulson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Petruhin keeps working.
Paulson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Petruhin's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Petruhin defending well though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Paulson connects with a nice short shot to Petruhin's temple.
Paulson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Petruhin keeps working.
Paulson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Paulson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paulson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Paulson is pressing down on Petruhin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Petruhin is holding on for now.

That's four 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.
Paulson stalling away here and it's allowed Petruhin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Paulson wants to control from the top but Petruhin keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petruhin holds on and takes a little breather.
Petruhin trying to keep a closed guard but Paulson is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A jab from Paulson misses.

Paulson gets a takedown into half guard.
Paulson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Paulson is looking to take a break and control but Petruhin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paulson tries to pass to full mount but Petruhin defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson passes to side control.
Paulson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulson has knee on belly momentarily but Petruhin bucks him off and regains half guard.
Paulson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Petruhin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulson trying to mount his opponent but Petruhin defends it.
Petruhin tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Paulson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Paulson scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Paulson is landing with some decent strikes but Petruhin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Paulson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Petruhin looks a forlorn figure.
Paulson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Paulson controlling the pace for now.
Petruhin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Paulson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson lands a heavy elbow.
Paulson wants to control the pace but Petruhin is squirming around nicely.
Paulson content just to control the position here.
Paulson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Petruhin because Paulson loaded up on that one.
Paulson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Paulson misses with an uppercut.
Igor Filipovich Petruhin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petruhin misses with a takedown

and Paulson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Paulson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Petruhin wants to improve his position but Paulson is controlling well.
Paulson trying to control from half guard but Petruhin is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson controlling the action here.
Paulson wants to take a breather but Petruhin is having none of it.
Petruhin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Paulson controlling the action here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Robert Paulson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Paulson swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Petruhin counters with a shoot takedown. Paulson fights it but they end up in guard.
Petruhin wants to control from the top but Paulson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petruhin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petruhin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Petruhin throws a big right hand that misses.
Petruhin stopping the sweep attempt from Paulson.
Paulson keeping moving, preventing Petruhin from controlling successfully.
Robert Paulson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Petruhin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paulson is keeping the position for now.
Paulson looking for a sweep. Not yet Paulson, not yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Petruhin is looking to work some ground and pound but Paulson has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paulson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paulson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Paulson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Paulson misses with a body punch

and Petruhin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Paulson is looking to stand back up but Petruhin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Paulson.
Paulson trying to hold on to Petruhin's head to control him but Petruhin postures up.

Petruhin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Paulson is just riding it out for now. Petruhin eventually gives up the hold.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petruhin is trying to control the action in half guard but Paulson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Paulson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Petruhin is working away from the top position though.
Petruhin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Paulson defending well though.
Paulson is looking to improve his position.
Petruhin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Petruhin trying to control the action but Paulson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Filipovich Petruhin had his way with Robert Paulson in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Petruhin shoots and misses
and Paulson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Petruhin thinking.
Paulson tries to close the distance and clinch but Petruhin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Paulson looks to score with a jab to the body but Petruhin is just out of range.
Petruhin misses with a takedown

and Paulson counters with a takedown into side control.
Paulson controls the position.
Paulson trying to control the position but Petruhin is working away.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Paulson wants to control for a moment but Petruhin uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petruhin is not content to let Paulson control the position.
Paulson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Petruhin's head.
Paulson is looking to pass Petruhin's guard but actually Petruhin recovers to full guard.
Petruhin being controlled here, momentarily.

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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Petruhin keeping full guard, as Paulson tries to pass.
Petruhin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Paulson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Petruhin's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petruhin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Paulson.
Paulson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Paulson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Paulson passes to full mount!
Paulson tries to control but Petruhin wriggling away.
A nice elbow there by Paulson.

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.
Paulson wants to control the pace but Petruhin is squirming around nicely.
Petruhin is in a horrible position here. Paulson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Robert Paulson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paulson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Petruhin wants to control but Paulson is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Paulson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Igor Filipovich Petruhin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulson controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Paulson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paulson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 46:49
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 46:49
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Paulson!
Robert Paulson is the new lightweight champion!