PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zane Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Possible (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Possible is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Like I Never Left. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paul
vs
Possible

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zane Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Possible!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Possible gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Possible changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paul fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paul swings widly with a right hand

and Possible counters with a shoot takedown. Paul fights it but they end up in guard.
Possible seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Paul escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Possible gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Paul trying to keep a closed guard but Possible is proving a slippery customer.
Possible must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Possible scoring with punches to the head and body.
Paul wants to sweep here but Possible controlling him for the moment.
Possible looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Possible trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paul is trying to keep Possible in close.

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

Possible rushes Paul and presses him up against the cage.
Paul missing with knees to the body.
Paul gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Possible.

Possible breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Paul bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Paul clinches with his opponent.
Paul misses with a punch to the body.
Possible avoids a wild elbow strike from Paul.
Possible tries to land a knee to the head but Paul blocks with his arms.
Paul wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Possible has him pressed against the cage.
Possible dodges an elbow strike from Paul.
A frustrated look appears on Paul's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Paul tries to work over Possible's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Possible.
Possible blocking some punches.
Paul with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Paul prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zane Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Possible.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul is trying to maintain a safe position but Possible gets an underhook and turns Paul into the cage.
Paul misses with some punches.
Paul working aggressively here.
Paul is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Possible is defending well for now.
Possible takes a knee right on the jaw!
Possible using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Paul gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Possible.
Paul misses with some punches.
Possible drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paul creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Possible works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Possible advances position into side control!
Paul is trying to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here as Possible stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul struggling a bit here.
Possible trying to control the action but Paul is working from the bottom.
Paul is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Possible's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Possible looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Paul looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Paul misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Paul missing with punches from the bottom.
Possible passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Paul!

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.
Paul throwing hammer fists to the chest of Possible. What's that going to do exactly?
Paul is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Possible content just to control the position here.
Possible prevents Paul from getting the reversal.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Possible sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Possible unloading with bombs!
Paul is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Possible dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Paul has Possible up against the cage in a clinch.
Paul being controlled against the cage.

Possible breaks from the clinch.
Paul throws a poor cross that misses

and Possible counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Possible takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Possible is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Possible is looking to take a break and control but Paul is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paul trying to control from the bottom.
Paul wants to get back to full guard.
Possible lands with a punch from half guard.
Paul tries to get to full guard but Possible has control of the leg.
Possible wants to pass to mount but Paul is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul is trying to control but can't.
Paul tries to get to full guard but Possible has control of the leg.

Possible is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Paul sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Possible slips a nice elbow through Paul's hands, connecting with Paul's forehead.
Possible looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Paul taking some punishment here, with Possible in his half guard.

Possible seems to be working for a kimura but Paul defends the submission attempt.

Possible is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paul has managed to free his arm - good work.
Possible is breathing heavily.
Paul has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Possible is working away from the top position though.

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.
Paul gets full guard.
Possible sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Paul wants to sweep but no luck.

Possible drops back looking for a leg! Paul is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Paul manages to kick Possible off! Possible jumps back into Paul's guard.
Paul thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Possible passes into half guard.
Paul regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul trying to control the position.
Paul wants to control the position but Possible says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Paul wants to control but Possible is keeping busy.

Possible wants to work for an arm triangle but Paul is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Possible is trying to control. Paul wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Paul looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Possible is looking for a kimura here.
Paul is looking for a sweep. Possible is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paul punching from the bottom.
Paul is in trouble now - Possible has advanced to mount!
Possible sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Paul is desperately trying to improve his position but Possible has a good base and remains in mount.
Paul tries to hold on but Possible postures up.
Paul is bucking up trying to escape but Possible cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Paul really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Possible raining down hammerfists from mount.
Paul is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Paul throwing hammer fists to the chest of Possible. What's that going to do exactly?
Paul tries to reverse the position but Possible maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Possible showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Paul throws an off balance right hand
and Possible counters with a stiff right hand.

Paul pushes Possible up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Paul throws an elbow but misses.
Possible blocks an elbow strike from Paul.

Paul is fighting off a takedown attempt but Possible is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Paul to the mat. Paul regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Paul tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paul trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Possible lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Paul is looking to sweep but instead, Possible has passed into half guard.

Possible is working for a kimura but Paul is defending it quite comfortably.
Possible performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paul is trying to maintain the position but Possible is very close to passing his half guard.
Possible is taking a breather. Paul 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 one minute gone in the round.
Paul wants to control but Possible is keeping busy.
Paul is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Possible moves into the clinch.

Possible tightens his grip and picks Paul up, before dumping him to the ground. Paul manages to land in guard.

Paul looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Possible scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Paul throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Possible sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Paul wants to sweep here but Possible controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Possible postures up.
Possible is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Possible drops back looking for a leg! Paul is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Paul manages to kick Possible off! Possible jumps back into Paul's guard.
Possible seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Paul keeping full guard, as Possible tries to pass.
Paul is trying to keep Possible in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Possible moves out of range as Paul strikes.
Paul misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Possible counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Paul's guard now.
Possible loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Possible stays in close to Paul's body and controls the position.
Possible stands up out of Paul's guard for a moment - Paul manages to land a nice upkick.

Paul is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Possible trying to control the position from guard on top but Paul is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tom Possible has got the better of the ground game so far.
Possible is pushing down on Paul's leg trying to pass to half guard. Paul is fighting to maintain full guard but Possible has managed to sneak the leg through.

Possible is working for a submission of some sort.
Paul wants to get back to full guard but Possible has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Possible lands a nice forearm strike.
Paul is looking for a sweep.
Possible slows the pace down.
Paul taking punishment in the form of punches.
Paul striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Paul wants to control but Possible postures up.
Zane Paul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Possible thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Possible is looking to take a break and control but Paul is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Possible comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Possible winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Possible!