PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Robert Paulson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Robert Paulson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Paulson
vs
Ferguson

225 cm
27
300 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
29
300 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robert Paulson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Grant Ferguson !
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Robert Paulson has been cut.
Paulson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ferguson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Paulson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson wants to stand up but Paulson is controlling him.
Paulson wants to stand but Ferguson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ferguson wants to stand up but Paulson is controlling him.
Ferguson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ferguson is looking to stand up but Paulson isn't so interested in that idea.
Ferguson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ferguson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Paulson.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Paulson is controlling him.
Paulson distracts Ferguson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson prevents Ferguson from getting back to his feet.
Paulson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ferguson 's guard.
Paulson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paulson distracts Ferguson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paulson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet but Paulson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ferguson pushes Paulson off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Paulson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ferguson thinking.
Grant Ferguson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paulson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but Paulson avoids them all with ease.
Ferguson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paulson was well out of range. Poor timing from Ferguson .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paulson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ferguson looks winded!

Paulson drives through with a takedown into Ferguson 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Paulson wanted to stand there but Ferguson had control of the position.
Paulson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ferguson on the ground.

Paulson gets to his feet - Ferguson follows without any prompting.
Paulson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ferguson as he avoids it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ferguson throws a right and a left that Paulson avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson fails to land with a series of punches.
Paulson dodges the punch combination from Ferguson .
Paulson closes the distance and clinches up with Ferguson , looking for a takedown. Paulson pushes Ferguson against the cage but Ferguson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Paulson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Paulson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet.

Paulson decides to stand up.
Paulson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paulson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ferguson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Paulson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paulson fails with a takedown attempt.
Paulson dodges the punch combination from Ferguson .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson throws a body punch but Ferguson moves out of range.

Paulson forces Ferguson back against the cage and clinches.
Ferguson has had enough of the clinch but Paulson keeps him there for the moment.
Ferguson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Paulson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson is trying to push Paulson away but Paulson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Paulson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A combination from Ferguson does no damage.
Ferguson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Paulson is looking to clinch but Ferguson is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Paulson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Paulson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ferguson misses with a wild body shot.
Paulson has a takedown stuffed.

Paulson clinches.

Paulson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ferguson regains guard.

Ferguson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Paulson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Ferguson misses with a few strikes there.
Ferguson throws a right hand that Paulson ducks under and follows up with a left that Paulson also avoids with ease.
Ferguson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Paulson counters with a takedown into side control.
Robert Paulson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The strikes coming from Paulson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Paulson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Paulson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ferguson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ferguson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson working the ground and pound.
Paulson working the head with strikes.
Paulson advances to mount.
Paulson lands a big shot there that rocks Ferguson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson '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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
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!
Ferguson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Paulson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ferguson is looking to escape.
Paulson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ferguson is squirming around, avoiding Paulson's attempts to control the action.
Ferguson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Paulson cracks Ferguson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson is trying to stand.
Paulson dominating with strikes here.
Paulson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Paulson breaks from Ferguson 's wrist control and lands an elbow.

It looks like Grant Ferguson has been cut.
The referee warns Ferguson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paulson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Paulson landing strikes from the mount.
Paulson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Paulson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ferguson ?

The cut above Grant Ferguson 's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Paulson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ferguson is looking to escape.

Ferguson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Paulson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Paulson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Paulson looking to secure an arm triangle but Ferguson defends it well.
Ferguson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paulson wants to control the pace but Ferguson is squirming around nicely.
Paulson landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ferguson punishes Paulson's body with a nice straight punch.
Paulson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ferguson leaves Paulson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Paulson fails with a takedown attempt.
Grant Ferguson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paulson slips a jab and a cross from Ferguson .
Paulson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ferguson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paulson.

Paulson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Paulson trying to pass the guard but Ferguson defending well.

Ferguson kicks off Paulson and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ferguson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ferguson throws a right hand that Paulson ducks under and follows up with a left that Paulson also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paulson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Paulson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ferguson quickly recovers to half guard.
Ferguson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Paulson.

Paulson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet.
Paulson is trying to control. Ferguson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ferguson is trying to stand.

Paulson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ferguson to get to his feet.
Paulson scores with a one two! Ferguson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulson tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Paulson. Those never looked like landing.
Paulson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ferguson .

Paulson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paulson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Ferguson pushes Paulson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Paulson moves in looking to clinch but Ferguson pushes him off.
Ferguson misses with a series of wild punches.
Ferguson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Paulson manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ferguson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Paulson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ferguson is trying to stand back up but Paulson is controlling him
Paulson working Ferguson over with strikes.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet.
Paulson slips a nice elbow through Ferguson 's hands, connecting with Ferguson 's forehead.
Paulson is pressing down on Ferguson 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ferguson is holding on for now.
Ferguson is looking to escape.
Paulson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ferguson is trying to stand up here but Paulson is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paulson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ferguson sees it coming and defends easily.

Ferguson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson slaps away a takedown attempt from Paulson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Paulson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good shot there by Ferguson .
Paulson moves in looking to clinch but Ferguson pushes him off.
Horrible takedown by Paulson or perhaps it was just good defense by Ferguson which made him look bad.
Ferguson dodges the punch combination from Paulson.
Robert Paulson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paulson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

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