PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Les Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cong Mao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul comes into the arena with Hell & Back blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paul
vs
Mao

160 cm
37
148 lbs
21 - 19 - 1

168 cm
29
149 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid 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 21 - 19 - 1, fighting out of New York, Les Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cong Mao!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mao scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Paul is trying to improve his position.
Mao wants to control but Paul is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mao misses with the ground and pound.
An elbow from Mao crashes against the mat.
Mao throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mao in the domination position with Paul hanging on.
Mao trying to control the position but Paul is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paul dodges the ground and pound from Mao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mao misses with the ground and pound.
Paul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paul sneaks back into half guard.
Mao is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Paul reverses the position - he's now on top in Mao's guard.
Paul wants to control from the top but Mao keeps moving.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Mao is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Paul trying to control the action but Mao is working from the bottom.

Paul is trying to get an arm triangle but Mao is defending well.

Paul decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mao to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul misses with a takedown attempt
and Mao counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paul tries to clinch up but Mao circles away and keeps his distance.
Paul dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mao. That did some damage!
Mao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mao wants it to stay on the feet.
Mao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mao avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mao shoots in and drives through. Paul sprawls well.
Paul lands the left hand.
Good shot there by Mao.
Paul will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mao swats away the attempt to clinch by Paul.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paul closes the distance and clinches.
Paul tries to score a body lock takedown but Mao shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Les Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paul pulls guard effortlessly.
Paul trying to control the position here.
Mao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mao wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paul is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paul trying to control from half guard but Mao is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Les Paul dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Paul throws a sloppy head kick and Mao moves out of range easily.
Paul works the jab nicely.
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Mao circles away.
Mao lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Paul throws a low kick but Mao avoids it.

Paul fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mao, pushing him back against the cage.
Paul wants a takedown.
Paul is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Paul pulls guard successfully.
Mao wants to pass the guard but Paul is keeping the position.
Mao throwing strikes from guard but Paul blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mao landing some decent shots from guard.
Les Paul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paul tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mao lands a couple of elbows.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Paul holds on and takes a little breather.
Paul keeping moving, preventing Mao from controlling successfully.
Paul keeping full guard, as Mao tries to pass.
Mao throws an elbow that misses. Paul uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mao's guard. Nice move by Paul!
Mao really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Paul. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Paul passes Mao's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Mao is not content to let Paul control the position.
Mao is trying to control but can't.
Mao controlling the position well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Paul drives through and clinches with Mao against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Paul stands and steps away. Mao gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Paul lands a glancing blow to the side of Mao's head.

Paul closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paul lands in his opponent's guard.
Paul slips nicely into half guard.

Paul is trying for a kimura here. Mao looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Paul wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Les Paul!
As Les Paul got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Thank you first off to god he gives me strength. My fans who keep me going.'.