PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earl Mayer (ranked 24033 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustav Paulsson (ranked 6147 p4p, 0 weight class). Gustav Paulsson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mayer
vs
Paulsson

223 cm
25
346 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Earl Mayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gustav Paulsson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paulsson.
Paulsson looks to clinch

so Mayer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Paulsson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Paulsson stuffs the takedown attempt from Mayer. Mayer gets slowly back to his feet.
As Mayer backs off Paulsson throws a huge counter combo but Mayer manages to avoid it all.
Paulsson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mayer circles away.
Paulsson lands with a shot to the body.
Paulsson darts in looking for a takedown but Mayer gets double underhooks and turns Paulsson into the cage.
Earl Mayer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustav Paulsson.
Mayer shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mayer is looking to clinch but Paulsson is avoiding it.
Mayer throws out a powerful jab.
Nice takedown defense from Mayer. No joy for Paulsson on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Mayer. No joy for Paulsson on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Paulsson wants to clinch up but Mayer keeps it at a distance.
Paulsson fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mayer is defended easily by Paulsson.

Mayer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mayer showed some decent athleticism there.
Paulsson is looking to get back to is feet but Mayer passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayer tries to score with some ground and pound. Paulsson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mayer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Paulsson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Paulsson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mayer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Paulsson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Paulsson wants to improve his position but Mayer is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson trying to control from the bottom.
Paulsson wants to get back to full guard but Mayer has passed into side control.
Paulsson is trying to control Mayer's posture but Mayer avoids it.
Paulsson tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mayer easily slips into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Paulsson is trying desperately to improve position.
Paulsson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mayer.
Paulsson is looking to improve his position but Mayer isn't that keen on the idea.

Mayer is working for a guillotine from mount but Paulsson frees his head quite easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paulsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Mayer dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mayer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paulsson as he jumps to the side.

Mayer looking to score a takedown here. Paulsson is defending well but Mayer drives through and ends up in Paulsson's guard.

Paulsson wriggles free and stands up.
Earl Mayer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Mayer. No joy for Paulsson on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Mayer. No joy for Paulsson on that attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mayer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gustav Paulsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulsson slaps away a takedown attempt from Mayer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Paulsson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Paulsson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mayer but Mayer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Earl Mayer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustav Paulsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulsson stuffs the takedown.
Paulsson throws a counter combo.
Mayer fails with the takedown
and Paulsson counters with a three punch combo that has Mayer backing up. Mayer nods at Paulsson to acknowledge the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paulsson shoots for a takedown but Mayer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Paulsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Paulsson darts in looking for a takedown but Mayer gets double underhooks and turns Paulsson into the cage.
Mayer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Paulsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mayer shoots in for a takedown but Paulsson shows good takedown defense.
Paulsson misses with a few strikes there.
Mayer seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson shoots in but Mayer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paulsson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Earl Mayer has been cut.
Paulsson stalks Mayer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mayer's face. Mayer staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Paulsson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mayer tries to pull guard but Paulsson won't allow it.
Mayer is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Paulsson lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulsson has Mayer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mayer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Paulsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paulsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mayer tries to avoid it but Paulsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mayer to the ground. Mayer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paulsson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mayer.
Paulsson only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Paulsson wants to clinch.
Mayer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Gustav Paulsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mayer lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mayer wants it to stay on the feet.
Mayer feinted with a counter takedown.
Paulsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Paulsson slips a jab from Mayer.

Paulsson closes the distance and clinches.

Mayer has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Paulsson uses from the top position.
Paulsson tries to stand but Mayer is controlling from the bottom.
Mayer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paulsson throws an elbow that misses. Mayer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Paulsson's guard. Nice move by Mayer!

Paulsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mayer is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Paulsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Earl Mayer's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Paulsson takes the fight into the clinch.
Mayer tries to pull guard but Paulsson won't allow it.
Mayer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paulsson tries to score a body lock takedown but Mayer shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Paulsson.
Mayer jumps guard but Paulsson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Earl Mayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Paulsson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Paulsson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mayer fails to pull guard.
Paulsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mayer working hard to break the clinch.
Paulsson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Paulsson breaks the clinch.
Mayer throws a nice looking combination but Paulsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulsson has Mayer up against the cage in a clinch.
Paulsson is trying to drag Mayer to the mat but Mayer just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Paulsson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Paulsson lands with a light punch inside.
Paulsson jumps guard but Mayer stands there with Paulsson around his waist. Paulsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mayer breaks from the clinch.
Paulsson shoots in looking for a takedown but Mayer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Paulsson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Paulsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mayer tries for a takedown but Paulsson circles away easily
and Paulsson counters with a three punch combo that has Mayer backing up. Mayer nods at Paulsson to acknowledge the strikes.
Paulsson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mayer tries to counter with a takedown but Paulsson is quick to defend against it.
Paulsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Paulsson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mayer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Paulsson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Paulsson tries to get to full guard but Mayer has control of the leg.
Mayer is nestled in close to Paulsson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Paulsson wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Paulsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Paulsson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustav Paulsson!