PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Silver Back (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Back comes to the cage accompanied by One 24. Paulson has chosen Pantera - Cowboys from Hell as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Back
vs
Paulson

166 cm
27
155 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

177 cm
24
165 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Silver Back!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Paulson!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Back tries to clinch
and Paulson counters with a stiff right hand.
Back cracks the inside of Paulson's front leg.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Back is defended easily by Paulson.
Paulson checks a leg kick.
Back connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Back lands a leg kick that knocks Paulson off balance momentarily.
Back fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paulson lands with a nice body punch.
Back shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paulson pinned against the cage. Paulson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silver Back. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Back avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Back.
Paulson lands a right hook to the body.

Back scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Paulson struggling a bit here.
Paulson is not content to let Back control the position.
Back working the strikes but Paulson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Back missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Paulson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Back thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Paulson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Back.
Paulson manages to get to full guard.
Back not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Back passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The strikes coming from Back are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Back is working Paulson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Back tries to move to mount but Paulson blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Back is working hard here to advance position.
The strikes coming from Back are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Back working away.

Back decides to stand up, so the ref orders Paulson to his feet.

Back scores with a takedown into Paulson's guard.
Back might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Back trying to control but Paulson is working from the bottom.

Back is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Paulson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Paulson has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paulson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Back is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paulson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Back is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paulson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Back dives in and grabs Paulson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paulson pushes down on Back's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silver Back. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Back tries to close the distance and clinch but Paulson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Back blocks a low kick nicely.
Back scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Back shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paulson pinned against the cage. Paulson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Back lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A bone on bone clash there as Paulson blocks the leg kick.
Paulson throws the left hand but Back avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson scores with a hook to the body. Back takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Back is defended easily by Paulson.
Back chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Back misses with a straight right.
Back closes the distance and clinches up with Paulson, looking for a takedown. Back pushes Paulson against the cage but Paulson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paulson checks the leg kick.
Silver Back seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paulson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Back counters with a stiff right hand.
Back moves in looking to clinch but Paulson pushes him off.
A low kick from Paulson misses
and Back counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Paulson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Back moves away.
Paulson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Back.
Back uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Paulson.
Back fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Back, as that shot connected.
Back lands a jab to the nose.
Silver Back is winning the standup battle so far.
Paulson throws an overhand right that lands on Back's shoulder, as Back tries to avoid the shot.
Paulson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Back throws a head kick that misses.
Paulson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Back stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Back shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paulson as he jumps to the side.
Paulson throws a jab when Back was well out of range.
Paulson misses the body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Back scores with a sloppy right hand. Paulson should have avoided that one.
Back misses with a takedown attempt
and Paulson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Back throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Robert Paulson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Back misses with an attempted mid kick.
Back fails with a takedown attempt.
Paulson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Paulson throws a lazy right hand but Back sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Back has his takedown stuffed
and Paulson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Paulson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Back.
Back misses with a takedown
and Paulson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Paulson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Back pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Back feints and as Paulson raises his hands in defense, Back changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paulson trying to control the position here.
Paulson keeping moving, preventing Back from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Silver Back dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Paulson throws out a powerful jab.
Paulson looks to land a combination but Back avoids it well.
Paulson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paulson wants it to stay on the feet.
Paulson drops his hands momentarily and Back takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Back shoots and misses
and Paulson counters with a nice uppercut.
Back slips under a jab.
Paulson slaps away a takedown attempt from Back, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silver Back. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Back throws an overhand right that lands on Paulson's shoulder, as Paulson tries to avoid the shot.
Back attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Back misses with a hook to the body
and Paulson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson misses with an uppercut.
Back shoots in for a double leg but Paulson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Back throws a sloppy head kick and Paulson moves out of range easily.
Paulson misses with a body shot.
Back connects with the punch.
Back tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paulson was well out of range. Poor timing from Back.
Paulson avoids the head kick by Back.
A big right from Paulson misses.
Back throws a head kick that misses.
Back tries to clinch up but Paulson circles away and keeps his distance.
Back swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Back misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paulson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulson connects with a nice looking jab.
Back fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Back with a poor takedown
and Paulson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Back avoids the body shot from Paulson.
Back with a poor takedown
letting Paulson counter with a right hand.
Back bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Paulson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Paulson takes a swing at Back's ribcage but misses.
Back takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Back misses with a low kick.
Back has his takedown stuffed
and Back takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Silver Back is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson throws a body punch but Back moves out of range.
Back looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paulson is fending him off so far but Back persists. Nope, Paulson circles away and we're back to standing.
Paulson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Back looks for a takedown but Paulson sprawls well.
Paulson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Back with a poor takedown
and Paulson counters with a stiff right hand.
Paulson throws the left hand but Back avoids the punch easily.
Paulson misses with a lunging right hand
and Back counters with a slapping leg kick.
Back fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Paulson avoids it really well and circles away.
Paulson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulson throws a body punch but Back moves out of range.
Back tries to score with a low kick but Paulson moves his leg out of the way.
Back with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Back throws a leg kick but Paulson checks it.
Back tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paulson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paulson misses with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Back gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Paulson counters with a straight right hand.
Robert Paulson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Back moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Silver Back.
Well Back has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Silver Back!