PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ze Paulino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tupou Tuivaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tupou Tuivaga acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Paulino
vs
Tuivaga

198 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
213 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ze Paulino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tupou Tuivaga!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulino shoots in for a takedown but Tuivaga shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Paulino looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Tuivaga rushes Paulino and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Paulino is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ze Paulino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paulino tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Tuivaga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tuivaga tries to clinch up.
Tuivaga darts in looking for a takedown but Paulino gets double underhooks and turns Tuivaga into the cage.

Tuivaga drags the fight down to the ground.
Tuivaga trying to keep a closed guard but Paulino is proving a slippery customer.
Paulino controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Tuivaga throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Paulino not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuivaga keeping full guard, as Paulino tries to pass.
Paulino trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tuivaga wants to stand but Paulino is controlling the position.
Tuivaga trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Tuivaga being controlled here, momentarily.
Paulino is working Tuivaga over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Paulino is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Paulino trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuivaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuivaga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paulino passes Tuivaga's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Paulino is pressing down on Tuivaga's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tuivaga is holding on for now.
Paulino will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Paulino throws a strike but Tuivaga avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Tuivaga preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Paulino postures up.
Paulino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paulino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tuivaga preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paulino slips nicely into half guard.
Paulino perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Paulino trying to control the action but Tuivaga is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulino thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paulino wants to free his trapped foot but Tuivaga is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Still in half guard, Paulino seems content to control.
Tuivaga really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Paulino. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ze Paulino.
Tuivaga keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Paulino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tuivaga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paulino shoots in for a double leg but Tuivaga sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tuivaga throws a head kick that misses.

Tuivaga tries to sprawl but Paulino drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Paulino has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tuivaga looks winded!
Paulino thows a huge punch but Tuivaga dodges it nicely.
Paulino tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tuivaga knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Paulino missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulino is thwarting Tuivaga's attempts to control the position.
Paulino throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Paulino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paulino is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Paulino trying to control the action but Tuivaga is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Paulino controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ze Paulino.

Paulino looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ze Paulino dominated that 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.

Tuivaga gets caught napping as Paulino dives in and scores a takedown. Tuivaga manages to retain guard.
Tuivaga keeping moving, preventing Paulino from controlling successfully.
Paulino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paulino trying to control but Tuivaga is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Paulino accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Paulino accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Paulino wants to control from the top but Tuivaga keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Paulino throwing strikes but missing.
Paulino wants to control from the top but Tuivaga keeps moving.
Tuivaga has momentary wrist control but Paulino slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tuivaga had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Paulino defends it easily.
Tuivaga is breathing heavily.
Paulino stays in close to Tuivaga's body and controls the position.
Tuivaga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paulino trying to control but Tuivaga is working from the bottom.
Tuivaga is trying to keep Paulino in close.
Paulino throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paulino trying to control but Tuivaga is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ze Paulino wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Paulino gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuivaga parries the strikes from Paulino easily there. Paulino is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tuivaga to escape.
Paulino throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Tuivaga defending against the ground and pound.
Paulino tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Paulino wants to take a breather but Tuivaga manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Paulino.
Paulino trying to control but Tuivaga is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tuivaga utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Paulino sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tuivaga's guard.
Paulino landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Paulino is keen to just control but Tuivaga is a slippery customer.
Paulino wants to pass the guard but Tuivaga is defending well.
Paulino stalling.
Paulino thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Paulino moves into full mount! Tuivaga won't be happy about that!
Paulino looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulino punching from mount but Tuivaga doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Paulino throwing strikes here but Tuivaga is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Paulino can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tuivaga is looking to escape.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Paulino is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tuivaga is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Paulino thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paulino throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Paulino throwing strikes here but Tuivaga is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Paulino raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ze Paulino dominated that second round.
That's time! Paulino's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tuivaga swats away the attempt to clinch by Paulino.
Tuivaga shoots in but no luck this time.
Paulino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tuivaga.
Paulino tries to clinch but Tuivaga moves away
and Tuivaga counters with an outside leg kick.
Ze Paulino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tuivaga scores with a sloppy right hand. Paulino should have avoided that one.
Paulino throws a combination that misses
letting Tuivaga counter with a right hand.
Paulino fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paulino lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tuivaga circles away quickly and effectively.

Paulino shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Paulino content to control rather than advance.
Tuivaga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulino is pressing down on Tuivaga's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tuivaga is holding on for now.
Paulino not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Paulino sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Ze Paulino has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Paulino dives in and scores a takedown into Tuivaga's guard.
Tuivaga keeping moving, preventing Paulino from controlling successfully.

Tuivaga working for a triangle but Paulino defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulino is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Paulino postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paulino in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tuivaga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paulino postures up in Tuivaga's guard and throws a big left but Tuivaga blocks it.
Paulino scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulino wants to control from the top but Tuivaga keeps moving.
Paulino throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Paulino stands and throws Tuivaga's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tuivaga seems a little lost for a moment, as Paulino dominates the positioning.
Paulino throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ze Paulino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paulino in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Paulino trying to control the position but Tuivaga is working away.
Paulino is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tuivaga can do to turn this around?
Paulino tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulino throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Paulino throws an elbow but Tuivaga slips to the side and avoids it well.
Paulino postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Tuivaga striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Paulino fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tuivaga tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paulino throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Paulino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tuivaga keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Paulino has an Americana. Tuivaga didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Paulino is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Paulino hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Ze Paulino!