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Contender Profiles | Thomas Paull

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Name: Thomas “Juggernaut” Paull
Age: 27
Weight: Lightweight
Nationality: English
Record: 11-3-0

The Story so far

Fighting on the global stage is one thing, but doing it while deaf is something not many can attest to. GTFP Lightweight champion, Thomas Paull hopes to become the second deaf fighter on the UFC’s current roster, alongside top 5 flyweight contender Askar Askerov. His opportunity has come sooner rather than later, as the “Juggernaut” prepares for a matchup against undefeated Argentinian finisher, Esteban Ribovics in week 4 of Dana White’s Contender Series.

Paull was deaf from birth and used martial arts as an outlet after experiencing bullying from a young age. As the man says himself, he can break people in the cage but he wants to be able to break down barriers outside the cage in regards to the deaf community. Paull has expressed his desire to be the person to merge mainstream sports and the deaf community, believing they have so much potential and that they just need to be given the opportunities.

The 27 year old trains out of Team Underground MMA in London, England, alongside ONE flyweight Muay Thai standout Jonathan Haggerty. With a record of 11 wins and 3 losses, every one of Paull’s victories has come by way of KO/TKO, while his 3 losses have also come by way of finish, an all action fighter sure to garner a wealth of excitement should he make it to the big leagues.

After slowly working his way through the regional competition, through a pro career that only began in 2015, Paull most recently ran through what on paper should have been his toughest tests yet, in the form of Cage Warriors veteran Perry Goodwin and regional UK mainstay, Mario Saeed. After a gruelling contest with Saeed, Paull clutched victory from the Jaws of defeat, a couple of knees forcing two knockdowns early in the third with the vicious ground and pound forcing the stoppage. The Goodwin fight was his most recent outing and arguably his most impressive, with Paull putting “The Predator” to sleep with a crushing left hook early in the first.

The Style

Paull’s style is certainly very fan friendly, it’s almost like a more reckless adaptation of the dutch kickboxing approach. He marches forward, applying pressure, inhibiting his opponents lateral movement with heavy low kicks before meeting them in the pocket with his heavy hands. He favours the striking, backs his chin and loves to tear it up on the inside with hooks. Paull is a guy who is always working for a better position or trying to output some form of aggression. He rarely accepts bottom position and when he does find himself there, will try to deal as much damage as he can with elbows and punches, all while trying constantly trying to get to his feet. The grappling side of the game tends to be where he finds the most resistance, but its making the most of the time he gets back to his feet that counts, something he does very well, often with a reassuring urgency. He’s big, strong and explosive and there are definitely some exciting matchups to be made for him in the UFC.

The Matchup

Paull draws Argentinian finisher, Esteban Ribovics in the Contender Series. This is a man who seems to firmly fight by the MMA saying that you don’t get paid for overtime. Although he hasn’t faced excellent competition, he has multiple sub 30 second finishes which are a product of his ultra aggressive style. Ribovics is 10-0-0, and like Paull every one of his victories have been via finish. Often, Ribovics flies out of the gate with pace, a very fast starter, he has fast hands, a range of dynamic strikes in his arsenal and a solid workrate with big explosive striking combos and movements. Although like Paull he favours the striking, he has a range of submissions on his resume, seemingly favouring the Kimura, not just as a submission but as a takedown deterrent and vehicle for a sweep.

Ribovics has a style that pairs with Paull’s brilliantly, he’s primarily a defensive grappler, sets a pace on his opponents, comes out with pace and aggression with his limbs to put his opponents away. Paull is hard nosed, won’t back down from a scrap on the inside, favours an opportunity to settle things on the feet and can take a shot, either this is going to end early or it will be a crazy stand up war.

A tough test for sure and a contest that promises to be fireworks, but secure the UFC contract or not, there’s no question that Thomas Paull earning an opportunity like this will instil a great deal of hope within the deaf community in sports no matter what they may compete In.

Be sure to tune in for week 4 of Dana White’s Contender Series on August 16th to catch Thomas Paull in action.

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Paul Hughes Gets New Opponent as Oduwole Out

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Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – have today announced a change in the scheduled opponent for Irish superstar Paul Hughes at Cage Warriors 170. 

An injury occurring just days after he signed to fight Hughes has forced Yemi Oduwole out of the contest. 

The promotion wishes him a speedy return to full health. 

CW officials have moved quickly to secure a suitable replacement, today confirming that Hughes will remain on the Saturday, April 6th bill, now facing off with Edgar ‘Smooth’ Escarrega. 

The bout will feature on the main card of CW 170 at Dublin’s iconic RDS, and air live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners. 

The 29-year-old Escarrega, who hails from the port city of Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico, brings an impressive 12-3-1 record to the contest. 

The Victory Fight Club man – who is a striker by trade – is unbeaten in his last six contests, and from twelve victories has a total of five KOs, two submissions and five points wins to his name. 

“From Mexico to the world, here I come!” said Escarrega, when signing on the dotted line for what is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity of his professional career. 

Hughes, from County Derry, is widely considered to be on the cusp of signing with the UFC following a series of impressive performances in the famous yellow gloves of Cage Warriors. 

‘Big News’ recently vacated his featherweight title, moving up to the 155lb division to stop top contender Jan Quaeyhaegens in the first round. 

Also scheduled for the CW 170 card, Dublin’s James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan contests the vacant welterweight title with Switzerland’s Daniel Konrad, with Ger Harris, Solomon Simon, Decky McAleenan, Taka Mhandu and more set to feature. 

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“I Should Get The Shot” – Jacob Smith Wants World Title Fight If He Bests Denis Puric At ONE Fight Night 21

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Fiery flyweight Muay Thai star Jacob Smith enjoyed a triumphant return to ONE Championship last December at ONE Fight Night 17 after 18 months on the sidelines. 

The Scouse striker knocked out Walter Goncalves to gain momentum in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he plans to add to it next month.

Smith returns to action against Bosnian-Canadian powerhouse Denis Puric at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas on Saturday, 6th April, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. 

Fans anticipate a thunderous clash, as they are both known to finish fights. Smith feels he knows what to expect from Puric, and he plans to give him an unwelcome gift for his birthday. 

“I’m either going to stop him with the knee or stop him with an elbow. I feel like the first round is going to be quite fiery. But if he decides to rush me too early, he’s going to walk into some big shots, so I could just finish him in round one,” he said. 

“But I’m sure I’m fighting him on his 39th birthday. So, unfortunately, my birthday present is going to be me knocking him out.”

When Jacob Smith debuted in ONE Championship at May 2022’s ONE 157, he battled ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon across three rounds of hard-hitting action. 

He came up short that night via unanimous decision, and a series of injuries forced him to take time away from action afterward. But that gap seemed to have allowed him level up his skill set. 

Smith came back stronger than ever, and his first-round finish of Goncalves last December pegged him as one to watch. The #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender is hoping to score back-to-back wins against Puric next month, and he knows exactly what he wants if he’s successful.

“My goal is to be ONE Championship Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and fingers crossed by the end of the year that comes through,” Smith said. 

“Rodtang is the champion, and Superlek is number one. After beating Walter, I’m now number two. Rodtang and Superlek are probably going fight each other again soon. Then I should get the shot at the winner after I beat Puric.”

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UFC Vegas 89 – Results | Ribas vs Namajunas

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Live from the Apex, UFC Vegas 89 saw former strawweight Rose Namajunas make her second appearance at flyweight against contender Amanda Ribas.

Note: any point deductions will be denoted by an asterisk and explained at the bottom of the page.

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Main card (2am GMT – TNT Sports)

Rose Namajunas defeats (#8) Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – flyweight bout

Karl Williams defeats Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

Edmen Shahbazyan defeats AJ Dobson via knockout (punches – 4:43 – R1) – middleweight bout

Payton Talbott defeats Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches – 0:21 – R2) – bantamweight bout

Youssef Zalal defeats Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked-choke – 1:50 – R2) – featherweight bout

Fernando Padilla defeats Luis Pajuelo via submission (brabo choke – 2:45 – R1) – featherweight bout

Prelims (11pm GMT – TNT Sports/UFC Fight Pass)

Trey Ogden defeats Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – lightweight bout

Julian Erosa defeats Ricardo Ramos via submission (guillotine – 2:15 – R1) – featherweights bout

Miles John defeats Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – bantamweight bout

Jarno Errens defeats Steve Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – featherweight bout

Darya Zheleznyakova defeats Monsterrat Rendon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – bantamweight bout

Andre Lima defeats Igor Severino via disqualification (biting – 2:52 – R2) – flyweight bout

Mick Parkin defeats Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

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