T.J. Grant file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Paulino is a pretty tough guy. The problem is that it’s probably his best attribute as a fighter. His fighting style is reminiscent of a standard-issue heavyweight brawler, but he’s fighting in the incredibly deep and talented welterweight class.
Take his opponent Grant for example. He’s considered a decent welterweight, and he nearly beat future title contender Johny Hendricks. It wasn’t some fluke occurrence either, as Grant has a nasty butterfly guard and some solid, fundamentally sound striking skills. He may not bring anything spectacular into the cage, but his skills are diverse and he doesn’t fight beyond his means.
Straightforward brawling and the occasional bit of simplistic ground-and-pound is as far as Paulino’s game goes. Unlike so many up and comers, his skills haven’t evolved much past what he showed early on. As is, Grant has the wrestling to get Paulino down and the striking to beat him up standing, which leaves few options for Paulino in this fight.
Making it to the second round would be an accomplishment for Paulino. His toughness might just get him that far. It won’t get him much further, though, as Grant is simply a different level of fighter than the guys Paulino is used to beating up on.