Just Another Day of Work for MMA Fighter Paul Reihner
By Matt Shetler
by Matt Shetler
Friday night in Cheswick, PA. it was just another day at the office for Paul Reihner. Except his office is the octagon.
Reihner improved to 6-1 in his MMA career with a unanimous decision victory over Johnstown, PA. native RoyMerriman in the very first card ever put on by the Gladiators of Cage promotion.
“He was pretty tough,” said Reihner. “He put up a much tougher fight than I expected, but overall I felt I was in control for most of the fight. I definitely did enough to win.”
“The Wrecking Ball,” as Reihner is known in the octagon got off to a slow start in the first round but eventually got Merriman down on the mat and applied a guillotine that nearly ended the fight in the first.
‘He told me after the fight that he was nearly out right there,” added Reihner. “If I had a couple more seconds there it probably would have ended.”
Merriman actually won the first round on two of the three judges scorecards, but after that it was all The Wrecking Ball as his superior conditioning and will took over. Reihner dominated the final two rounds on the mat and impressed the judges enough that all three scored the final two rounds in favor of the Washington, PA. native.
“It was the game plan all along to take him down to the mat.” said Reihner. “I went back to the guillotine each round because we thought the opportunity would be there.”
The fight was unlike any Reihner has been in to date. Reihner, who often fights for the Cage of Chaos promotion in Ohio, had to adjust to the fight rules in Pennsylvania which are far different.
The Pennsylvania Athletic Commission bans striking to the head, whether its knees or elbows, when an opponent is down to the mat. Reihner often had Merriman mounted, but once in the dominant position didn’t really have an opportunity to ground and pound.
“It’s frustrating,” added Reihner. “I fully understand them (Athletic Commission) wanting to protect the fighters, but it really takes away from most fighters strengths. You work your butt off to get your opponent in a mounted position, which is the dominant position in MMA and you aren’t allowed to try to end the fight.”
As a result, Reihner was forced to go the distance, something he was conditioned to do.
Reihner not only impressed the crowd at the Syria Shriner’s Pavillion, but impressed his trainer Marshal Carper came away impressed as well.
“It’s all game plan,” said Carper. “We saw what we thought was a weakness on film and Paul executes his game plan like no one else I’ve ever trained. He works hard and trains hard and he just goes out there and executes.”
For Reihner, it’s likely back to training until a possible fight in November when the Cage of Chaos promotion holds an event in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
“I’d like to compete at that event and I was happy with the way this one went as well,” said Reihner. “I wouldn’t mind fighting for them again in PA, but we will see what happens.”
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