PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leyte Gulf (ranked 255 p4p, 441 weight class) and Shen Po (ranked 34 p4p, 56 weight class). Gulf comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Po has chosen Ei-tetsu Hayashi & 木下伸市 as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gulf
vs
Po

188 cm
31
185
14 - 4 - 0

177 cm
27
194
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Heavy Metal Drugs
Altitude Clothing

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leyte Gulf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shen Po!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gulf throws the left hand but Po avoids the punch easily.
Po looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Po changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gulf looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Po trying to control the action but Gulf is working from the bottom.
Gulf avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Po.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Po goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gulf has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Po but great work by Gulf.
Po tries to buck Gulf off but Gulf is having none of it.
Gulf working the ground and pound but Po is defending the strikes.
Po is looking for a sweep.
Po manages to get back to half guard.
Po moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po looking for a sweep. Not yet Po, not yet.
Gulf will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Po pulls Gulf in to control the position.
Po being controlled here, momentarily.
Po looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gulf is one step ahead there.
Gulf slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gulf lands a couple of elbows.
Po looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gulf is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Po lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Po preventing the sweep.
Po throws a big right hand that misses.
Po trying to control but Gulf is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Po trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Po throws a strike but Gulf rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Po controls Gulf momentarily but Gulf frees himself.
Gulf won't allow Po to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Po has momentary wrist control but Gulf slips an elbow through the middle.
Gulf content to stall in guard here.
Gulf trying to control but Po is working from the bottom.
Gulf postures up.

Po is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Po lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Po wants to pass the guard but Gulf is keeping the position.
Po trying to control but Gulf is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Po wants to control for a moment but Gulf uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Po is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Po missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shen Po dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gulf throws a sloppy body shot
and Po counters with a right hand to the body.
Gulf ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Po moves away.
Po throws a jab but it's blocked by Gulf.
Gulf misses with a double jab

and Po counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Po passes into half guard.
Gulf is looking for a sweep. Po is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gulf is looking to control Po's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gulf avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Po is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gulf has managed to free his arm - good work.
My spies in Chakuriki LA Gym inform me that Po has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Po is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Po has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Po missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Po is looking to take a break and control but Gulf is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Po tries to pass to full mount but Gulf defends it.

Po is trying to work for a kimura but Gulf is defending well.
Po working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Gulf's thigh. Gulf counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Po looking to sit in guard and control but Gulf gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gulf avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gulf showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've been hearing that Gulf has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Shen Po has got the better of the ground game so far.
Po wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gulf is fighting to break Po's control of his arms but Po is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Po wants to sweep here but Gulf controlling him for the moment.
Gulf slips nicely into half guard.
Po trying to control here.
Gulf is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gulf is thwarting Po's attempts to control the position.
Gulf performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Po is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Po makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Po.
Po manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gulf manages to get himself to full guard.

Po trying to control but Gulf is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gulf wants to sweep but no luck.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shen Po showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Po throws a big shot that misses.
Leyte Gulf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Po darts in looking for a takedown but Gulf gets double underhooks and turns Po into the cage.

Po clinches with his opponent.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gulf.
A short uppercut from Po.
Po scores with a hook to the body.
Po works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gulf has a couple of punches blocked by Po.
Po tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gulf's elbow.
Po throws a punch but it's blocked by Gulf.

Po successfully pulls guard.
Po trying to control the position.
Po looking for a sweep. Not yet Po, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gulf trying to control but Po is working from the bottom.
Po trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po keeping moving, preventing Gulf from controlling successfully.
Gulf's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Po working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gulf doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gulf manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Po working a defensive guard here.

Po working for submissions but it's allowed Gulf to get to half guard.
Gulf wants to control but Po is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gulf content to control rather than advance.
Po tries to get to full guard but Gulf has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po wants to control but Gulf is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gulf throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Po tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gulf defends well and Po ends up having to push Gulf into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Po 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Po uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gulf.
Gulf takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gulf leaves Po with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leyte Gulf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shen Po.
Po is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gulf sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Po tries to clinch there but Gulf circles away.

Po darts in and clinches Gulf up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gulf tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Gulf breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gulf throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Po counter with a right hand.
Gulf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Po scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gulf keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Po is thwarting Gulf's attempts to control the position.
Po tries to pass to full mount but Gulf defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Po seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gulf does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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 Leyte Gulf.
I think Po has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shen Po!
Shen Po was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.