PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keiron Murillo (ranked 5837 p4p, 4106 weight class) and Joji Poppa (ranked 660 p4p, 0 weight class). Joji Poppa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Murillo
vs
Poppa

172 cm
25
196
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
180
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keiron Murillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joji Poppa!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poppa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Murillo. That did some damage!

Murillo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Poppa was covering up waiting for the punch and Murillo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Murillo has gone for a leg lock! Poppa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Murillo's guard.

Poppa passes Murillo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Murillo moves into full guard.
Murillo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poppa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murillo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poppa manages to get himself to full guard.

Murillo chips away with some ground and pound.

Poppa is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppa tries to break free but Murillo pushes him back against the cage.

Poppa breaks from the clinch.
Murillo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Poppa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Murillo scrambles back to his feet.

Murillo drives through with a takedown into Poppa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Murillo working some strikes from top position.
Murillo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Poppa is looking to stand up but Murillo isn't so interested in that idea.
Murillo content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppa wants to stand but Murillo is controlling the position.
Murillo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Poppa's head.
Murillo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Murillo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Poppa down.
Murillo working the ground and pound.
Murillo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poppa keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Murillo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Poppa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Poppa pushes Murillo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Murillo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murillo landing strikes.
Poppa taking punishment in the form of punches.
Poppa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Poppa is rocked!

Murillo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Poppa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Poppa is still in real trouble! Can Murillo finish him?
Murillo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Poppa some visible discomfort.
Poppa looks winded!
Poppa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Poppa seems to have recovered his senses.
Murillo cracks Poppa with a big right hand but Poppa just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Poppa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murillo is putting a hurting on Poppa here, landing some big shots from side control.

Poppa is rocked!

Murillo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Murillo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Poppa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Murillo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Poppa!
BOOM! Murillo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Poppa is still in real trouble! Can Murillo finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murillo loads up with a big shot that hurts Poppa! He's pulled Murillo in close but Murillo has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Poppa survive? More strikes from Murillo and Poppa is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Keiron Murillo!
Keiron Murillo took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Surprise Surprise'.