PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tad Pohl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jom Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tad Pohl has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pohl
vs
Ortiz

160 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

185 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tad Pohl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jom Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ortiz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ortiz decides to return to a standing position.
Pohl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pohl circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ortiz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pohl's waist but Pohl gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ortiz off to one side.
Ortiz fails with the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ortiz shoots in and drives through. Pohl sprawls well.
Tad Pohl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jom Ortiz.
Ortiz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pohl as he avoids it easily.
Ortiz has a takedown stuffed.
Ortiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ortiz looks gassed!

Pohl bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pohl trying to control the action but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
Ortiz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pohl wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ortiz pushes Pohl away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pohl gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Pohl landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Pohl looks up at the clock and then as Ortiz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pohl smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Pohl tries for a kimura but Ortiz is defending well.
Pohl controlling the position.
Ortiz stops Pohl from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pohl prevents Ortiz from escaping the position.
Ortiz manages to get back to half guard.
Ortiz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pohl content to control rather than advance.
Pohl lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ortiz is looking to control Pohl's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ortiz avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ortiz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Pohl seems content to control.
Ortiz is trying to stand up here but Pohl is controlling him well.
Ortiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pohl controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Ortiz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pohl.

Ortiz kicks Pohl off and gets back to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pohl.

Ortiz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pohl tries to improve position but can't.

Ortiz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Pohl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ortiz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ortiz has his takedown stuffed

and Pohl counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pohl.

Ortiz working for a triangle but Pohl defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tad Pohl will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ortiz with a poor takedown

and Pohl counters with a shoot takedown. Ortiz fights it but they end up in guard.
Pohl might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ortiz is looking to stand up but Pohl isn't so interested in that idea.
Pohl stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ortiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ortiz had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pohl is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ortiz Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pohl's back instead.

Ortiz has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Pohl has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohl controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Pohl wants to control his opponent's hands but Ortiz gets his hands free.
Pohl wants to escape the position.
Pohl trying to control the hands but Ortiz won't let him.

Pohl fending off the submission attempt from Ortiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Ortiz looking for the choke but no joy.
Ortiz not allowing Pohl to control his hands.
Pohl biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pohl preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Ortiz.

Ortiz looking for the choke from the back.
Ortiz is looking to control Pohl but Pohl is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Ortiz looking for the choke from the back.

Ortiz is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Pohl knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Pohl for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ortiz's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Pohl trying to get back to his feet but Ortiz is in full control for now.

Ortiz is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Ortiz working for a choke but Pohl is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jom Ortiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ortiz misses with a takedown

and Pohl counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pohl.
Pohl trying to control but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
Pohl thows a big elbow that misses.
Tad Pohl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ortiz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pohl pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ortiz is keeping the position for now.
Ortiz wants to stand and escape but Pohl is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohl stays in close to Ortiz's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pohl pushes Ortiz away with a front kick.
Ortiz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pohl counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pohl is looking to stand up but Ortiz won't let him.
Pohl knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ortiz on the ground.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet but Pohl is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ortiz looking for a guillotine here but Pohl defends easily.
Ortiz wants to stand and escape but Pohl is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ortiz is looking for a triangle but Pohl pushes his legs off easily.
Ortiz is looking to stand up but Pohl isn't so interested in that idea.
Pohl has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ortiz is proving hard to escape from.

Ortiz is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pohl fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to break the clinch but Pohl is controlling the position.
Pohl tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ortiz smiles and moves away.
Ortiz fails with the takedown

and Pohl counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tad Pohl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jom Ortiz.
Pohl controlling the pace.
Ortiz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pohl scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pohl trying to mount his opponent but Ortiz defends it.
Ortiz is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pohl is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ortiz is trying to stand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pohl tries a head kick but it misses.
Pohl changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ortiz tries to avoid it but Pohl manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ortiz to the ground. Ortiz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ortiz shoots and misses

and Pohl counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Pohl is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ortiz gets his way!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pohl trying to control the position but Ortiz manages to sink in the hooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tad Pohl showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pohl has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tad Pohl!