PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tad Pohl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papi Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Pohl
vs
Romero

160 cm
18
145 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

167 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 7 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Papi Romero!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pohl scores a takedown into full mount!
Romero is working to get back to half guard.
Pohl sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pohl has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Romero is trying desperately to improve position.
Pohl knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Romero on the ground.
Pohl controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero is desperately trying to improve his position but Pohl has a good base and remains in mount.
Pohl controlling the pace for now.
Pohl can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Romero is looking to escape.
Romero is looking to improve his position but Pohl isn't that keen on the idea.
Romero is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee warns Romero that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Romero can't escape the position.
Pohl tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Romero sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is trying to get back to full guard.

Romero has one foot on Pohl's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Romero misses with a takedown

and Pohl counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Romero!
Romero looks gassed!
Pohl scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Romero?
Pohl landing punches.
Romero keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
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.
Pohl trying to control but Romero is having none of it.
Romero bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Romero drops back looking for a leg! Pohl is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pohl manages to kick Romero off! Romero jumps back into Pohl's guard.

Romero drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pohl manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Romero has Pohl in his guard.
Pohl tries to stand but Romero is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pohl gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pohl is pushing Romero up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Romero avoiding damage as Pohl throws knees to the body.

Pohl decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Romero drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Romero jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Romero slips nicely into half guard.

Romero is trying to work for a kimura but Pohl is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pohl defends it well.
Romero is breathing heavily.
Pohl is trying is best to control the position here.
Romero is thwarting Pohl's attempts to control the position.

Romero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pohl is just riding it out for now. Romero eventually gives up the hold.

Romero is working for a kimura but Pohl is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Romero is working for a kimura but Pohl is defending it quite comfortably.
Pohl is concentrating on defense, preventing Romero from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romero is trying to work for a kimura but Pohl is defending well.

Romero is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pohl defends it well.
Pohl is positioning himself well to prevent Romero advancing to mount.
Romero wants to get back to his feet.

Romero is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pohl is trying is best to control the position here.

Romero is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Romero is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Pohl has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero is thwarting Pohl's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tad Pohl will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

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

Romero looking for submissions off his back.
Romero wants to improve his position but Pohl is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Pohl there.
Pohl sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Pohl looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Romero looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pohl stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Romero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Pohl instigates a clinch.
Pohl holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Pohl turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohl working the head and body with strikes.
Romero is looking to regain half guard here but Pohl keeps moving and retains side control.
Tad Pohl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pohl wants to stand but Romero has his arm trapped.
Romero is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pohl's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Pohl moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Romero.
Pohl slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero regains half guard.
Romero is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Pohl seems content to control.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pohl is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Romero is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pohl pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tad Pohl showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pohl has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

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