PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giaus Cassius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nutty Poe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cassius
vs
Poe

191 cm
22
209 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Zija International
Infliction Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Giaus Cassius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nutty Poe!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poe moves into the clinch.

Cassius pulls guard successfully.

Cassius looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Poe has picked Cassius up and slammed him! Cassius can't keep hold of the triangle and Poe manages to pass to side control!
Cassius tries to bench press Poe off him but Poe keeps the position.

Poe stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Poe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Cassius closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cassius lands in his opponent's guard.
Cassius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cassius passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cassius is working for a kimura but Poe is defending it quite comfortably.
Cassius wants to free his trapped foot but Poe is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Cassius is working for a submission of some sort.

Cassius is trying to work for a kimura but Poe is defending well.
Cassius is breathing heavily.
Poe is trying to stand.

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.

Cassius is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Poe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cassius.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Poe tries to keep at a distance but Cassius has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poe trying to stall but Cassius improves his position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Poe throws an elbow but misses.

Poe manages to break the clinch.
Poe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Poe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cassius blocks the elbow strike.
Poe scores with a nice hook to the head.

Cassius manages to pull guard.

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

Cassius escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Poe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe is looking to stand up but Cassius won't let him.
Poe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cassius working for a triangle but Poe defends it easily.
Poe wants to stand but Cassius is controlling his posture from full guard.

Poe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four 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.

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

Cassius has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Poe is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Cassius off. It looks like it's working - Cassius slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Poe displaying calm under pressure there.
Cassius shoots for a double leg takedown but Poe sprawls well. He's pushed Cassius's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cassius on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Poe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cassius shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cassius showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giaus Cassius dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Poe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cassius blocks the elbow strike.
Cassius jumps guard but Poe stands there with Cassius around his waist. Cassius gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cassius tries to pull guard but Poe holds him up against the cage and eventually Cassius drops back down to his feet.
Cassius dodges an elbow strike from Poe.

Poe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Poe misses with an elbow strike.
Poe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Poe lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Giaus Cassius has been cut.

Cassius pulls guard successfully.

Poe decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cassius, up you get!
Cassius has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giaus Cassius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Poe!
Poe stuffs the takedown attempt from Cassius. Cassius gets slowly back to his feet.

Cassius looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cassiusis looking to pass into half guard but Poe pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Poe is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe tries to stand but Cassius is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cassius has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Poe is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cassius.
Poe wants to stand but Cassius has his arm trapped.
Cassius tries to improve position but can't.
Cassius gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cassius is trying to get back to full guard.
Cassius wants to sweep but Poe has passed to side control!

That's two 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.
Cassius is looking to reverse the position.

Poe decides to stand back up.
Poe fails to land with a series of punches.
Poe is looking to clinch.

Cassius bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Poe pushes Cassius away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cassius gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Poe stops Cassius from passing to mount.

Cassius tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cassius taking a break here but Poe is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cassius is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Cassius is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cassius trying to pass the guard but Poe defending well.
Poe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cassius. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cassius is working for a submission of some sort.

Cassius seems to be working for a kimura but Poe defends the submission attempt.
Cassius wants to control but Poe is keeping him busy.

Cassius is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poe defends it well.
Poe is trying to stand up here but Cassius is controlling him well.
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 Giaus Cassius will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Giaus Cassius's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cassius closes the distance and clinches up with Poe, looking for a takedown. Cassius pushes Poe against the cage but Poe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nutty Poe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Poe lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cassius backs up against the cage.
Cassius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Poe as he jumps to the side.
Poe feints and then cracks Cassius's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cassius down.

Poe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Poe scores a nice knee to the body.
Cassius tries to pull guard but Poe holds him up against the cage and eventually Cassius drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giaus Cassius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Poe.
Poe lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cassius backwards.

Poe breaks from the clinch.
Poe throws a one two combo.
Poe goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Poe lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Poe moves into range and clinches up with Cassius.
Poe lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cassius fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cassius tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poe just stands there and leans against the cage.
with the fighters clinched against the cage, Poe creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Poe drives through and clinches with Cassius against the cage.
Poe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Poe lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Poe lands an elbow inside that Cassius shrugs off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
With the fighters up against the cage, Poe throws an elbow but misses.
Cassius fails to pull the fight into his guard.
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!

Poe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cassius is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Poe.
Poe scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassius shoots in for a double leg but Poe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cassius has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Poe uses from the top position.
Poe wants to stand but Cassius has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cassius looking for a guillotine here but Poe defends easily.
Cassius has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Poe has passed into side control.
Cassius is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cassius wants to get back to full guard.
It looks like Poe is going to stand back up.

Cassius looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassius is looking to improve his position.

Cassius looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cassius wants to get back to full guard.
Poe wants to stand up but Cassius is controlling the position.
Cassius is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Poe's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Poe's back!
Poe is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Cassius off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Cassius struggling to keep hold of the position.

Poe fending off the submission attempt from Cassius.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cassius working for a choke but Poe is defending well.
Poe is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Cassius has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Cassius is looking for the choke from the back position but Poe is controlling his hands well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cassius looking for the choke but no joy.

Cassius is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Poe defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cassius is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Cassius looking to hold on to the position here but Poe rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Poe wants to stand up but Cassius is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cassius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nutty Poe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cassius trying to control the position from guard on top but Poe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giaus Cassius showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cassius, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giaus Cassius!