PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Sapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sapp
vs
Pope

195 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
240 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bob Sapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Pope!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Sapp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sapp misses with a few strikes there.
Sapp throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pope.
Sapp is breathing heavily.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Sapp pushes him off.
Sapp throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp moves out of range.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope wants to clinch up but Sapp keeps it at a distance.
Pope tries to clinch there but Sapp circles away.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Sapp circles away.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sapp could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Sapp.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pope is struggling to control the position.
Sapp tries to break free but Pope pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sapp misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pope is looking to clinch but Sapp is avoiding it.
Sapp circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp moves out of range.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Sapp swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Sapp keeps the fight on the outside.
Pope tries to clinch there but Sapp circles away.

Pope gets a clinch.

Pope breaks the clinch.
Sapp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sapp misses with a few strikes there.
Pope is looking to clinch but Sapp is avoiding it.
Jack Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Sapp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pope fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sapp, pushing him back against the cage.
Pope slowing the pace effectively.

Pope breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Sapp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pope lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Sapp pushes him off.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jack Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sapp keeps the fight on the outside.
Sapp swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sapp circles away from the clinch attempt.

Pope darts in and clinches Sapp up against the cage.
Pope taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Pope.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pope breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sapp wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pope has him pressed against the cage.

Pope breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Sapp circles away.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Sapp circles away.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Sapp circles away.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sapp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pope tries to clinch there but Sapp circles away.

Pope gets a clinch.
Pope with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Pope manages to break the clinch.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pope connects with a knee to the head.
Sapp is trying to break free.
Sapp looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope breaks from the clinch.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope wants to clinch.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sapp throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Pope is looking to clinch but Sapp is avoiding it.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sapp misses with a jab, cross combination.

Pope forces Sapp back against the cage and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Sapp's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pope misses with a knee to the head.
Sapp can't break the clinch.

Sapp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sapp misses with the combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Pope dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pope wants to clinch.
Sapp swinging wildly here.
Pope is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope wants to clinch.

Pope clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pope will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sapp up against the cage.

Pope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sapp paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pope gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Sapp circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Pope rushes Sapp and presses him up against the cage.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A knee to the head by Pope.
Pope connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sapp's face.
Pope trying to control the position but instead, Sapp has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pope into the cage.
Sapp wants to get back to striking at distance but Pope won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Sapp's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pope misses with a knee strike.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sapp swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sapp tries to bum rush Pope with a series of wild strikes but Pope uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sapp swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Sapp misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.

Pope darts in and clinches Sapp up against the cage.

Pope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Pope showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sapp.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope is looking to clinch but Sapp is avoiding it.
Bob Sapp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sapp is looking to clinch.
Pope wants to clinch.

Pope pushes Sapp up against the cage in a clinch.

Pope breaks from the clinch.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Pope darts in trying to clinch
and Sapp counters with a three punch combo that has Pope backing up. Pope nods at Sapp to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sapp swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Pope has closed the distance and engaged Sapp in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sapp as Pope tries to tie him up.
Pope with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pope lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sapp is trying to break the clinch but Pope is controlling him.
Pope trying to control the position but instead, Sapp has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pope into the cage.
Sapp is trying to force a seperation but Pope has the dominant position.
Sapp wants to get back to striking at distance but Pope won't allow it.
Pope tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Sapp, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sapp throws a right hand that Pope ducks under and follows up with a left that Pope also avoids with ease.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sapp counters with a series of strikes. Pope will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sapp counters with a two punch combo.
Sapp throws a series of strikes that have Pope backpedaling.
Pope tries to clinch there but Sapp circles away.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope closes the distance but Sapp moves to the side
and Sapp counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sapp counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Pope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pope tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sapp counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pope's guard now.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sapp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pope is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sapp postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sapp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pope working a defensive guard here.

Pope looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sapp lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sapp throwing strikes from guard but Pope blocks nicely.
Sapp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pope is trying to keep Sapp in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope wants to stand but Sapp is controlling the position.
Pope is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Pope working for a triangle but Sapp defends it easily.

Pope had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sapp defends it easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pope darts in trying to clinch
and Sapp counters with a one-two to the body.

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.
Pope looks to clinch
and Sapp counters with a series of strikes. Pope will be more careful next time no doubt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sapp wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pope connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sapp's face.
Sapp tries to break the clinch but Pope is controlling the position.
Sapp wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sapp wants to break free but Pope has control.

Pope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sapp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sapp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sapp throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sapp throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pope closes the distance and pushes Sapp back into the cage.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sapp's efforts to push away.

Pope breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp moves out of range.
Pope is looking to clinch but Sapp is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope tries to clinch but Sapp moves out of range.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sapp misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Sapp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pope avoids a punch combination nicely.

Pope rushes Sapp and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sapp is trying to force a seperation but Pope has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Sapp's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sapp manages to break the clinch.
Sapp keeps the fight on the outside.
Pope tries to clinch there but Sapp circles away.
Pope tries to clinch up but Sapp circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pope tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sapp counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
No joy there for Sapp, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pope darts in trying to clinch

and Sapp counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pope won't be happy with that.
Pope can't do much from the bottom here.
Sloppy strikes there by Sapp.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sapp lands a few punches from side control.
Pope is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sapp working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Sapp showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pope 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Pope!