PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Pato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Popadopalous (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popadopalous is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Theme from Rocky. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pato
vs
Popadopalous

189 cm
27
211 lbs
10 - 8 - 1

185 cm
21
213 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Pato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Apollo Popadopalous!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popadopalous will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Popadopalous circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popadopalous misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pato.
Apollo Popadopalous seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popadopalous throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Popadopalous takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Popadopalous shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pato as he jumps to the side.
Pato connects with a nice looking jab.
Pato lands a head kick. Popadopalous smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Pato lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pato scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Pato instigates a clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous misses with a double jab
and Pato counters with a nice leg kick.
Pato takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Popadopalous lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popadopalous walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pato throws a series of strikes that have Popadopalous backpedaling.
Popadopalous throws a sloppy body shot
and Pato counters with a two punch combo.
Pato slips under a jab from Popadopalous.
A telegraphed right hand from Popadopalous misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Pato clinches with his opponent.

Pato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pato counters with a nice body kick.

Pato clinches up with Popadopalous and pushes him back against the cage.

Pato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pato with a nice cross.

Popadopalous looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Popadopalous looks gassed!

Popadopalous is working for a kimura but Pato is defending it quite comfortably.
Pato is looking to escape.
Popadopalous seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pato does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popadopalous trying to work for an americana but Pato has managed to regain full guard.
Pato wants to stand and escape but Popadopalous is having none of it.
Pato keeping moving, preventing Popadopalous from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popadopalous stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Popadopalous tries for a takedown but Pato circles away easily

and Pato counters by moving into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pato breaks from the clinch.
Popadopalous looks to score with a jab to the body but Pato is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popadopalous swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pato scores with a jab.
Pato lands a head kick. Popadopalous smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Pato moves out of range as Popadopalous strikes.
Popadopalous throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pato makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Popadopalous really felt that one!
Popadopalous throws a sloppy body shot

and Pato moves into the clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pato connects with a high kick.
Popadopalous misses with a looping right.
Popadopalous misses with a combination
and Pato counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Popadopalous is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pato thumps Popadopalous with a low kick.
Pato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Popadopalous.

Pato moves into the clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch.
Popadopalous misses with a body shot
and Pato counters with a body kick.

Pato closes the distance and pushes Popadopalous back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pato manages to break the clinch.
Popadopalous misses with a double jab.
Popadopalous steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Pato. That one must have hurt.

Pato has closed the distance and engaged Popadopalous in a clinch.

Pato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alex Pato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pato closes the distance and pushes Popadopalous back into the cage.

Pato breaks from the clinch.

Pato closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pato manages to break the clinch.
Pato scores with a jab to the jaw.
A shot to the body from Popadopalous misses
and Pato counters with a body kick.
Popadopalous throws a combination that misses
and Pato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pato lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pato scores with a shot to the body.
Popadopalous misses with a straight left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pato lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Pato clobbers Popadopalous with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pato is working the combinations to good effect here.
Popadopalous falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Pato dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pato darts in and clinches Popadopalous up against the cage.
Popadopalous is trying to force a seperation but Pato has the dominant position.

Pato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pato scores with a hook.
Popadopalous looks to throw the jab but Pato is out of range.

Pato pushes Popadopalous up against the cage in a clinch.
Popadopalous wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pato has him pressed against the cage.

Pato breaks the clinch.
Pato cracks the inside of Popadopalous's front leg.
Popadopalous misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pato counters with a slapping leg kick.
Popadopalous misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Pato counters by moving into the clinch.

Pato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pato lands a slapping body shot.
Popadopalous throws a looping overhand right but Pato ducks down to avoid it.
Popadopalous throws a big shot that misses.
Pato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Popadopalous.
Popadopalous scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pato fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Popadopalous is breathing heavily.
Popadopalous misses with a body punch
and Pato counters with a head kick. That will keep Popadopalous thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Popadopalous tries to keep at a distance but Pato has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popadopalous tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pato just stands there and leans against the cage.
Popadopalous fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Popadopalous jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pato walks away with a smile on his face. Popadopalous gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alex Pato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Popadopalous.
Popadopalous misses the jab.

Pato has managed to clinch.

Pato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Popadopalous throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popadopalous on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pato. Pato obviously looking to wear him down.

Pato has managed to clinch.

Pato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pato cracks Popadopalous with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Popadopalous swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Pato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Pato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous misses with a jab to the body
and Pato counters with a left to the body.

Pato clinches up with Popadopalous and pushes him back against the cage.

Pato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popadopalous throws a hook but Pato avoids it easily.

Pato drives through and clinches with Popadopalous against the cage.
Popadopalous is trying to drag Pato to the mat but Pato just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pato throws a combination. Popadopalous tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Pato has closed the distance and engaged Popadopalous in a clinch.

Pato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popadopalous takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pato lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pato manages to break the clinch.
Pato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Popadopalous throws out the jab.
Popadopalous misses the body punch
and Pato makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pato scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alex Pato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popadopalous walks into a straight right hand from Pato.
Popadopalous swings away with a body shot that misses
and Pato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popadopalous on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Pato moves into range and clinches up with Popadopalous.
Popadopalous is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Pato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pato closes the distance and clinches.

Pato breaks from the clinch.
Popadopalous has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Popadopalous misses with a combination

and Pato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Popadopalous cracks a nice hook into Pato's ribs.
Pato lands with a kick to the temple. Popadopalous shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Pato lands a nice looking kick to the body. Popadopalous takes a step back to recover.

Pato clinches up with Popadopalous and pushes him back against the cage.
Popadopalous tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pato smiles and moves away.
Popadopalous thows a body shot but no joy.
Popadopalous misses with a shot to the body
and Pato connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pato throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popadopalous.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popadopalous misses with a straight right.
Popadopalous throws a combination that misses
and Pato counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A solid body kick from Pato.

Pato has Popadopalous up against the cage in a clinch.

Pato manages to break the clinch.
Popadopalous ducks right into an uppercut from Pato.
Popadopalous misses with a combination

and Pato moves into the clinch.

Pato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pato is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Popadopalous can do to turn this around?
Popadopalous misses with a hook. Pato ducked under it nicely.
Pato buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pato lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pato connects with a high kick.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pato instigates a clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch.
Pato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Popadopalous.
Pato catches Popadopalous with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Pato dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

A head kick from Pato lands but Popadopalous takes it in his stride.
Popadopalous doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pato counters with a two punch combo.
Popadopalous has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pato.
Popadopalous throws a combination that misses
and Pato counters with a big head kick but Popadopalous shrugs it off.
Popadopalous swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pato counters with a thumping low kick.

Pato moves into the clinch.

Pato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous misses with a combination
letting Pato counter with a right hand.
Popadopalous walks forward, straight into a front kick from Pato.
Alex Pato is winning the standup battle so far.

Pato has Popadopalous up against the cage in a clinch.

Pato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pato lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Popadopalous backs up against the cage.
Pato tests Popadopalous's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pato uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popadopalous misses with a double jab
and Pato counters with a thumping low kick.
Pato digs a good hook to Popadopalous's body.
Popadopalous throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pato counters with a straight right hand.

Pato has closed the distance and engaged Popadopalous in a clinch.

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

Pato moves into the clinch.

Pato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Popadopalous throws the left hand but Pato avoids the punch easily.

Pato rushes Popadopalous and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch.
Popadopalous shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pato darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Popadopalous misses with a double jab

and Pato moves into the clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popadopalous throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pato counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Pato takes the fight into the clinch.
Apollo Popadopalous has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pato breaks from the clinch.
Pato moves away from the strike by Popadopalous.
Pato scores with a leg kick.
Popadopalous throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Pato moves into range and clinches up with Popadopalous.

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

Pato rushes Popadopalous and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Pato moves into range and clinches up with Popadopalous.

Pato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous misses the shot to the body.
Pato on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Popadopalous throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pato makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popadopalous with a poor takedown
letting Pato counter with a right hand.

Pato clinches up against the cage.

Popadopalous breaks the clinch.
Popadopalous ducks right into an uppercut from Pato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pato slips a straight right by Popadopalous.
Popadopalous misses with a shot to the body
and Pato counters with an inside leg kick.
Pato lands with a nice combination. Popadopalous backs away looking to recover.
Pato throws a head kick that Popadopalous semi-blocks.
Pato jabs at Popadopalous's body.
Pato works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Popadopalous takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Popadopalous takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Pato ducks under a wild hook from Popadopalous.
Popadopalous misses the jab.
Pato throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Pato slips a jab from Popadopalous.

Pato has closed the distance and engaged Popadopalous in a clinch.

Pato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popadopalous throws out a loose jab but Pato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popadopalous throws a sloppy body shot
and Pato counters with a one-two to the body.
Popadopalous misses with a jab to the body
and Pato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pato smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pato lands a nice shot to the body.
Popadopalous throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pato counters with a good low kick that Popadopalous was not able to check.

Pato has taken the fight to the clinch.

Pato manages to break the clinch.
Popadopalous takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pato scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Pato throws a leg kick which misses Popadopalous's front leg but catches the back leg as Popadopalous tries to avoid it.

Pato rushes Popadopalous and presses him up against the cage.
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!

Pato breaks from the clinch.
Pato lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Pato has Popadopalous up against the cage in a clinch.
Popadopalous tries to break free but Pato pushes him back against the cage.
Popadopalous jumps guard but Pato stands there with Popadopalous around his waist. Popadopalous gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alex Pato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Popadopalous.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popadopalous has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Popadopalous fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Pato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alex Pato is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Popadopalous falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pato counters with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Pato showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pato, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Pato!