PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Stehling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stehling has chosen Turmion Kätilöt - Minä MÄÄRÄÄN! as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pope
vs
Stehling

225 cm
23
320 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

191 cm
23
265 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition $50 -159's

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesus Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mitchell Stehling!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stehling uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pope.
Stehling moves out of range of the body kick from Pope.
Stehling connects with a solid leg kick.
Pope tries a low kick but Stehling avoids it.
Stehling uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pope.
Stehling shoots in for a double leg but Pope sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A head kick by Stehling misses
and Pope counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pope bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pope avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Stehling instigates a clinch.
Stehling misses with a punch on the inside.
Stehling misses with a punch to the body.
Pope misses with a body punch.
Stehling stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Still in the clinch, Stehling scores with a nice short uppercut.
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!
Pope works on Stehling's body with a couple of short punches.
Pope is trying to maintain a safe position but Stehling gets an underhook and turns Pope into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stehling lands a body punch in the clinch.

Pope wants the takedown. Stehling is fighting it off but Pope persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stehling's guard against the cage.
Stehling looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stehling is trying to control the position but Pope postures up.
Stehling wants to stand and escape but Pope is having none of it.
Pope wants to pass the guard but Stehling is keeping the position.
Stehling is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Pope postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling pulls Pope in close to prevent any damage.
Stehling tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pope will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stehling wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pope trying to control but Stehling is working from the bottom.
Pope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stehling is keeping the position for now.
Stehling utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mitchell Stehling wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stehling tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Pope is looking to slow Stehling down with leg kicks.
Pope scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope throws a poor cross that misses
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stehling checks the leg kick.
Pope motions for Stehling to come forward. Pope throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stehling throws a right hand that misses
and Pope counters with a nice body kick.
Stehling with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Jesus Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pope scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stehling.
Stehling on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pope wants to land a leg kick but Stehling is out of range.
Stehling tries to move into range but Pope moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stehling was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Stehling misses with a right hand
and Pope makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Stehling moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stehling throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope thuds his shin into the meat of Stehling's side.
Pope misses with a leg kick
and Stehling finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Pope keeps Stehling at a distance using the push kick.
Pope jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pope fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stehling has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Stehling tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jesus Pope is winning the standup battle so far.
Stehling moves out of range of the body kick.
Stehling moves out of range as Pope throws a body kick.
Pope misses with a right hand

and Stehling counters with a nice double leg into 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!
Stehling loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stehling slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope is trying to control Stehling's posture but Stehling avoids it.
Pope manages to get back to half guard.
Stehling scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pope trying to control here.
Stehling wants to pass to mount but Pope is defending the position.
Pope wants to get back to full guard but Stehling has passed into side control.

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.
Pope is trying to escape the mount.
Stehling trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pope wants to control but Stehling is having none of it.
Pope takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

It looks like Jesus Pope has been cut.
Pope is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling cracks Pope with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stehling looking to control but Pope is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stehling tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pope tries to lock up and control but Stehling gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pope is looking to improve his position but Stehling isn't that keen on the idea.
Pope is working hard here to advance position.
Pope is in a horrible position here. Stehling smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stehling controlling the pace for now.
Stehling landing strikes, looking to finish!

Jeez, Jesus Pope's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Jesus Pope's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mitchell Stehling!