PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamish MacNab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes to the cage accompanied by No Sunshine. Hamish MacNab has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Luther Pope's chin.

Pope
vs
MacNab

172 cm
24
157 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

157 cm
27
145 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

FULL METAL GEAR
FULL METAL GEAR

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hamish MacNab!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacNab goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pope on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by MacNab. MacNab obviously looking to wear him down.
Pope lands a really nice looking cross but MacNab seems unphased.
A looping hook to the body misses from MacNab. Pope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from MacNab.
MacNab misses with a kick to the body
and Pope counters with a one-two to the body.
MacNab is looking to land body kicks.
Pope moves out of range as MacNab throws a body kick.
MacNab throws a push kick but Pope slaps the foot to one side.
A lazy body kick from MacNab
letting Pope counter with a right hand.
MacNab throws a body kick the misses
and Pope counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
MacNab throws a body kick the misses
and Pope counters with a lovely shot to the body.
MacNab misses with a body shot.
MacNab misses with a body shot.
MacNab throws a body kick the misses
and Pope counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by MacNab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacNab lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pope at a distance.
Pope displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from MacNab.
MacNab scores with a kick to the midsection.

Pope gets a clinch.
MacNab swings wildly with an uppercut but Pope uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacNab misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pope.
Pope lands a left hand that snaps the head of MacNab backwards.
Pope scores with a hook to the body.
Pope cracks MacNab with a nice body shot.
MacNab misses with an elbow over the top.
A short body shot lands from Pope as the two fighters clinch.
MacNab is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pope is defending well for now.
A body shot lands from Pope.
Pope lands a right hand.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pope takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
MacNab tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pope avoids it.
Pope throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The referee calls for Pope to work.
Pope trying to stall but MacNab improves his position.
Pope lands a left hand that snaps the head of MacNab backwards.
Pope avoiding damage as MacNab throws knees to the body.
Pope lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope cracks MacNab with a nice body shot.
A short body shot lands from Pope as the two fighters clinch.
Pope lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Pope.
Pope trying to stall but MacNab improves his position.
A right handed body shot lands from Pope.
Pope avoids the elbow strike from MacNab, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Pope.
MacNab looks gassed!
MacNab lands an elbow inside.
A hook to the body from Pope.
Pope controlling the action here for a moment.
MacNab throws an elbow that misses.
Pope lands with a light punch inside.
A short right from Pope.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope digs a right hand into MacNab's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on MacNab's gas tank.
Pope lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pope tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacNab's elbow.
Pope lands a left hand.
Pope throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
MacNab letting Pope take a breather here.
MacNab is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pope is defending well for now.
A short uppercut from Pope.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
MacNab misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope dodges an elbow strike from MacNab.
Pope lands a body shot.
MacNab pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pope blocks an elbow strike from MacNab.
Pope dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Pope looking to stall.
Pope scores with a shoulder strike.
MacNab blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice elbow from MacNab.
Pope has a couple of punches blocked by MacNab.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Pope.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
MacNab swings wildly with an uppercut but Pope uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacNab using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pope has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Still in the clinch, Pope scores with a nice short uppercut.
MacNab misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope gets through MacNab's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
MacNab tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pope avoids it.
MacNab blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, MacNab just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pope's brow.
A left hand lands to the body for Pope.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope avoiding damage as MacNab throws knees to the body.
Pope managing to block the knees to the body from MacNab.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, MacNab just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pope's brow.
MacNab tries to work over Pope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pope lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt MacNab or not.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Pope dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pope looks to score with a jab to the body but MacNab is just out of range.
MacNab attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Pope misses the shot to the body.
MacNab gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Pope counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pope steps to the side to avoid the strikes from MacNab.
A nice leg kick lands there from MacNab.
Pope dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
MacNab throws the kick towards the body but Pope avoids it.
Pope is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
MacNab misses with an uppercut
and Pope counters with a stiff right hand.
Jab from Pope.
Hamish MacNab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacNab throws a lazy body kick
and MacNab takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
MacNab looking to land some kicks to the body here.
MacNab looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope connects with the punch.
Pope fails to land with a series of punches.
MacNab throws a body kick the misses
and Pope connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pope thuds his right hand into MacNab's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
MacNab is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pope rather than just go for the knockout.
MacNab misses the body punch
and Pope counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
MacNab throws a push kick but Pope slaps the foot to one side.
Pope looks to throw the jab but MacNab is out of range.
MacNab avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
MacNab throws a front kick aimed at Pope's knee but Pope avoids it well.
MacNab connects with a body shot.
MacNab throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
MacNab keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacNab keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
MacNab misses the body punch
and Pope counters with a leg kick.
MacNab looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
MacNab throws a leg kick
and Pope counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pope stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pope lands with a good body shot.
Pope scores with a nice strike.
MacNab misses with a low kick.
Good exchange - Pope coming out on top.
Pope throws a low kick but MacNab avoids it.
MacNab throws a half hearted mid kick.
MacNab tries to land a body kick
and Pope counters with a three punch combo that has MacNab backing up. MacNab nods at Pope to acknowledge the strikes.
MacNab swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Pope counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
MacNab throws a sloppy body shot
and Pope counters with a lovely straight right hand!
MacNab throws a nice inside leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - MacNab finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Pope avoids a kick to the body.
Pope misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from MacNab.
A big right from Pope misses.

Pope closes the distance and clinches.
Pope on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
MacNab lands a nice shot to the body.
Pope scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pope working some nice short punches in the clinch.
MacNab putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pope in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
MacNab tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
MacNab blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
MacNab lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacNab throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Popes head.
Pope is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
MacNab blocks a body shot from Pope.
Pope blocks an elbow strike.
Pope lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
MacNab looks to throw an elbow but misses.
MacNab lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Pope lands a right hand.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Pope tries to throw a body punch but MacNab avoids it by throwing Pope back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, MacNab just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pope's brow.
Pope misses with some punches.
MacNab lands an elbow that stopped Pope in his tracks for a moment.
MacNab working Pope over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pope dodges an elbow strike from MacNab.
Pope avoids a wild elbow strike from MacNab.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pope swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pope lands a body punch.
A hook to the body from MacNab.
A head punch blocked on the inside by MacNab.
MacNab tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pope avoids it.
MacNab lands a nice elbow.
MacNab lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Pope dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Pope has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from MacNab.
MacNab is looking to land body kicks.
MacNab throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope swings for the body but MacNab moves out of range.
MacNab looks to throw a body kick
and Pope makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pope blocks a low kick nicely.
MacNab thows a body shot but no joy.
MacNab throws a wild body kick that Pope sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters circling a little - MacNab finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacNab throws a body kick the misses
and Pope counters with a thumping low kick.
MacNab tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pope swats him away and circles back towards the center.
MacNab swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Pope to counter with a crisp jab.
MacNab fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pope has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for MacNab.
MacNab fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pope manages to avoid it.
Pope blocks a leg kick.
MacNab throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Pope counters with a stiff right hand.
A slapping body kick lands there for MacNab.
Pope moves out of range of the body kick.
MacNab throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Pope moves out of range of the body kick from MacNab.
MacNab is looking to score with low kicks.
Pope lands a nice shot that snaps MacNab's head back.
An inside leg kick lands from MacNab.
MacNab does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
MacNab throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Pope counters with an inside leg kick.
Luther Pope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope blocks the body kick.
MacNab has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pope misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pope tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A big left from Pope misses.
Hamish MacNab has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
MacNab gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Pope counters with a straight right hand.
MacNab looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Luther Pope is winning the standup battle so far.
MacNab thows a leg kick but Pope checks it
letting Pope counter with a right hand.
Pope cracks MacNab with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
MacNab misses with a kick to the body
enabling Pope to counter with a crisp jab.
MacNab throws a push kick but Pope slaps the foot to one side.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
MacNab misses the shot to the body.
Pope misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacNab connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pope momentarily.
An inside leg kick lands from Pope.
MacNab throws a body kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from MacNab.
Pope keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
MacNab looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by MacNab.
MacNab throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
MacNab jabs at Pope's body.
MacNab throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
MacNab tries to land a body kick
and Pope counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

MacNab fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pope sprawls well initially but MacNab persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacNab is taking a breather. Pope says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Pope is looking to escape.
Pope is trying to get back to full guard.
MacNab wants to take a breather but Pope is having none of it.
MacNab not landing any meaningful shots this time.

MacNab is trying to work for a kimura but Pope is defending well.

Pope is defending against the submission attempts here by MacNab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamish MacNab comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pope has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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