PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hercule Poirot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Scylla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poirot comes to the cage accompanied by Poirot Theme. 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.

Poirot
vs
Scylla

167 cm
27
162 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

180 cm
28
166 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Tokyo Defiance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hercule Poirot!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Scylla!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scylla misses with a two punch combination.
Poirot throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Scylla.

Scylla is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Poirot's half guard.
Scylla wants to pass the guard but Poirot is defending well.
Scylla is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Scylla is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Poirot is just riding it out for now. Scylla eventually gives up the hold.
Scylla is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Scylla tries to free his leg and advance position but Poirot is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scylla trying to control but Poirot is working from the bottom.
Scylla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poirot swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Scylla looking to sit in guard and control but Poirot gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Scylla looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Poirot slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Poirot trying to control the action but Scylla is working from the bottom.
Scylla tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Poirot wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Scylla prevents Poirot from improving position.

Poirot is trying to get an arm triangle but Scylla is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Poirot is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Scylla has escaped the position, nice work there.
Poirot trying to control the position but Scylla is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poirot tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Poirot has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Scylla looks to move to half guard but instead Poirot has passed into mount! Damn!
Scylla can't escape the position.

Poirot working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Scylla is in all sorts of trouble here.
Scylla is trying to escape the mount but Poirot keeps good control and instead manages to take Scylla's back.
Scylla can't escape the position.
Scylla manages to reverse the position and now he's in Poirot's guard. Nice work there by Scylla.
Scylla preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scylla passes into half guard.
Poirot is refusing to be controlled, as Scylla sits in half guard.

Scylla trying to work for an americana but Poirot has managed to regain full guard.
Scylla tries to free his leg and advance position but Poirot is retaining full guard.

Poirot is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Scylla got a little sloppy there for a moment and Poirot has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Scylla has managed to get both his arms back between Poirot's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hercule Poirot will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Scylla lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Poirot circles away quickly and effectively.
Scylla lands a body shot.
Poirot misses with a body shot
and Scylla counters with a series of strikes. Poirot will be more careful next time no doubt.

Scylla scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Scylla is looking to advance position but Poirot won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scylla wants to take a breather but Poirot is having none of it.
Scylla trying to pass the guard but Poirot defending well.
Scylla frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Scylla fails to move to back control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirot is trying desperately to improve position.

Scylla goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Poirot is on top in guard.
Poirot trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Scylla manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poirot manages to get himself to full guard.
Poirot is trying to keep Scylla in close.
Scylla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poirot is keeping the position for now.
Poirot manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Scylla manages to get himself to full guard.
Scylla is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Poirot moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Poirot looking for a sweep. Not yet Poirot, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scylla trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Scylla trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Poirot manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Poirot thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Scylla is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Poirot is aware though and is defending well.
Scylla has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Poirot has passed into side control.
Poirot happy to just control the position for now.
Scylla is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Poirot's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scylla won't allow Poirot to pass to mount.
Poirot prevents Scylla from improving his position.
Scylla trying to control here.
Poirot passes to side control.
Poirot is looking to take a break and control but Scylla is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Scylla is looking for a sweep.
Poirot wants to control but Scylla is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Scylla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Poirot closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Poirot lands in his opponent's guard.
Poirot is pushing down on Scylla's leg trying to pass to half guard. Scylla is fighting to maintain full guard but Poirot has managed to sneak the leg through.
Scylla is looking for a sweep. Poirot is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Scylla moves into full guard.

Scylla had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Poirot defends it easily.
Scylla manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poirot manages to get himself to full guard.
Scylla looking to pass the guard.
Scylla looking to sit in guard and control but Poirot gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Scylla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Scylla is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Poirot pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Scylla is keeping the position for now.
Poirot stopping the sweep attempt from Scylla.
Poirot trying to control the position from guard on top but Scylla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Poirot tries to free his leg and advance position but Scylla is retaining full guard.

Scylla working for a triangle but Poirot defends it easily.
Poirot advances to half guard.

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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Scylla is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Scylla is in trouble now - Poirot has advanced to mount!
Scylla is trying to escape the mount.

Poirot working for a guillotine from mount but Scylla is in no mood to give up.
Poirot moves to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirot doesn't have the hooks in and Scylla manages to turn into his guard.
Poirot might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Scylla works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Scylla wants to free his trapped foot but Poirot is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Scylla is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Poirot sees it coming and defends easily.
Scylla not doing much here.
Scylla is stalling here. Poirot is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Scylla seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Poirot has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Poirot wants to control but Scylla is keeping him busy.
Scylla tries to buck Poirot off but Poirot is having none of it.
Poirot advances to mount.
Poirot works his way to his opponent's back.
Poirot tries to get the hooks in deep but Scylla pushed the leg off.
Scylla tries to roll but Poirot sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hercule Poirot clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Scylla throws a nice looking combination but Poirot bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Scylla scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Scylla is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hercule Poirot overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Poirot keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Poirot slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Poirot is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Scylla is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scylla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poirot swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Poirot throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Scylla preventing the sweep.

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.
Poirot wants to stand but Scylla is controlling the position.
Scylla passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Scylla looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Poirot tries to improve position but can't.
Scylla wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poirot keeps working.

Scylla is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Poirot is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scylla swings around for an armbar but Poirot sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Scylla's guard.

Scylla looking for a guillotine here but Poirot defends easily.
Poirot is pushing down on Scylla's leg trying to pass to half guard. Scylla is fighting to maintain full guard but Poirot has managed to sneak the leg through.
Poirot uses his free foot to push down on Scylla's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Scylla.
Scylla is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poirot mounts Scylla! Really nice guard pass there!

Poirot is working for a guillotine from mount but Scylla frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scylla is working to get back to half guard.
Poirot fails to take his opponent's back.
Scylla tries to reverse the position but Poirot maintains control.

Scylla tries to improve his position but Poirot has taken his back! Poirot has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Scylla tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Poirot pushes Scylla away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:01 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hercule Poirot!
Hercule Poirot retains his lightweight title!