PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pez Whatley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyle Popo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Pez Whatley's chin.

Popo
vs
Whatley

190 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 London, Kyle Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pez Whatley!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Whatley manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Whatley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Popo defends well.
Popo really is a fat lump.

Whatley has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Popo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Whatley.

Popo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Whatley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Popo is looking to take a break and control but Whatley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Whatley manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popo is looking for a kimura here.
Whatley is looking to improve his position.

Whatley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Popo pulls his head out easily.
Whatley is looking to control Popo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Whatley avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Whatley looking for submissions off his back.
Popo wants to take a breather but Whatley is having none of it.
Whatley is trying to maintain the position but Popo is very close to passing his half guard.

Whatley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Whatley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Popo pulls his head out easily.

Whatley actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Whatley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Whatley is looking for a triangle but Popo pushes his legs off easily.
Whatley looks gassed!

Popo drops back looking for a leg! Whatley is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whatley manages to kick Popo off! Popo jumps back into Whatley's guard.

Whatley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Popo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Popo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Popo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Whatley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Popo has managed to get both his arms back between Whatley's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popo wants to control from the top but Whatley keeps moving.
Popo postures up.

Whatley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Popo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Whatley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Popo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popo wants to control from the top but Whatley keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pez Whatley will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Whatley shoots in and bounces Popo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whatley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whatley is looking to work some ground and pound but Popo has wrist control.
Whatley missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whatley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whatley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whatley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Popo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whatley.
Whatley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Whatley drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whatley jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Popo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Whatley postures up in Popo's guard and throws a big left but Popo blocks it.
Whatley wants to control from the top but Popo keeps moving.

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.
Whatley with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Popo keeping moving, preventing Whatley from controlling successfully.
Whatley working some strikes from top position.
Popo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Whatley connects with a couple of short punches.
Whatley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Popo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whatley showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Whatley postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Popo looking for a sweep. Not yet Popo, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whatley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whatley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whatley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whatley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Popo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Whatley drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Whatley as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Popo screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Whatley! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Pez Whatley!