PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taj Mahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: No Sunshine. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Luther Pope enters the cage!

Mahal
vs
Pope

164 cm
25
154 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

172 cm
26
157 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Taj Mahal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mahal shoots for a double leg takedown but Pope sprawls well. He's pushed Mahal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mahal takes one to the side of the head.
Mahal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taj Mahal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mahal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Mahal from controlling successfully.
Pope wants to sweep but no luck.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mahal wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Mahal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mahal trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Mahal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mahal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pope swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mahal drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pope looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pope looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pope!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope gets to mount! Mahal was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Pope stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Pope goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Pope blocks a leg kick.
Pope tries to bum rush Mahal with a series of wild strikes but Mahal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pope throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mahal.
Mahal shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense.
Pope throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mahal is defended easily by Pope.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taj Mahal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahal misses with an uppercut.
Mahal drops his hands momentarily and Pope takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Luther Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mahal misses with an uppercut.
Mahal throws a head kick that misses.
Pope throws a head kick that half lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mahal takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Mahal tries a low kick but Pope avoids it.

Mahal feints and as Pope raises his hands in defense, Mahal changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pope keeping full guard, as Mahal tries to pass.
Mahal throws a strike but Pope rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pope stands up and waves to Mahal to follow him.
Pope chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mahal can pounce on him.
Danga de danga de dang - Mahal scores with a four punch combination!
Pope thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mahal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mahal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pope circles away quickly and effectively.
Pope moves away from the strike by Mahal.
Pope throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope has managed to clinch.
Mahal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pope gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pope.
Pope blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mahal tries to pull guard but Pope won't allow it.
A short right from Pope on the inside.
Pope lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mahal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mahal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mahal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pope walks away with a smile on his face. Mahal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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!
Mahal misses with an uppercut. Pope saw that one coming.
Pope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mahal.
Mahal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mahal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pope swivels and escapes.
Mahal is breathing heavily.
Pope throws a big shot that misses.
Mahal fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pope connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pope jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pope has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mahal looks for a takedown but Pope sprawls well.
Mahal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pope.
Some bone on bone action there as Pope checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pope checks a leg kick.
Mahal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mahal is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Pope's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope avoids a punch combination nicely.
Luther Pope seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pope. That's going to slow Mahal down.
Mahal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pope swivels and escapes.
Pope scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mahal in his tracks.
A telegraphed right hand from Mahal misses the target.
Mahal dives in and grabs Pope's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pope pushes down on Mahal's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taj Mahal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope throws a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pope.
Mahal takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Taj Mahal has been cut.
Pope lands a two punch combo.
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mahal moves away.
A left and a right from Pope both land. Nice combination.
Pope throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mahal tries to land a front kick but Pope steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mahal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
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 connects with an inside leg kick.
Pope stuns Mahal with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mahal throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
Mahal misses with a left hand
and Pope makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pope getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A punch combination from Mahal misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope scores with a jab to the body.
Pope scores with a decent looking hook.

Mahal is rocked!
Pope scores with a jab.
Oh Mahal is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pope lands a leg kick that knocks Mahal off balance momentarily.
Pope steps in with a hook that catches Mahal right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Pope follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Mahal looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luther Pope!