PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Bastos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pounder has chosen People in Planes-Last Man Standing as his entrance music. Rafael Bastos could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jim Pounder's chin.

Bastos
vs
Pounder

191 cm
24
222 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

186 cm
35
222 lbs
27 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Bastos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jim Pounder!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bastos tries to clinch but Pounder moves away
enabling Pounder to counter with a crisp jab.
Pounder misses with a hook
and Bastos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pounder misses with a combination
and Bastos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pounder throws an off balance right hand
and Bastos counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pounder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bastos closes the distance but Pounder moves to the side
and Pounder counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bastos thinking.

Bastos moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pounder pulls his leg out and moves away.
A slow jab from Bastos misses its intended target.
Bastos with a poor takedown
and Pounder counters with a stiff right hand.
Bastos looks to clinch
and Bastos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bastos swings widly with a right hand
and Pounder counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pounder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bastos connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pounder momentarily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bastos is defended easily by Pounder.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Bastos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bastos bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pounder regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastos trying to control the pace.
Bastos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bastos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pounder tries to get to full guard but Bastos has control of the leg.
Bastos is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bastos 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.
Bastos slips a nice elbow through Pounder's hands, connecting with Pounder's forehead.
Bastos throwing shots but Pounder is blocking nicely.
Bastos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pounder keeps working.
Pounder wants to get back to his feet.
Bastos sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bastos is looking to advance position but Pounder won't allow it.
Bastos wants to take a breather but Pounder is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bastos is keen to just control but Pounder is a slippery customer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastos thows a huge punch but Pounder dodges it nicely.
Bastos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pounder keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pounder keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pounder is trying to stand back up but Bastos is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bastos wants to pass the guard but Pounder is defending well.
Bastos scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bastos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pounder wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pounder keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bastos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pounder is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bastos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bastos wants to pass to mount but Pounder is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Bastos dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bastos is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pounder.
Bastos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bastos dives in and grabs Pounder's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pounder pushes down on Bastos's head and hops out.

Bastos shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bastos was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bastos working the ground and pound effectively.
Bastos in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
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!
Bastos is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Pounder is rocked!
Rafael Bastos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pounder gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastos throwing shots but Pounder is blocking nicely.
Pounder wants to get back to his feet.
Bastos blocks the strikes from Pounder.
Bastos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pounder is still in real trouble! Can Bastos finish him?
Pounder makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pounder.
Pounder seems to have recovered his senses.

Pounder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pounder really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bastos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bastos trying to control but Pounder is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bastos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bastos scoring with some ground and pound.
Bastos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bastos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bastos pushing down on Pounder's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bastos prevents Pounder from standing back up.
Bastos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bastos passes to full mount!
Bastos is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Pounder can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bastos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pounder is looking to escape.
Pounder is looking to get to half guard.
Bastos working Pounder over with strikes here.
You get the feeling that Pounder really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Pounder is breathing heavily.
Bastos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bastos lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Bastos connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bastos prevents Pounder from getting the reversal.
Bastos lands a heavy elbow.
Bastos softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Pounder is out cold! Bastos jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rafael Bastos!