PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Franck Pompi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Pogi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pompi comes to the cage accompanied by Dirty House. 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.

Pompi
vs
Pogi

181 cm
26
193 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

185 cm
26
203 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franck Pompi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arthur Pogi!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pompi digs a good hook to Pogi's body.
Pompi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pompi tries to clinch up but Pogi circles away and keeps his distance.
Pompi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pompi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pogi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pompi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pogi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pompi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pogi circles away quickly and effectively.
Pompi swinging wildly here.

Pogi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pompi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pompi keeping moving, preventing Pogi from controlling successfully.
Pompi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pogi looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pogi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pogi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pompi trying to hold on to Pogi's head to control him but Pogi postures up.

Pogi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Pogi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Pompi is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pogi forces the positional change into back control.
Pompi tries to roll but Pogi sticks to his back.

Pogi is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Pompi has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pogi working for a choke but Pompi is defending well.
Pompi turns into Pogi and is now in his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pogi keeping moving, preventing Pompi from controlling successfully.
Pogi controls Pompi momentarily but Pompi frees himself.
Pogi wants to sweep here but Pompi controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pompi wants to pass the guard but Pogi is keeping the position.
Pompi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pogi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pompi's best efforts.
Pompi trying to pass the guard but Pogi defending well.
Pompi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Pompi goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pogi is on top in guard.
Pompi keeping moving, preventing Pogi from controlling successfully.
Pompi wants to sweep here but Pogi controlling him for the moment.
Pompi keeping full guard, as Pogi tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pogi wants to control from the top but Pompi keeps moving.
Pompi wants to sweep but no luck.
Pogi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pompi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pompi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pogi is one step ahead there.
Pogi wants to pass the guard but Pompi is keeping the position.
Pogi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pompi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Arthur Pogi was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pogi shoots in for a double leg but Pompi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pompi throws a series of punches but Pogi avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Pogi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pogi blocks a low kick nicely.
Pogi fails with a takedown attempt.
Pompi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pogi.
Pogi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pogi fails with the takedown

and Pompi moves into the clinch.
Franck Pompi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Pogi.

Pompi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pompi misses with a leg kick.
Pogi fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Pompi as Pogi shoots in.
Pompi cracks Pogi with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pogi checks a leg kick.
Pompi misses with a leg kick.
Pogi checks the leg kick.
Pompi tries to clinch up but Pogi circles away and keeps his distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pompi.
Franck Pompi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pompi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pogi was well out of range. Poor timing from Pompi.
Pogi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pogi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pompi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pogi somewhat.
Pogi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pogi is defended easily by Pompi.
Pogi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pompi swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pogi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pogi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pompi is keeping the position for now.
Pogi is breathing heavily.
Pompi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Pompi working for a triangle but Pogi defends it easily.
Pogi passes Pompi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pogi is looking to take a break and control but Pompi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pompi wants to control but Pogi is keeping busy.
Pompi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pompi keeping full guard, as Pogi tries to pass.
Pogi is in close to Pompi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pompi controls Pogi momentarily but Pogi frees himself.
Pogi pushes down on Pompi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pogi is keen to just control but Pompi is a slippery customer.
Ground and pound from Pogi.
Pompi wants to improve his position but Pogi is controlling well.
Pompi is trying is best to control the position here.

Pompi is defending against the submission attempts here by Pogi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pompi actively working from the bottom here.
Pompi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pogi is pushing down on Pompi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pompi is fighting to maintain full guard but Pogi has managed to sneak the leg through.

Pogi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pompi is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arthur Pogi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pompi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pogi fails with a takedown attempt.
Pompi throws a head kick but Pogi moves out of range.
Pompi throws a jab but it's blocked by Pogi.
Pogi shoots and misses
and Pompi counters with a nice uppercut.
Pompi lands with an uppercut that bounces Pogi off the cage and back into range.
Franck Pompi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pogi tries to clinch there but Pompi circles away.
Pompi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pompi misses the jab.
Pompi throws a shot from downtown. Pogi moves away and avoids it.
Pogi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pompi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pogi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Pogi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pompi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franck Pompi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Pogi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pompi slaps away a takedown attempt from Pogi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pompi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pogi blocks a leg kick.
Pogi dives in and grabs Pompi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pompi pushes down on Pogi's head and hops out.
Pogi avoids the head kick by Pompi.
Pogi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pompi.
Pogi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pogi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pogi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pompi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pogi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pompi fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pogi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pompi as he jumps to the side.
Pogi moves out of range of the body kick from Pompi.
Pompi throws a big shot that misses.
Pompi is looking to slow Pogi down with leg kicks.
Pompi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pogi.

Pompi forces Pogi back against the cage and clinches.
Pompi is looking to break free of the clinch but Pogi has double underhooks.
Pogi tries to pull guard but Pompi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Pompi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pogi tries to clinch up but Pompi circles away and keeps his distance.
Pogi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pompi misses the body punch
and Pogi counters with a left and a right that stings Pompi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pogi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Pogi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pompi counters with a left to the body.
Pompi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pogi.
Pompi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pompi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Pogi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pompi trying to hold on to Pogi's head to control him but Pogi postures up.
Pogi tries to pass to full mount but Pompi defends it.
Franck Pompi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pompi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pogi.
Pompi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pompi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pompi can't keep his opponent in guard - Pogi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pompi is trying to maintain the position but Pogi is very close to passing his half guard.
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!
Pogi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arthur Pogi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pogi is trying to control the action in half guard but Pompi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pogi trying to mount his opponent but Pompi defends it.
Pompi works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franck Pompi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pogi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Pogi!
After winning the bout, Arthur Pogi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.