PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dean Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcel Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by RAWR. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Pope
vs
Martin

176 cm
27
152 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

176 cm
27
167 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Amsterdam in London 95% Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dean Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcel Martin!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin slaps away a takedown attempt from Pope, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Pope shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Martin is trying to defend but Pope finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Pope is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Martin trying to control from the bottom.
Pope wants to stand up but Martin is controlling the position.

Pope is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Martin wants to get back to his feet.
Martin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pope is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin wants to get back to his feet.
Pope is looking to take a break and control but Martin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Pope is working for a kimura but Martin is defending it quite comfortably.

Pope is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Pope is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Martin to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Martin wants to stand and escape but Pope is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin has Pope pulled in close to control his posture.
Pope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pope working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martin's head.
Pope throwing strikes from guard but Martin blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pope trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope tries to free his leg and advance position but Martin is retaining full guard.

Martin has his feet on Pope's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Martin wants it to stay on the feet.
Martin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pope.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pope will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pope misses with a straight left.
Martin stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Pope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope misses with a takedown
and Martin counters with a left to the body.
Pope shoots in but no luck this time.
Pope is breathing heavily.
Martin misses the shot to the body.
Pope shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Martin but Martin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Martin lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Martin lands a big head kick that sends Pope tumbling to the mat! Martin takes a step backwards and waves Pope back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Pope is rocked!
Martin throws a sloppy head kick and Pope moves out of range easily.
Oh Pope is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Pope decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martin keeping hold of Pope's head, controlling as best he can.

Pope has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Martin defend it? Pope steps over the head and cranks it - Martin is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Pope!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:17 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dean Pope!
Dean Pope got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'