PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Pol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Drax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pol
vs
Drax

190 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, George Pol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Drax!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drax swings for the body but Pol moves out of range.
Drax throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pol looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drax tries to work over Pol's front leg with a kick but Pol checks it.
Drax is looking to clinch but Pol is avoiding it.
Drax fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Drax changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pol tries to avoid it but Drax manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pol to the ground. Pol escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drax shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pol as he avoids it easily.
George Pol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Drax.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Drax is defended easily by Pol.
Pol avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drax shoots and misses
and Pol counters with a three punch combo that has Drax backing up. Drax nods at Pol to acknowledge the strikes.
Pol swats away the attempt to clinch by Drax.
Drax fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Drax with a poor takedown
and Pol counters with a series of strikes. Drax will be more careful next time no doubt.
John Drax seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drax tries to close the distance and clinch but Pol swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pol swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drax counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drax blocks the body kick.
Drax misses with a low kick.
Drax shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pol counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Drax looks winded!
Nice sprawl there from Pol as Drax shoots in.
Drax tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pol swivels and escapes.
Pol blocks the body kick.
Pol dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pol blocks a head kick by Drax.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pol lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drax circles away quickly and effectively.
Drax misses with a double jab.
A nice combination there by Pol.
Pol keeps the fight on the outside.
Drax closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pol circles away.
Pol lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Pol misses with a two punch combination.
Drax shoots and misses
and Pol counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pol rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drax moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pol throws a series of punches but Drax moves out of range.
Drax gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pol counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pol throws a nice looking combination but Drax bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drax changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pol tries to avoid it but Drax manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pol to the ground. Pol escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pol lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pol avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pol dominated that round.
That's time! Pol's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Drax wants to clinch up but Pol keeps it at a distance.

Drax instigates a clinch.

Drax breaks the clinch.
Drax walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pol checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Drax looks for a takedown but Pol sprawls well.
Pol lands the left hand.
Drax is looking to clinch but Pol is avoiding it.
Drax misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pol throws a series of strikes that have Drax backpedaling.
Drax shoots for a takedown but Pol saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Drax is breathing heavily.
Drax misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
George Pol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Drax.
Drax doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pol counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Drax slips a jab and a cross from Pol.
Drax throws a low kick, looking for Pol's leg but Pol calmly moves out of range.
Drax shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pol defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pol wants to slow Drax down by chopping away at his legs.
Pol swinging wildly here.
Drax throws a series of punches but Pol avoids them all with ease.
Pol displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drax.
A combination from Pol does no damage.
George Pol is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Pol. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drax looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Drax is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pol sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pol.
Drax tries to clinch but Pol moves out of range.
Pol throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pol slaps away a takedown attempt from Drax, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pol.
Drax throws a leg kick but Pol sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Drax shoots in but Pol avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pol misses with a series of wild punches.
Pol scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that George Pol will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Drax tries to clinch up.
Pol throws a series of punches but Drax avoids them all with ease.
Pol swats away the attempt to clinch by Drax.
Drax fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pol attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Drax shoots in and bounces Pol off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pol is trying to control the position but Drax postures up.
Drax takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pol manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pol trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pol looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pol trying to control but Drax is having none of it.
Drax holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pol tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pol thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Pol trying to control but Drax is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pol looking to control and managing it successfully.
Drax is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pol looking to ground and pound but Drax is blocking nicely.
Pol avoids the attempt from Drax to control.
Pol won't let Drax get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Pol looking to control but Drax is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Drax can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drax manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pol wants to stand up but Drax is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George Pol just wasn't active enough.
Pol avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pol!
John Drax has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Pol is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pol will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Pol showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pol, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Pol!
In his post fight interview, George Pol started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.