PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolai Demikovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demikovic has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music. Nicolai Demikovic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pope
vs
Demikovic

225 cm
33
283 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

191 cm
33
250 lbs
24 - 25 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesus Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 25 - 2, fighting out of London, Nicolai Demikovic!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope closes this distance looking for a takedown but Demikovic circles away.
Demikovic has his takedown stuffed

and Pope counters with a shoot takedown. Demikovic fights it but they end up in guard.
Pope throwing strikes from guard but Demikovic blocks nicely.
Pope wants to control from the top but Demikovic keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Demikovic wants to stand but Pope is controlling the position.
Demikovic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pope with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pope trying to control the position from guard on top but Demikovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demikovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pope.
Pope stopping the sweep attempt from Demikovic.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Demikovic is pulling down on Pope's head to control his posture.

Demikovic looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pope passes into side control.
Pope tries to move into full mount but can't pass Demikovic's legs.

Pope working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Demikovic manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pope's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to lay and pray for a moment but Demikovic keeps working.
Demikovic is looking to control Pope's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Demikovic avoid being mounted?
Pope slips a nice elbow through Demikovic's hands, connecting with Demikovic's forehead.
Pope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Demikovic is looking to control Pope's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Demikovic avoid being mounted?
Demikovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Demikovic is staying active underneath Pope, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to control. Demikovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pope thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Demikovic's head.
Pope stops Demikovic from getting back to his feet.
Pope will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Demikovic is trying to maintain the position but Pope is very close to passing his half guard.
Pope lands strikes from half guard.
Demikovic is looking for a sweep. Pope is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pope looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pope not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Demikovic tries to kick Pope off but Pope keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Demikovic gets back to full guard.
Demikovic keeping moving, preventing Pope from controlling successfully.
Pope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Demikovic is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope with a nice head shot there.
Pope looking to pass the guard.
Demikovic can't keep his opponent in guard - Pope advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Demikovic is looking to escape.
Demikovic is trying to control but can't.
Demikovic is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Pope is staying active.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope misses with a head shot. Demikovic uses the momentum to regain guard.
Demikovic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Pope dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Demikovic tries to work over Pope's front leg with a kick but Pope checks it.
Demikovic avoids the body shot from Pope.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pope.
Demikovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pope manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Pope.
Pope thumps Demikovic with a low kick.
Pope fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pope shoots in for a double leg but Demikovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Demikovic darts in and clinches Pope up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pope drags the fight down to the ground.
Pope looking to control.
Pope is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Demikovic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Pope escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Demikovic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pope is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Demikovic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pope scores with a couple of nice shots.
Demikovic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Demikovic.
Demikovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a strike but Demikovic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pope tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pope really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Pope is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Demikovic is aware though and is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Demikovic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pope has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Demikovic has managed to get both his arms back between Pope's legs - danger averted.
Demikovic pushes down on Pope's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Demikovic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pope is just riding it out for now. Demikovic eventually gives up the hold.
Pope is looking for a sweep. Demikovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Jesus Pope overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pope makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pope.
Pope is trying to keep Demikovic in close.
Demikovic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Demikovic preventing the sweep.

Pope throws his legs up looking for a submission but Demikovic uses it to pass to side control.
Pope 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.

Demikovic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pope has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic controls the position.
Pope is trying to get back to half guard.
Pope wants to control but Demikovic postures up.
Pope tries to improve position but can't.
Demikovic trying to control the action but Pope is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Demikovic connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Pope some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Pope dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pope shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pope was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Demikovic takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Pope throws a strike aimed at the side of Demikovic's head but Demikovic avoids it well.
Demikovic takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pope working the ground and pound but Demikovic is defending the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ground and pound from Pope seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Pope is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Demikovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Demikovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pope lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demikovic is looking to reverse the position.
Demikovic struggling a bit here.
Pope creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Demikovic sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Pope fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Demikovic managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Pope.
Pope lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pope working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Demikovic dodges the ground and pound from Pope.

Pope goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Demikovic has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pope but great work by Demikovic.
Pope is not content to let Demikovic control the position.
Demikovic lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope struggling a bit here.
Pope is looking for a sweep.

Demikovic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Demikovic is looking to take a break and control but Pope is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Demikovic passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Pope!
Pope tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic scores with a couple of good head shots there.

It looks like Jesus Pope has been cut.
Demikovic looking to control but Pope is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Demikovic swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Pope is now in Demikovic's guard. A big mistake from Demikovic there, giving up the dominant position!
Demikovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pope trying to control but Demikovic is working from the bottom.
Demikovic trying to control the position.
Demikovic keeping moving, preventing Pope from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope advances to half guard.

Pope is working for a submission of some sort.
Pope scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope lands with a punch from half guard.
Nicolai Demikovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demikovic tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Pope manages to move to mount!
Pope with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Demikovic in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

It looks like Nicolai Demikovic has been cut.
Demikovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pope putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Pope showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pope, 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Pope!
An out of breath Jesus Pope thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.