PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seth Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LeBron James will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Pope
vs
James

187 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Seth Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, LeBron James!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pope has managed to clinch.
Pope prevents a takedown attempt there.

James has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Pope is trying to keep an underhook but James manages to get the takedown into half guard.
James with the ground and pound but Pope uses the opportunity to regain guard.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
Pope throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Pope looking to control.

Pope is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pope. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pope controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
Pope could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James postures up in Pope's guard and throws a big left but Pope blocks it.
James keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pope's head.

It looks like Seth Pope has been cut.
James postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James scoring with some ground and pound.
James throwing strikes from guard but Pope blocks nicely.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pope trying to control the position.

Pope working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James is working Pope over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pope's head.
Pope is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pope is breathing heavily.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James preventing the sweep.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pope has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Pope.
James working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Pope is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
Oh Pope is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
James is working Pope over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
James arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Pope's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). LeBron James!