PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robo Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pope's choice of entrance music: Ghost - Monstrance Clock. Robo Pope looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Dela Cruz
vs
Pope

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dennis Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robo Pope!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dela Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dela Cruz thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pope if he has to take too many more of those.
Pope looks winded!
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

Dela Cruz clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.

Dela Cruz breaks from the clinch.

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

It looks like Robo Pope has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dela Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz shoots in but Pope avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dennis Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dela Cruz is looking to clinch.
Dela Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.

Dela Cruz drives through and clinches with Pope against the cage.
Dela Cruz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dela Cruz can't get the takedown.

Dela Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice body kick.

Dela Cruz has Pope up against the cage in a clinch.
Dela Cruz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling him.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Dela Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pope down to the mat. Pope avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Dela Cruz circles away.
Dela Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pope defends it nicely.

Dela Cruz forces Pope back against the cage and clinches.
Dela Cruz working Pope over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Dela Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Pope tries to clinch but Dela Cruz moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dela Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Dela Cruz circles away.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Robo Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dela Cruz fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Pope as Dela Cruz shoots in.
Pope tries to clinch up but Dela Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dela Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope tries to clinch but Dela Cruz is having none of it.
Good leg kick by Dela Cruz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Horrible takedown by Dela Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Pope which made him look bad.

Pope moves into the clinch successfully.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dela Cruz is trying to pull guard but Pope has him pressed against the cage.
Pope is trying to break free.
Dela Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pope smiles and moves away.
Dela Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dela Cruz tries to clinch there but Pope circles away.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pope has closed the distance and engaged Dela Cruz in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Dela Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Pope tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Dela Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robo Pope's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dela Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Dela Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dela Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Pope gets a clinch.

Dela Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dela Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Pope sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pope takes a knee to the side of the body.

Dela Cruz jumps guard and drags Pope to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pope prevents Dela Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Dela Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dela Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Pope sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dennis Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dela Cruz has Pope pressed against the cage, preventing Pope from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Dela Cruz jumps guard and drags Pope to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Dela Cruz is working an open guard so Pope takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Dela Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dela Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has Pope backing up. Pope nods at Dela Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.

That has opened up Robo Pope's cut even more.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling the position.

Dela Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz lands a two punch combo.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Dela Cruz pushes him off.
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Pope swats away the attempt to clinch by Dela Cruz.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Dela Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pope is looking to clinch but Dela Cruz is avoiding it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dela Cruz counters with a body kick.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dela Cruz dives in and grabs Pope's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pope pushes down on Dela Cruz's head and hops out.
Dela Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Pope tries to clinch there but Dela Cruz circles away.
Pope has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pope tries to clinch there but Dela Cruz circles away.
Pope wants to clinch.

Pope closes the distance and pushes Dela Cruz back into the cage.
Dela Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pope to keep the fight standing.
Pope is trying to break free.

Dela Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries to clinch but Dela Cruz is having none of it.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Dela Cruz pushes him off.
Pope tries to clinch there but Dela Cruz circles away.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dela Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dela Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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!

Dela Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dela Cruz connects with a nice looking jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Robo Pope will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Robo Pope's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dela Cruz lands with a straight right. Pope didn't see that one coming.

Dela Cruz lands a big head kick that sends Pope tumbling to the mat! Dela Cruz takes a step backwards and waves Pope back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope leaves Dela Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pope but Pope pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pope tries to clinch but Dela Cruz moves out of range.

Pope fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dela Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Dela Cruz prevents Pope from breaking the clinch.
Dela Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dennis Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pope pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling him.
Dela Cruz looking for a takedown.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dennis Dela Cruz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling the position.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Pope wants to get back to striking at distance but Dela Cruz won't allow it.
Dela Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Dela Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pope in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Dela Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dela Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pope wants it to stay on the feet.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Pope closes the distance and clinches.

Dela Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Dela Cruz scores with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dela Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries to clinch but Dela Cruz moves out of range.
Dennis Dela Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to clinch up but Dela Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dela Cruz counters with a right hand to the body.
Dennis Dela Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Dela Cruz pushes him off.
Pope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries to clinch up but Dela Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Dela Cruz pushes him off.
Pope tries to clinch but Dela Cruz is having none of it.
Pope wants to clinch up but Dela Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Pope tries to clinch up but Dela Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Dela Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dela Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pope sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Pope gets a clinch.
Pope can't break the clinch.
Pope tries to break free but Dela Cruz pushes him back against the cage.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling the position.
Dela Cruz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pope is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dennis Dela Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dela Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dennis Dela Cruz!
The defeated Robo Pope had this to say: 'Vengeance is mine.'.