PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ezra Pound (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Bellec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bellec has chosen Amazing - Kanye West as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pound
vs
Bellec

181 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ezra Pound!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce Bellec!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pound moves into range and clinches up with Bellec.
Pound landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bellec prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pound connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Bruce Bellec has been cut.
Bellec tries to break the clinch but Pound is controlling the position.

Pound tightens his grip and picks Bellec up, before dumping him to the ground. Bellec manages to land in guard.
Bellec keeping moving, preventing Pound from controlling successfully.
Bellec wants to stand but Pound is controlling the position.
Pound is pushing down on Bellec's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bellec is fighting to maintain full guard but Pound has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bellec tries to get to full guard but Pound has control of the leg.
Pound wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bellec keeps working.
Bellec moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pound wants to control from the top but Bellec keeps moving.
Pound with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pound lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bellec wants to stand up but Pound is controlling him.
Pound content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bellec wants to hit a switch here but Pound passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bellec there!
Pound with the ground and pound from mount.
Pound 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.
Pound pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pound cracks Bellec with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bellec is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pound with the ground and pound from mount.
Bellec's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Pound wants to finish this one by submission but Bellec is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pound.
Pound in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bellec is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pound scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pound landing strikes from the mount and Bellec is in trouble!
Bellec can't escape the position.
Bellec really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pound. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bellec tries to hold on but Pound pushes him away.
Bellec taking shots to the head.
Bellec is looking to improve his position but Pound isn't that keen on the idea.
Bellec tries to buck Pound off but he can't manage it.
The referee warns Bellec that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bellec keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pound controlling his opponent.
Bellec is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pound with the ground and pound from mount.
Bellec is trying to stand.
Pound tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bellec tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pound landing punches.
Bellec tries to hold on but Pound pushes him away.
Pound lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bellec is trying to escape the mount.
Bellec looks gassed!
Pound is landing with some decent strikes but Bellec is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pound prevents Bellec from getting the reversal.
Pound takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bellec wants to control but Pound is having none of it.
Bellec is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pound pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pound scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bellec?
Pound lands a big shot there that rocks Bellec but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bellec is looking to improve his position but Pound isn't that keen on the idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bellec can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bellec is in a horrible position here. Pound smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezra Pound dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruce Bellec's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bellec misses with a jab, cross combination.

Pound takes the fight into the clinch.
Pound lands an elbow just above Bellec 's eye.
Bellec is trying to break free.
Pound scores with a knee to the head.
Pound landing knees to the head.

Pound ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pound no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bellec must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bellec throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pound looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pound has a closed guard, preventing Bellec from standing up.

Pound looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pound trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bellec with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bellec distracts Pound with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bellecis looking to pass into half guard but Pound pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pound is in guard.
Pound prevents Bellec from getting back to his feet.
Bellec is breathing heavily.

Pound is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pound trying to control the position from guard on top but Bellec is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pound preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bellec avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bellec's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bellec duly obliges.
Bellec throws a sloppy head kick and Pound moves out of range easily.
Pound fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bruce Bellec is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pound shoots for a takedown but Bellec saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pound wants to clinch.
Bellec moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pound is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bellec.
Bellec clobbers Pound with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Pound moves into the clinch.

Bellec ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bellec no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Pound trying to control but Bellec is working from the bottom.
Bellec is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bellec keeping moving, preventing Pound from controlling successfully.
Pound is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bellec is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bellec wants to hit a switch here but Pound passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bellec there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellec really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ezra Pound overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pound unloading with bombs!
Bellec is desperately trying to improve his position but Pound has a good base and remains in mount.
Bellec in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pound with good strikes from the mount here!
Bellec really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pound landing shots from mount.
Bellec tries to hold on but Pound postures up.
Pound working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bellec is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Pound looking to finish Bellec with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bellec!
Pound dominating with strikes here.
Bellec is trying desperately to improve position.

Pound looking to secure an arm triangle but Bellec defends it well.
Bellec flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bellec is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bellec in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bellec is desperately trying to improve his position but Pound has a good base and remains in mount.
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 Ezra Pound will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bruce Bellec's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pound keeps the fight on the outside.
Pound tries to clinch but Bellec moves out of range.
Pound tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bruce Bellec seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pound tries to clinch
and Bellec counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bellec tries to close the distance and clinch but Pound swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pound takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Bellec lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Bellec tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bellec misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Pound takes the fight into the clinch.
Bellec is trying to stall.
Bellec is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pound throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bellec blocks it with crossed arms.
Bellec is looking to break free of the clinch but Pound has double underhooks.
Pound with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pound gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bellec fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pound connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bellec's face.
Pound prevents Bellec from breaking the clinch.
Pound lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bellec tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knees to the body from Pound.
Bellec tries to break the clinch but Pound is controlling the position.
Bellec has had enough of the clinch but Pound keeps him there for the moment.
Pound lands an elbow inside that Bellec shrugs off.
Bellec wants to break free but Pound has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bellec creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pound lands an elbow just above Bellec 's eye.
Bellec wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pound unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bellec lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pound tries a knee to the head but Bellec blocks it.
Pound drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bellec pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bruce Bellec is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bellec throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pound avoids the head kick by Bellec.
Bellec tries to clinch but Pound moves out of range.
Bellec keeps the fight on the outside.
Bellec will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bellec swinging wilding here.
Pound misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bellec throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bellec stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezra Pound. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bellec tries to clinch but Pound moves out of range.
Pound clinches but Bellec breaks the clinch
and Bellec counters with a right hand to the body.
Bellec throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pound stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bellec scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellec misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bellec throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pound.
Pound tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bellec paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bellec's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bellec duly obliges.
Bellec misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pound wants to clinch but Bellec slips to the side
and Bellec counters with a series of strikes. Pound will be more careful next time no doubt.

Pound moves into the clinch.
Bellec wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pound has him pressed against the cage.
Pound is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bellec gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bellec wants to get back to striking at distance but Pound won't allow it.
Pound landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pound missing with knees to the body.
The is referee keeping an eye on Bellec - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pound prevents Bellec from breaking the clinch.
Bellec is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pound as Bellec tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pound comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pound lands a knee to the body.
Bellec takes an elbow to the temple.
Pound creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bellec's defenses.
Bellec is looking to break free of the clinch but Pound has double underhooks.
Bellec misses with some punches.
Pound landing knees to the body.
Pound landing knees to the body.
Pound keeps control of Bellec as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pound lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pound fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pound throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Pound has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bellec uses from the top position.
Bellec postures up in Pound's guard and throws a big left but Pound blocks it.
Bellec looking to pass the guard.
Bellec throws and elbow that misses. Pound uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bellec's guard. Nice move by Pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Bellec comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pound has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Roberts scores the fight for Ezra Pound!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Ezra Pound!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Ezra Pound!

Ezra Pound wins by unanimous decision!