PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brant Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Monazelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brant Poole has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Poole
vs
Monazelo

182 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

199 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brant Poole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricky Monazelo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Monazelo looking to score a takedown here. Poole is defending well but Monazelo drives through and ends up in Poole's guard.
Monazelo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poole swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Poole is trying to keep Monazelo in close.
Monazelo is pushing down on Poole's leg trying to pass to half guard. Poole is fighting to maintain full guard but Monazelo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Poole is defending against the submission attempts here by Monazelo.
Monazelo thows a huge punch but Poole dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monazelo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poole does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Monazelo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poole defends it well.
Monazelo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poole's head.
Monazelo tries to pass to full mount but Poole defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monazelo moves nicely into side control.
Monazelo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Poole struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monazelo throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Monazelo tries to advance to mount but Poole denies him.
Poole manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Monazelo is just content to waste time from the top position. Poole takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Monazelo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poole wants to stand up but Monazelo is controlling him.

Poole throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Monazelo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monazelo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Monazelo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Monazelo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poole keeps working.
Well, if Monazelo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Monazelo is looking to stall here but Poole recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monazelo is stalling in the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Ricky Monazelo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Poole tries to clinch up.

Monazelo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Monazelo.
Monazelo tries to break the clinch but Poole is controlling the position.

Monazelo has Poole pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Monazelo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Poole tumbling to the mat - Monazelo dives into Poole's guard.
Monazelo advances to half guard.

Monazelo wants to work for an arm triangle but Poole is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Poole pushes Monazelo off looking to stand but Monazelo dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole wants to control but Monazelo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Monazelo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Monazelo seems to be working for a kimura but Poole defends the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Monazelo seems content to control.
Poole is trying to stand.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Monazelo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poole does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monazelo postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Poole to stand up.

Monazelo gets the takedown into side control.
Poole parries the strikes from Monazelo easily there. Monazelo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Poole to escape.

Monazelo stands up.

Monazelo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Monazelo slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monazelo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Monazelo misses with a two punch combination.
Poole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Monazelo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Monazelo tries to clinch up.

Monazelo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Poole looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ricky Monazelo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Monazelo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Monazelo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Poole's guard.
Monazelo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monazelo wants to pass the guard but Poole is keeping the position.
Poole has control of Monazelo's left arm, preventing Monazelo from doing any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ricky Monazelo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Monazelo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Poole counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Poole.
Poole is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Monazelo is keeping busy.
Monazelo prevents the takedown attempt.
Poole tries to stall but Monazelo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Monazelo blocking some punches.
Poole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Monazelo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Monazelo being controlled against the cage.
Poole tries to pull guard but Monazelo won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brant Poole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee calls for Monazelo to work.
Monazelo wants to get back to striking at distance but Poole won't allow it.
Poole looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Monazelo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Monazelo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Poole is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Monazelo to keep the fight standing.
A left hand lands to the body for Monazelo.
Monazelo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Poole is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Monazelo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Monazelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Monazelo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Poole being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monazelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricky Monazelo was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Monazelo has managed to clinch.

Monazelo gets control of Poole's arms and successfully pulls guard. Monazelo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Monazelo pulls Poole in close to his closed guard and prevents Poole from doing any damage or advancing position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Monazelo wants to control but Poole passes easily into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Monazelo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Monazelo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Monazelo!