PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brant Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kriss Toferston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Poole
vs
Toferston

182 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

195 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Windy Fight Gear

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 1 - 6 - 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, Kriss Toferston!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toferston gets the takedown into side control.
Poole is trying to get back to his feet.

Toferston goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Poole has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Toferston but great work by Poole.
Toferston tries to improve position but can't.
Toferston is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Poole asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Toferston sneaks out the side door and pushes Poole away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Toferston fails in his attempt to clinch.

Toferston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Poole to the mat! Poole manages to get full guard.
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!
Toferston throwing strikes from guard but Poole blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toferston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Toferston is standing up over Poole. Poole looks to escape but Toferston dives into side control.
Toferston misses with the ground and pound.
Poole tries to bench press Toferston off him but Toferston keeps the position.
Poole managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Toferston.

Toferston goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Poole has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Toferston but great work by Poole.
Toferston parries the strikes from Poole easily there. Poole is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Toferston to escape.
Toferston on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poole is trying to get an arm triangle but Toferston is defending well.
Toferston wants to get back to his feet but Poole drags him back down.
Poole tries to stand but Toferston is controlling his head.
Toferston tries to escape but Poole is in control.

Poole stands up and we're back to a striking position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Toferston fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Poole sprawls well initially but Toferston persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toferston thows a huge punch but Poole dodges it nicely.
Toferston thows a huge punch but Poole dodges it nicely.
Toferston thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poole's head.
Toferston is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Poole is trying to control but can't.
Toferston wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poole keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poole moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toferston trying to control the position from guard on top but Poole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Poole wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kriss Toferston has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Toferston tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Toferston darts in and clinches Poole up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kriss Toferston dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Poole has a takedown stuffed.

Toferston rushes Poole and presses him up against the cage.

Toferston is trying to trip Poole. He has hold of a leg but Poole is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Toferston persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Toferston throwing strikes from guard but Poole blocks nicely.
Toferston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poole is keeping the position for now.
Toferston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Poole works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Toferston throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toferston wants to pass the guard but Poole is keeping the position.
Poole avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Toferston seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Toferston throws a big elbow that misses.
Toferston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Toferston pushes down on Poole's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toferston stops Poole from getting back to his feet.
Toferston throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Poole to regain full guard.
Poole working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Toferston.
Toferston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Toferston throws a big right hand that misses.
Poole tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Poole keeping moving, preventing Toferston from controlling successfully.
Toferston looking to sit in guard and control but Poole gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kriss Toferston has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toferston controls Poole momentarily but Poole frees himself.
Toferston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Toferston working a defensive guard here.

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

Toferston scores with a takedown into Poole's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toferston tries to free his leg and advance position but Poole is retaining full guard.
Poole is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Toferston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Poole is controlling Toferston's posture.

Toferston drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Poole manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Toferston has Poole in his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Toferston holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kriss Toferston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Toferston tries to close the distance and clinch but Poole swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poole tries to clinch up.
Toferston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poole swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Toferston tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Toferston looks to clinch

and Poole counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Poole.
Poole tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Toferston smiles and moves away.

Toferston looking to score a takedown here. Poole is defending well but Toferston drives through and ends up in Poole's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toferston throws a big elbow that misses.
Toferston throws an elbow that misses. Poole uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Toferston's guard. Nice move by Poole!
Toferston has a closed guard, preventing Poole from standing up.
Poole trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Toferston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toferston working a defensive guard here.
Poole is looking to work some ground and pound but Toferston has wrist control.
Toferston wants to control the position but Poole says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Toferston moves into full guard.
Poole throwing strikes from guard but Toferston blocks nicely.
Toferston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poole.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toferston looking to control.
Toferston might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Poole haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Toferston is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Toferston has his foot on Poole's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Poole works his way back into a safe position though.
Poole tries to stand but Toferston is controlling from the bottom.
Poole throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toferston wants to get back to his feet but Poole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Poole wants to stand but Toferston has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Poole might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kriss Toferston wasn't active enough on the ground.
Toferston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Poole manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Poole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brant Poole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kriss Toferston is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Toferston closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Poole did well to prevent Toferston getting side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kriss Toferston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Toferston 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kriss Toferston!