PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Suleman Pokong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Dimagiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Dimagiba will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Pokong
vs
Dimagiba

175 cm
24
170 lbs
8 - 10 - 1

186 cm
26
175 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Suleman Pokong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jose Dimagiba!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dimagiba lands a high kick!
Dimagiba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pokong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dimagiba is looking to slow Pokong down with leg kicks.
Dimagiba moves forwards but Pokong connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pokong closes the distance and clinches up with Dimagiba, looking for a takedown. Pokong pushes Dimagiba against the cage but Dimagiba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pokong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dimagiba manages to avoid it.
Pokong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dimagiba.
A jab from Dimagiba does it's job there.

Dimagiba drives through and clinches with Pokong against the cage.
Dimagiba lands an elbow inside that Pokong shrugs off.
Pokong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Dimagiba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pokong is looking to chop away at Dimagiba's legs.
Pokong swats away the attempt to clinch by Dimagiba.
Pokong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dimagiba tries to clinch up.
Pokong throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dimagiba stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pokong doesn't manage to clinch there - Dimagiba circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dimagiba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Pokong's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dimagiba closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Pokong connects with a body shot.
Dimagiba takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dimagiba misses with a series of wild punches.
Pokong cracks Dimagiba with an open hand slap.
Pokong misses with the combination.

Dimagiba drives through and clinches with Pokong against the cage.
Dimagiba throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pokong.
Dimagiba is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pokong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pokong definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Suleman Pokong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dimagiba lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pokong backwards.
Pokong is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dimagiba to keep the fight standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dimagiba lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Pokong breaks from the clinch.
Jose Dimagiba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pokong lands a two punch combo.

Dimagiba forces Pokong back against the cage and clinches.
Dimagiba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dimagiba is trying to force a seperation but Pokong has the dominant position.
Pokong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pokong dodges an elbow strike from Dimagiba.
Dimagiba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pokong tries to circle away but Dimagiba has him pinned against the cage.
Nice body punch from Pokong.
Dimagiba misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Dimagiba.
Dimagiba lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Dimagiba breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dimagiba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dimagiba throws a right hand that Pokong ducks under and follows up with a left that Pokong also avoids with ease.
Pokong looks to score with a jab to the body but Dimagiba is just out of range.
Dimagiba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pokong misses with a looping left.
Some wild striking there from Dimagiba.
Pokong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pokong throws a nice looking combination but Dimagiba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Dimagiba takes the fight into the clinch.

Pokong breaks from the clinch.

Dimagiba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dimagiba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pokong blocks it with crossed arms.
Dimagiba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dimagiba lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pokong backwards.
Dimagiba working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pokong presses Dimagiba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Dimagiba looking to throw knees to the head but Pokong is blocking nicely.
Dimagiba lands an elbow just above Pokong 's eye.
Dimagiba lands a good knee to the midsection. Pokong won't want to take too many of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dimagiba misses with an elbow strike.
Pokong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dimagiba.

Dimagiba breaks the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dimagiba moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pokong jumps guard but Dimagiba turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Dimagiba dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dimagiba moves away.
Pokong lands with a good body shot.
Pokong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dimagiba.
Pokong throws a head kick that half lands.
Dimagiba is looking to clinch.
Dimagiba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pokong is looking to wear down Dimagiba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pokong misses with a head kick.
Pokong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dimagiba shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pokong eats them both and turns towards Dimagiba to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Pokong misses the shot to the body.
Dimagiba throws a head kick but Pokong moves out of range.
Pokong is looking to clinch but Dimagiba is avoiding it.

Dimagiba moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dimagiba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pokong backwards.
Dimagiba working hard to break the clinch.
Dimagiba working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dimagiba with a knee to the head.
Pokong avoids a wild elbow strike from Dimagiba.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Dimagiba 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokong tries to pull guard but Dimagiba holds him up against the cage and eventually Pokong drops back down to his feet.

Dimagiba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dimagiba feints a jab promting Pokong to slip. Dimagiba then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pokong slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Dimagiba looks to land a combination. Pokong sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A right-left combo lands from Pokong.

It looks like Jose Dimagiba has been cut.
Dimagiba blocks a leg kick.
Dimagiba misses with a low kick.
Suleman Pokong is winning the standup battle so far.

Dimagiba takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dimagiba breaks from the clinch.
Dimagiba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pokong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dimagiba lands with a slapping head kick.
Dimagiba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokong lands with a good body shot.
Dimagiba tries to close the distance and clinch but Pokong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Pokong moves into the clinch successfully.

Pokong successfully pulls guard.
Dimagiba slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Dimagiba stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dimagiba is looking to clinch.
Pokong is looking to clinch but Dimagiba is avoiding it.
Dimagiba lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Dimagiba moves in looking to clinch but Pokong pushes him off.
Dimagiba is looking to clinch.
Dimagiba blocks a leg kick.

Dimagiba darts in and clinches Pokong up against the cage.
Dimagiba with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pokong wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Dimagiba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pokong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dimagiba was well out of range. Poor timing from Pokong.
Pokong looks to score with a jab to the body but Dimagiba is just out of range.
Suleman Pokong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Pokong has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dimagiba finds it's way round the side to connect with Pokong's head.
Jose Dimagiba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dimagiba blocks a low kick nicely.
Dimagiba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dimagiba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pokong checks a leg kick.
Dimagiba dodges the punch combination from Pokong.
Dimagiba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pokong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pokong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pokong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dimagiba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dimagiba misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokong blocks a leg kick.
Pokong throws a shot to the body.
Pokong chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dimagiba can pounce on him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dimagiba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pokong.
Pokong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dimagiba was well out of range. Poor timing from Pokong.
Dimagiba tries to clinch up.
Pokong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dimagiba lands with a nice combination. Pokong backs away looking to recover.
Pokong lands a nice hook to Dimagiba's body. Dimagiba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dimagiba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pokong.
Pokong connects with a high kick.
Dimagiba is looking to clinch but Pokong is avoiding it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pokong tries a low kick but Dimagiba avoids it.
Pokong throws a sloppy head kick
and Dimagiba counters with a stiff right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pokong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pokong swats away the attempt to clinch by Dimagiba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suleman Pokong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jose Dimagiba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dimagiba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dimagiba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pokong paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Dimagiba clinches up with Pokong and pushes him back against the cage.
Dimagiba keeps control of Pokong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dimagiba fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dimagiba tries a knee to the head but Pokong blocks it.
Pokong avoids the elbow strike from Dimagiba, against the cage.
Pokong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pokong blocking some punches.
Dimagiba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pokong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dimagiba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pokong blocks it with crossed arms.
Dimagiba looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dimagiba fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokong has Dimagiba pressed against the cage, preventing Dimagiba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Pokong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dimagiba works the jab nicely.
Pokong takes one to the chin there.
Pokong shoots in for a takedown but Dimagiba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pokong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dimagiba throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Pokong instigates a clinch.

Dimagiba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dimagiba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dimagiba has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Some wild striking there from Dimagiba.
Pokong ducks under a wild hook from Dimagiba.
Pokong lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Pokong ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pokong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dimagiba moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dimagiba slips a jab and a cross from Pokong.
A head kick misses from Dimagiba.

Pokong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dimagiba throws an elbow that misses.
Pokong blocks an uppercut.
Dimagiba looking to throw knees to the head but Pokong is blocking nicely.
Pokong can't break the clinch.
Dimagiba presses Pokong against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Dimagiba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pokong blocks it with crossed arms.
Pokong blocks an elbow strike.
Dimagiba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pokong blocks the elbow strike.

Pokong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dimagiba is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Pokong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dimagiba avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Dimagiba. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dimagiba.
Pokong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Suleman Pokong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dimagiba moves away.
Pokong lands a body shot.
Dimagiba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pokong misses the shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dimagiba clinches up with Pokong and pushes him back against the cage.
Dimagiba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dimagiba scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dimagiba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Dimagiba lands a left hand.
Pokong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba misses with an elbow strike.
Pokong blocking some punches.
Pokong dodges an elbow strike from Dimagiba.
Pokong wants to get back to striking at distance but Dimagiba won't allow it.
Pokong blocks an elbow strike from Dimagiba.
Dimagiba looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pokong is looking to break free of the clinch but Dimagiba has double underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Dimagiba scores with a nice short uppercut.
Jose Dimagiba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pokong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pokong blocks an elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dimagiba.
Dimagiba creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Pokong blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dimagiba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pokong's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Dimagiba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dimagiba has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Dimagiba!
In his post fight interview, Jose Dimagiba started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.