PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Petty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Petty
vs
Popo

212 cm
23
194 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

200 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rayford Petty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, William Popo!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petty drives through and clinches with Popo against the cage.
Petty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Popo's efforts to push away.
Popo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Petty tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Popo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Petty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Popo's efforts to push away.
Popo is trying to force a seperation but Petty has the dominant position.

Petty ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Petty no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Popo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Popo wanted to stand there but Petty had control of the position.

Popo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Popo throws a sloppy head kick and Petty moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Popo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Petty looks for a takedown but Popo sprawls well.
Petty fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popo avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Petty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Popo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Rayford Petty has been cut.
Popo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Petty scores with a takedown into Popo's guard.

Petty stands and steps away. Popo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo swinging wildly here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Petty has managed to clinch.
Popo is looking to break free of the clinch but Petty has double underhooks.
Popo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Popo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Popo manages to break the clinch.
Popo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Popo misses with a few strikes there.
Petty shoots in but no luck this time.
Popo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popo connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petty shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Petty checks a leg kick.
Popo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Petty gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Popo tries to circle away but Petty has him pinned against the cage.
Popo has had enough of the clinch but Petty keeps him there for the moment.

Petty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Petty looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Popo!
Popo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Petty is controlling him well.

Popo explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Popo misses with the combination.
William Popo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popo misses with a double jab.

Petty darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Petty will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Petty stands up from half guard.
Petty is breathing heavily.
Petty misses with a takedown attempt - Popo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Petty showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popo.
Sloppy strikes from Popo. Those never looked like landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popo misses with a combination

and Petty moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but William Popo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rayford Petty's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Popo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Petty moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Popo gets tackled into the cage by Petty. Petty maintains the clinch.
Petty jumps guard but Popo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Popo tries to break free but Petty pushes him back against the cage.
Popo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Petty really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Petty fails to pull guard.
Petty tries to pull guard but Popo won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Petty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Petty tries to pull guard but Popo holds him up against the cage and eventually Petty drops back down to his feet.
Petty prevents Popo from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petty has clasped his hands together around Popo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Petty cracks Popo with a big elbow.
Popo is trying to get back to his feet.
Petty lands a decent elbow from side control.
Petty landing a few strikes.
Popo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Petty has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Popo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Petty stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Popo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Petty takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Popo misses with a wild combination.
Sloppy strikes from Popo. Those never looked like landing.
Popo is breathing heavily.
Petty tries to close the distance and clinch but Popo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
William Popo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popo misses with a wild combination.
Petty showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popo.
Popo lands a jab to the nose.
Petty fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
William Popo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Popo misses.
William Popo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Petty dives in for a single leg takedown but Popo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Popo tries to break the clinch but Petty is controlling the position.
Popo wants to get back to striking at distance but Petty won't allow it.
Petty is trying to pull guard but Popo has him pressed against the cage.
Popo has had enough of the clinch but Petty keeps him there for the moment.
Popo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petty has him pressed against the cage.
Popo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Popo tries to break the clinch but Petty is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Petty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petty showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popo.
Petty avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Good exchange - Popo coming out on top.
Popo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Petty shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Petty closes the distance and clinches.
Popo is trying to break the clinch but Petty is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Popo breaks from the clinch.
Popo misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A combination from Popo does no damage.
Petty wants to clinch.
Popo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Popo misses with a body shot.
Popo throws a series of punches but Petty moves out of range.
Petty shoots for a double leg takedown but Popo sprawls well. He's pushed Petty's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Petty shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Popo but Popo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Popo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Petty slips a jab and a cross from Popo.
Popo looks to land a combination but Petty avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Petty moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Popo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Popo. Those never looked like landing.
Petty shoots for a double leg takedown but Popo sprawls well. He's pushed Petty's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Petty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Petty showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popo.
Popo fails to land with a series of punches.
Popo stuffs the takedown.
Popo scores with a three punch combo!
Popo throws a combination that misses

and Petty counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Popo's guard now.

Petty decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Popo, up you get!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petty fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Petty shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popo is looking to escape.

Petty is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Popo sees it coming and defends easily.
Popo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Petty is looking for a kimura here.

Popo manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Popo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Petty counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Petty manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Popo on his heels. He'll look to pass Popo's guard now, I'm sure.

Popo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Petty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Popo's efforts to push away.
Popo tries to break free but Petty pushes him back against the cage.
Popo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Popo wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Petty jumps guard but Popo stands there with Petty around his waist. Petty gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Petty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petty looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Popo swinging wildly here.
Popo misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Petty dodges the punch combination from Popo.
Rayford Petty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
William Popo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Popo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to William Popo.
I've got Popo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Popo!