PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robo Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes to the cage accompanied by Ghost - Monstrance Clock. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ross's choice of entrance music: Boom. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pope
vs
Ross

225 cm
27
344 lbs
5 - 24 - 0

191 cm
19
300 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 24 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robo Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ross!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pope sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Ross gets a takedown into half guard.
Ross keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ross's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Ross has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ross has eaten all the pies!
Ross wants to control but Pope is keeping him busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ross stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pope definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ross shoots in looking for a takedown. Pope tries to sprawl out of it but Ross keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pope manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pope slaps away a takedown attempt from Ross, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Robo Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pope throws a body shot but no joy.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ross was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Ross shoots in but Pope avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pope throws a body shot but no joy.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ross looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Ross persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Robo Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pope. Ross does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ross fails with a takedown attempt.
Pope is looking to wear down Ross with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ross was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Ross fails to land the takedown.
Ross looks winded!
Pope throws a sloppy body shot

and Ross counters with a single leg into guard. Pope didn't expect that.
Ross is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Pope manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pope swings for the body but Ross moves out of range.
Pope stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pope wants it to stay on the feet.
Pope throws a body punch but Ross moves out of range.
Pope swings away with a body shot that misses

so Ross counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ross wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross prevents Pope from getting back to his feet.
Pope on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pope tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ross trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Ross stops Pope from standing up.
Ross slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pope misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Ross decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pope's guard.
Ross won't allow Pope to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pope can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ross controls the pace.
Ross stops Pope from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Ross dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pope takes a swing at Ross's ribcage but misses.
Pope stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pope wants it to stay on the feet.
Pope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ross manages to avoid it.
Ross has a takedown stuffed.

Ross throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pope tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ross is in Pope's guard.

Pope pushes Ross off and gets back to his feet.
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.

Ross feints and as Pope raises his hands in defense, Ross changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
Ross wants to pass the guard but Pope is keeping the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ross is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ross is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
Rick Ross has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pope has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ross has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ross keeps control of Pope as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Pope wants to break free but Ross has control.
Ross has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pope avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Robo Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.
Pope wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ross has him pressed against the cage.
Pope has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Ross has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pope down to the mat. Pope avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.
Robo Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pope as he avoids it easily.
Pope misses with a wild body shot.
Pope misses with a shot to the body

and Ross counters with a takedown into side control.

Pope throws Ross to one side and escapes!
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!
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.
Pope throws a body shot but no joy.
Ross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pope but Pope pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.
Pope swings away with a body shot that misses

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pope won't be happy with that.
Pope is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ross is controlling him well.
Ross tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ross has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ross tries to score with some ground and pound. Pope controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ross looking to control but instead Pope has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ross is just content to waste time from the top position. Pope takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ross slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ross is in close to Pope's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ross prevents Pope from getting back to his feet.
Ross controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ross or perhaps it was just good defense by Pope, which made it look bad.
Ross shoots in and drives through. Pope sprawls well.
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ross.
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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 Robo Pope will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ross closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pope circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Ross scores with a takedown into Pope's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pope is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ross presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Pope is trying to push Ross away but Ross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ross is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pope gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pope wants to get back to striking at distance but Ross won't allow it.
Ross is looking for a takedown.
Robo Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.
Ross prevents Pope from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope is trying to push Ross away but Ross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pope stops a takedown attempt from Ross.
Ross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.
Ross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pope has had enough of the clinch but Ross keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross has Pope pressed against the cage, preventing Pope from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ross has Pope pressed against the cage, preventing Pope from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ross keeps control of Pope as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pope wants to get back to striking at distance but Ross won't allow it.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Pope misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Ross counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ross.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Pope manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Pope tries to break free but Ross pushes him back against the cage.
Pope tries to circle away but Ross has him pinned against the cage.
Ross is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ross is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ross goes for a takedown attempt but Pope pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pope misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ross.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ross shoots in and drives through. Pope sprawls well.
Pope swings for the body but Ross moves out of range.
Pope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ross manages to avoid it.
Ross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Robo Pope is winning the standup battle so far.
Pope swings for the body but Ross moves out of range.
Pope throws a body punch but Ross moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope looks to score with a jab to the body but Ross is just out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross avoids the body shot from Pope.
Ross avoids the body shot from Pope.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope misses with a hook to the body

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ross trying to control from half guard but Pope is working away.
Ross is looking to stall here but Pope recovers full guard.
Ross trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is looking to pass into half guard but Pope pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pope is in guard.

Pope gets to his feet - Ross follows without any prompting.
Ross will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ross shoots for a double leg takedown but Pope sprawls well. He's pushed Ross's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pope throws a body shot but no joy.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ross was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Pope swings for the body but Ross moves out of range.
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robo Pope showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pope 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Robo Pope!
Robo Pope took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Thank you for your cooperation. God bless.'.
The defeated Rick Ross had this to say: 'Im a big nig and i dont take this crap.'.