PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyon Okiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes into the arena with For Whom The Bell Tolls blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Pope
vs
Okiro

190 cm
33
213 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

200 cm
38
219 lbs
30 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

MB Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyon Okiro!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope closes the distance looking to clinch
and Okiro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Okiro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pope.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Okiro looking to slow down the pace here.
Okiro avoids the elbow strike from Pope, against the cage.
Pope has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Okiro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Okiro is trying to break free.
Okiro pushes Pope back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pope misses with an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pope as Okiro tries to tie him up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Pope throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Okiro throws a head punch that misses.
Pope gets through Okiro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Okiro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Okiro has him pressed against the cage.
Okiro trying to control the position but instead, Pope has worked for underhooks and has pushed Okiro into the cage.
Okiro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Okiro has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Pope moves into the clinch.
Pope lands an elbow inside that Okiro shrugs off.
Pope blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Pope breaks the clinch.

Okiro closes the distance and clinches.

Okiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries to clinch but Okiro is having none of it.
Okiro takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Pope tries to clinch but Okiro is having none of it.
A left lands for Okiro.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okiro throws a right hand that Pope ducks under and follows up with a left that Pope also avoids with ease.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pope, as that shot connected.
Okiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is looking to clinch but Okiro is avoiding it.
Pope tries a head kick but it misses.

Okiro clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Okiro.
Pope throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Okiro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Okiro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pope on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Pope closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pope lands an elbow inside that Okiro shrugs off.
Okiro blocks an elbow strike from Pope.
Pope lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Okiro backwards.
Pope looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pope blocks a body shot from Okiro.
Okiro is trying to maintain a safe position but Pope gets an underhook and turns Okiro into the cage.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Okiro has Pope pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Okiro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Okiro is controlling him.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Okiro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Okiro lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Okiro breaks from the clinch.
Okiro tries to clinch there but Pope circles away.
Pope wants to clinch up but Okiro keeps it at a distance.
Michael Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.

Okiro has closed the distance and engaged Pope in a clinch.
Pope lands a nice uppercut.

Okiro breaks the clinch.
Pope tries to clinch there but Okiro circles away.

Okiro pushes Pope up against the cage in a clinch.
Okiro stalling in the clinch but Pope improves position.
Okiro has a couple of punches blocked by Pope.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Okiro misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with some punches.
Okiro blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okiro.
Pope pushes off an throws an elbow but Okiro leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Okiro looking to slow down the pace here.
Pope lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okiro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pope's elbow.
Okiro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Okiro.
Pope lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Okiro backwards.
Pope blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okiro misses with the head strike.
Okiro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Okiro breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Okiro lands the left hand.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Okiro.
Okiro misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A swing and a miss from Pope.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Okiro throws a right hand that misses
and Pope connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pope has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Okiro.
Okiro throws out a powerful jab.
Pope tries a head kick but it misses.
Okiro misses with an uppercut. Pope saw that one coming.
Michael Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pope instigates a clinch.
Okiro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Okiro swings wildly with an uppercut but Pope uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pope blocks a body shot from Okiro.
Okiro blocks an elbow strike from Pope.
Okiro avoids a wild elbow strike from Pope.
Pope wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Okiro has him pressed against the cage.
Okiro is trying to stall.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okiro lands a right hand.
Okiro has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pope gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Michael Pope has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Okiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Okiro misses the shot to the body.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Okiro pushes him off.
Okiro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okiro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope is looking to clinch but Okiro is avoiding it.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Okiro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Okiro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope dodges the punch combination from Okiro.
Okiro misses with a body kick.
Okiro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Okiro lands a jab.
Okiro scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pope doesn't seem bothered though.
Okiro lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Okiro throws a nice looking combination but Pope bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pope takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okiro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Okiro wants to counter with a clinch but Pope pushes him away.
Okiro swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pope.
Pope wants to clinch.

Pope connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Okiro to the floor! Pope dives in looking for the finish!

It looks like Lyon Okiro has been cut.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Okiro trying to control from the bottom.
Pope is keen to just control but Okiro is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope prevents Okiro from improving his position.
Pope sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Okiro jabs Pope to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Okiro scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Okiro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Okiro plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Okiro misses with a hook.
Okiro is looking to clinch but Pope is avoiding it.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Okiro. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Okiro.
Okiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Okiro connects with a jab.

Pope has closed the distance and engaged Okiro in a clinch.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Okiro lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pope will feel that in the morning.

Okiro tries to keep at a distance but Pope has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pope working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pope misses with an elbow over the top.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Okiro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyon Okiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lyon Okiro's cut.
That's time! Pope's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pope darts in trying to clinch
and Okiro counters with a leg kick.
Okiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Okiro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pope manages to avoid it.
It looked like Pope was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Okiro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pope throws a head kick that misses.
Okiro swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Okiro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Okiro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Okiro cracks Pope with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Okiro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pope showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Okiro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okiro keeps the fight on the outside.

Pope has managed to clinch.

Okiro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Okiro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pope wants to clinch up but Okiro keeps it at a distance.
Lyon Okiro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Okiro connects with a right hand. Pope shakes it off.
Okiro misses with a double jab.
Pope's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Okiro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Pope scrambles back to his feet.
Okiro swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.

Okiro gets tackled into the cage by Pope. Pope maintains the clinch.
Okiro wants to break free but Pope has control.
Okiro lands a body shot.
Okiro lands a shoulder strike.
Pope lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Okiro can't break the clinch.
Okiro misses with the head strike.
Pope being controlled against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pope working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Okiro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pope pushes off an throws an elbow but Okiro leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pope blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okiro throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Pope throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Okiro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pope throws an elbow but it misses.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lyon Okiro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pope is looking to break free of the clinch but Okiro has double underhooks.
Pope throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pope misses with an elbow over the top.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Pope scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Okiro lands a shot to the body.
Pope looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Okiro misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Okiro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Okiro.
Okiro lands a nice shot to the body.
Pope looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Okiro lands a body shot.
Okiro wants to slow Pope down by chopping away at his legs.
Pope is looking to counter punch.
Okiro lands a jab to Pope's midsection.

Okiro drives through and clinches with Pope against the cage.
Okiro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.

Okiro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Pope has Okiro up against the cage in a clinch.
Okiro blocks an uppercut.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pope wants to clinch up but Okiro keeps it at a distance.
Okiro tries to clinch up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Okiro.
Okiro is trying to stall.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A lazy left from Okiro finds it's target.
Okiro connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pope pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Michael Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Okiro throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Pope throws the kick towards the body but Okiro avoids it.
Okiro scores with a hook.
Pope tries to clinch there but Okiro circles away.
Okiro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Okiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyon Okiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Okiro 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyon Okiro!