PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drew Pinksy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pope's choice of entrance music: For Whom The Bell Tolls. Michael Pope acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Pinksy
vs
Pope

213 cm
42
285 lbs
51 - 38 - 1

190 cm
35
204 lbs
28 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 51 - 38 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Drew Pinksy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Pope!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinksy thows a body kick. Pope tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Pinksy misses with a straight left.

Pope closes the distance and pushes Pinksy back into the cage.
Pope trying to land knees to the body.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pinksy's efforts to push away.
Pope pushes Pinksy back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pope lands with a light punch inside.
Pinksy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pinksy is trying to break the clinch but Pope is controlling him.
Pinksy can't break the clinch.
Pinksy letting Pope take a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Pinksy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pope has Pinksy pressed against the cage, preventing Pinksy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pinksy wants to get back to striking at distance but Pope won't allow it.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pinksy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pinksy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pinksy working hard to break the clinch.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pinksy's efforts to push away.
Pope told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Pinksy tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
Pinksy tries to break free but Pope pushes him back against the cage.
Pope lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pinksy can't break the clinch.
Pope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pinksy's efforts to push away.
Pope tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pinksy avoids it.
Pinksy is trying to break the clinch but Pope has him pressed against the cage.
Pinksy pushes Pope back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Pinksy fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinksy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pinksy 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.
Pinksy tries to break free but Pope pushes him back against the cage.
Pinksy is trying to break free.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short right from Pinksy on the inside.
Pinksy dodges an elbow strike from Pope.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pope.
A nice left hand lands by Pope.
A frustrated look appears on Pinksy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pope keeps control of Pinksy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pinksy tries to throw a body punch but Pope avoids it by throwing Pinksy back against the cage.
Pope has Pinksy pushed against the cage.

Pinksy breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinksy throws a low kick but Pope moves out of range easily.
Pinksy clobbers Pope with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pinksy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Drew Pinksy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pinksy feints and then cracks Pope's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pope down.
Pope dives in for a single leg takedown but Pinksy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The fighters circling - Pinksy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pinksy throws a wild body kick that Pope sees coming a mile off.
Pope feints the counter takedown.
Pinksy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pope lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Pinksy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pope.
Pinksy misses with a body punch
and Pope counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pope takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Pope moves into the clinch.
Pope keeps control of Pinksy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinksy is looking to break free of the clinch but Pope has double underhooks.
Pinksy working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pinksy tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
Pinksy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pinksy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pinksy is trying to break free.
Pinksy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pope is keeping busy.
Pinksy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pope lands a shoulder strike.

Pinksy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Pinksy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pope is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pinksy misses with an attempted mid kick.
Pope lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Pinksy gets tackled into the cage by Pope. Pope maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Pope will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Pinksy.
Pope keeps control of Pinksy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pinksy letting Pope take a breather here.
Pinksy tries to break the clinch but Pope is controlling the position.
Pinksy is trying to push Pope away but Pope has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pinksy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pinksy throws a head punch that misses.
Pinksy wants to break free but Pope has control.
Pinksy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pope has him pressed against the cage.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope lands a body punch.
Pope trying to land knees to the body.
Pope looking to throw knees to the head but Pinksy is blocking nicely.
Pinksy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pinksy can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pinksy manages to break the clinch.

Pope decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pinksy is looking for a sweep. Pope is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pinksy pushes Pope off and gets back to his feet.

Pope moves into the clinch.
Pope prevents a body shot from Pinksy.
A short right from Pinksy.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pinksy avoids it.
Pinksy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pinksy tries to work over Pope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pope lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pinksy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pinksy pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinksy lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pinksy connects with a high kick.

Pope rushes Pinksy and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Pinksy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pope is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pinksy is defending well for now.
Pope tries to land knees in the clinch but Pinksy avoids the damage to the body.
Pinksy working hard to break the clinch.
Pope lands a knee to the body.
Pinksy tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
Pinksy tries to break the clinch but Pope is controlling the position.
Pope tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pinksy avoids the elbow strike from Pope, against the cage.
Pope prevents Pinksy from breaking the clinch.
Pope blocks an uppercut.
Pope prevents Pinksy from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinksy tries a body shot but Pope blocks it.
Pope is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pinksy is defending well for now.
A right hook to the body lands for Pope.
Pope lands a nice shot to the body.
Pope unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Pinksy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pope has Pinksy pressed against the cage, preventing Pinksy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pope scores with a shot to the side of Pinksy's head.
Pinksy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pinksy tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
Pinksy wants to get back to striking at distance but Pope won't allow it.
Pinksy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pope landing knees to the body.
Pinksy can't break the clinch.
Pinksy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pope has him pressed against the cage.
Pope wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pinksy's efforts to push away.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Pope. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Pinksy wants to get back to striking at distance but Pope won't allow it.
Pope has Pinksy pressed against the cage, preventing Pinksy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pope trying to land knees to the body.
Pinksy is trying to force a seperation but Pope has the dominant position.

Pinksy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pinksy is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Pinksy looks to land a body kick but Pope moved away.
Pinksy misses with a body shot
enabling Pope to counter with a crisp jab.

Pope closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pope is looking to control Pinksy's arms but Pinksy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pope has his back to the cage.
Pinksy can't break the clinch.
Pope is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pinksy is defending well for now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pope.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Pope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pope ducks under a wild hook from Pinksy.
Pinksy throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Pope counters with a nice body shot.

Pope gets a clinch.
Michael Pope seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pinksy tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
Pinksy working hard to break the clinch.
Pope taking a breather.
Pinksy is trying to force a seperation but Pope has the dominant position.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pope lands a nice shot to the body.
Pope stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pinksy throws a punch but it's blocked by Pope.
Pope lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pope lands with a right to the head.
Pinksy is looking to break free of the clinch but Pope has double underhooks.
Pinksy wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope has Pinksy pushed against the cage.
Pope lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pope prevents Pinksy from breaking the clinch.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pinksy is trying to break free.
Pinksy has had enough of the clinch but Pope keeps him there for the moment.
Pope misses with an elbow over the top.
Pope landing knees to the body.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Pinksy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pinksy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pinksy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pope.
Drew Pinksy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope with a knee to the head.
Pope is pushing Pinksy up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pinksy is trying to break the clinch but Pope is controlling him.
Pope cracks Pinksy with a nice body shot.
Pinksy blocks an elbow strike.
Pope prevents a body shot from Pinksy.
Pinksy is looking to break free of the clinch but Pope has double underhooks.
Pope blocking some punches.
Pinksy wants to break free but Pope has control.

Pinksy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries to clinch there but Pinksy circles away.
A jab lands there for Pinksy.
Pope avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinksy swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Pinksy.
Pope gets through Pinksy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Pinksy is rocked!
Pope lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oh Pinksy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pope lands a good knee to the midsection. Pinksy won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pope obliges.
Pope dips a shoulder and cracks Pinksy with a mighty uppercut! Pinksy falls back against the cage and Pope unloads with a barrage of strikes! Pinksy is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Pope screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Pope!
Michael Pope spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.