PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cameron Poe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Zarco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Poe might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to How it is done. Antonio Zarco acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Poe
vs
Zarco

185 cm
29
182 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

172 cm
27
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cameron Poe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Zarco!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarco throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zarco scores with a nice strike.
Cameron Poe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Poe jabs Zarco to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Zarco clinches up against the ropes.
Poe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Poe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Poe stalling the fight.
Poe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zarco misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zarco blocks an elbow strike from Poe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poe throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zarco takes an elbow to the temple.
Zarco trying to stall but Poe improves his position.
Zarco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Poe avoiding damage as Zarco throws knees to the body.
Zarco's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe digs a right hand into Zarco's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zarco's gas tank.
Poe lands an elbow inside that Zarco shrugs off.
Stalling in the clinch from Poe.
Zarco presses Poe against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Poe misses with an elbow strike.
Zarco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Zarco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Poe's brow.
Poe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Poe stalling the fight.
Zarco blocks an elbow strike.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Zarco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Poe trying to stall but Zarco improves his position.
Zarco trying to stall but Poe improves his position.
Poe misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarco blocks the elbow strike.
Poe lands an elbow inside.
Zarco tries to land knees in the clinch but Poe avoids the damage to the body.
Poe takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Cameron Poe has been cut.
Zarco struggles to land a body shot inside as Poe controls his hands.
Poe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Poe struggles to land a body shot inside as Zarco controls his hands.
Poe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Poe looking to slow down the pace here.
Poe is stalling here.
Poe prevents a body shot from Zarco.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Zarco misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Poe.
Zarco dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Zarco dodges an elbow strike from Poe.
Zarco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zarco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zarco lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zarco stalling in the clinch but Poe improves position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Poe leaning his opponent against the ropes.
The referee calls for Poe to work.
Poe seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Poe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zarco missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Zarco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zarco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Poe misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Poe.
Zarco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zarco tries to work over Poe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zarco stalling against the ropes.
Poe is trying to maintain a safe position but Zarco gets an underhook and turns Poe into the ropes.
Poe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Poe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Poe takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Poe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Poe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cameron Poe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Poe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Poe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Poe bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zarco's head backwards.
Poe swats away the attempt to clinch by Zarco.
Poe looks to land a body kick but Zarco moved away.
Poe scores with a jab to the head.
Poe throws a quick inside leg kick.
Antonio Zarco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zarco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Poe paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Zarco rushes Poe and presses him up against the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zarco stalling in the clinch but Poe improves position.
Zarco is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Poe misses with a body punch.
Poe working aggressively here.
Zarco slowing the pace effectively.
Poe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Poe throws a head punch that misses.
Poe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Poe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Poe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Cameron Poe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zarco landing knees to the body.
Zarco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Poe.
Poe lands a nice elbow.
Zarco presses Poe against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zarco missing with knees to the body.
Poe creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Poe misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from Zarco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poe throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zarco.
Poe can't find room to land a body shot as Zarco controls the action.
Zarco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zarco is working Poe over against the ropes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poe trying to stall but Zarco improves his position.
Zarco struggles to land a body shot inside as Poe controls his hands.
Zarco taking a breather.
Poe lands an elbow that stopped Zarco in his tracks for a moment.
Poe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zarco is looking to control Poe's arms but Poe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zarco has his back to the ropes.
Zarco dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Zarco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Zarco is stalling here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Poe's elbow.
Zarco can't find room to land a body shot as Poe controls the action.
Zarco taking a breather.
Zarco lands a body punch.
Poe is looking to control Zarco's arms but Zarco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Poe has his back to the ropes.
Poe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zarco misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Poe working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Poe.
Poe is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Poe throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poe misses with an elbow over the top.
Zarco lands a nice shot to the body.
Zarco pushes Poe back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Zarco lands a shoulder strike.
Poe stalling in the clinch but Zarco improves position.
Poe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Poe wants to stall.
Poe lands an elbow inside that Zarco shrugs off.
Zarco is trying to stall.
Zarco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zarco unloads a knee to the mid-section. Poe lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zarco dodges an elbow strike from Poe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Poe managing to block the knees to the body from Zarco.
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 Cameron Poe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cameron Poe's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zarco gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zarco wants to clinch.
Poe attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Poe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Poe circles away from the clinch attempt
and Poe counters with a nice uppercut.
Zarco uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Poe.
Poe fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poe is looking to score with low kicks.
Poe is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Poe swats away the attempt to clinch by Zarco.
Poe keeps the fight on the outside.

Zarco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Poe, pushing him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe throws a punch but it's blocked by Zarco.
Zarco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zarco throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zarco dodges an elbow strike from Poe.
Zarco prevents a body shot from Poe.
A body shot lands from Zarco.
Zarco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Poe in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Poe lands with a left to the head.
Zarco dodges an elbow strike from Poe.
Zarco lands a nice shot to the body.
Zarco blocks a body shot from Poe.
A short right from Poe.
Zarco misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zarco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Poe is defending well for now.
A body shot lands from Poe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zarco gets through Poe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Poe misses with the head strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zarco.
Poe is trying to maintain a safe position but Zarco gets an underhook and turns Poe into the ropes.
Poe blocks an elbow strike.
Poe tries to throw a body punch but Zarco avoids it by throwing Poe back against the ropes.
Poe looking to slow down the pace here.
Nice elbow from Poe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zarco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Poe pushes off an throws an elbow but Zarco leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zarco as Poe tries to tie him up.
Zarco's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zarco.
Poe stalling.
Zarco tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Poe avoids it.
Zarco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zarco dodges an elbow strike from Poe.
Poe looking to slow down the pace here.
Zarco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Poe's elbow.
Zarco tries to throw a body punch but Poe avoids it by throwing Zarco back against the ropes.
Zarco taking a breather.
Zarco stalling in the clinch but Poe improves position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Poe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Zarco tries to work over Poe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poe tries to stall but Zarco uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A body shot lands from Zarco.
Zarco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zarco manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zarco lands a body shot in the clinch.
Poe stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zarco misses with a body punch.
Zarco looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zarco is trying to maintain a safe position but Poe gets an underhook and turns Zarco into the ropes.
Zarco seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Poe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Antonio Zarco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zarco tries to work over Poe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cameron Poe.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Poe, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cameron Poe!
A relieved looking Cameron Poe thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.