PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Heng Keo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keo comes to the cage accompanied by Ich Will - Rammstein. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Keo
vs
Pope

173 cm
40
157 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

181 cm
25
153 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Heng Keo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Pope!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Keo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Keo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pope prevents it.
Keo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Keo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pope can't fight it off and eventually Keo manages to take the fight to the floor. Pope looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Pope pushes Keo off and gets back to his feet.
We've been informed that Pope has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Pope lands with an overhand left.
Keo wants to clinch up but Pope keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Pope does no damage.
Pope throws out a powerful jab.
Pope keeps the fight on the outside.
Pope misses with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keo tries to clinch up.
Pope flicks out a counter leg kick but Keo steps away.

Keo clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Keo takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keo'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.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Keo controls the action.
Keo scores with a shoulder strike.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Keo has him pressed against the cage.
Pope tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Keo.
Keo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Keo lands a nice uppercut.
Keo pushes Pope back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Keo lands a shoulder strike.
Pope prevents the takedown attempt.
Keo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Pope scores with a nice short uppercut.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Keo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pope.

Pope gets tackled into the cage by Keo. Keo maintains the clinch.
Keo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pope working Keo over with knees to the body.
Pope scores a nice knee to the body.
Pope missing with knees to the body.

Pope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keo moves in looking to clinch but Pope pushes him off.

Pope clinches up with Keo and pushes him back against the cage.
Pope with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pope prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heng Keo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short uppercut from Keo.
Keo taking a breather.

Keo is trying to trip Pope. He has hold of a leg but Pope is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Keo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Pope is trying to keep Keo in close.

Pope is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Keo defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Keo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Keo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pope is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Keo from controlling successfully.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Keo wants to clinch up but Pope keeps it at a distance.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Keo clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pope is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Keo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Keo is trying to drag Pope to the mat but Pope just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pope is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pope blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Keo.
Keo prevents a body shot from Pope.
Pope tries to stall but Keo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Keo 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.

Keo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Keo tries to score a body lock takedown but Pope shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Keo wants the takedown. Pope is fighting it off but Keo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Pope's guard against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Heng Keo 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.

Keo moves into the clinch.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pope lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Keo.
Pope struggles to land a body shot inside as Keo controls his hands.
Keo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Keo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pope is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Keo managing to block the knees to the body from Pope.
Heng Keo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pope prevents a takedown attempt there.
Keo wants to take the fight to the mat but Pope manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heng Keo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope gets underhooks to prevent Keo's takedown attempt.
Pope throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keo blocks it with crossed arms.
Keo tries for a takedown but Pope manages to get underhooks.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Keo is working for takedown but Pope is calmly controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Keo tries for a takedown but Pope manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope tries to throw a body punch but Keo avoids it by throwing Pope back against the cage.
Keo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pope lands a nice shot to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Pope.
Pope tries to land knees in the clinch but Keo avoids the damage to the body.
Pope just leaning against Keo, taking a breather.

Keo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Pope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Keo.
Pope has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Keo is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pope is trying to stand.
Keo is trying to control. Pope wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pope is holding on to half guard well.
Keo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is staying active underneath Keo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Keo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Keo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pope has hold of Keo's hands but Keo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Keo.
Keo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Keo content just to control the position here.
Keo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Keo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Keo throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pope because Keo loaded up on that one.
Keo landing strikes from the mount.

Pope is rocked!

Keo is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pope has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pope!
Pope is still in real trouble! Can Keo finish him?

Keo working for a triangle but Pope defends it easily.

Pope is posturing up here but Keo has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Pope tries to roll out but it's too tight and Pope has to tap! Slick submission there by Keo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Heng Keo!
A very excited looking Heng Keo made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.