PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Pounds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bung Popper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popper has chosen Runnin with the Devil as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pounds
vs
Popper

168 cm
23
150 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

168 cm
29
147 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Machine Fight Gear

GREEN!160
Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tanner Pounds!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bung Popper!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pounds moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pounds misses with a wild combination.
Pounds takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Popper uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pounds.
Popper just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Popper.
Pounds ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popper moves away.
Pounds throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popper feints the counter takedown.
Pounds lands a lovely overhand right.
Bung Popper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Popper smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Pounds looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Popper!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pounds is staying tight to Popper's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The strikes coming from Pounds are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popper tries to improve position but can't.
Pounds working away.
Popper is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pounds working away.
Popper manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pounds is concentrating on defense, preventing Popper from advancing position.

Pounds actively working from the bottom here.
Popper prevents Pounds from improving his position.
Pounds is doing well to control the position and prevent Popper from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounds wants to control but Popper is keeping busy.
Pounds tries to roll over but Popper keeps him under control.
Popper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pounds's head.
Popper lands with a punch from half guard.
Popper wants to take a breather but Pounds is having none of it.
Popper is nestled in close to Pounds, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pounds is doing well to control the position and prevent Popper from advancing to side control.
Pounds gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popper throws a big right hand that misses.
Popper throwing strikes from guard but Pounds blocks nicely.
Popper throwing strikes from guard but Pounds blocks nicely.
Popper postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Pounds looking for a guillotine here but Popper defends easily.
Popper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pounds's head.
Pounds trying to control the position.
Pounds lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pounds seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popper is trying to keep Pounds in close.
Popper keeping full guard, as Pounds tries to pass.
Pounds throws a strike but Popper rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Popper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pounds manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Popper manages to get himself to full guard.

Popper trying to keep a closed guard but Pounds is proving a slippery customer.
Pounds sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bung Popper will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Pounds misses with a takedown attempt - Popper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Popper feints the counter takedown.
Pounds slips a jab from Popper.
Popper misses with a double jab.
Pounds fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Popper on the side of the head.
Popper swings for the body but Pounds moves out of range.
Popper lands a jab to Pounds's midsection.
Popper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pounds manages to avoid it.
Pounds attempts a counter takedown but Popper avoids it well and moves away.
Pounds looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Popper is fending him off so far but Pounds persists. Nope, Popper circles away and we're back to standing.
Popper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pounds moves out of range as Popper strikes.
Pounds feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popper scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Popper throws a poor cross that misses

and Pounds counters with a shoot takedown. Popper fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pounds trying to control the position from guard on top but Popper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pounds is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popper keeping moving, preventing Pounds from controlling successfully.

Popper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pounds doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pounds manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pounds stopping the sweep attempt from Popper.
Pounds trying to control but Popper is working from the bottom.
Pounds postures up.
Popper is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Popper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pounds trying to control but Popper is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Popper controls Pounds momentarily but Pounds frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pounds feints and then cracks Popper's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Popper down.
Popper lands with a shot to the body.
Pounds missing with a left hand there. Popper was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Pounds drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popper trying to control the position here.
Pounds throws a big right hand that misses.
Popper keeping full guard, as Pounds tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounds postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pounds loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Popper trying to keep a closed guard but Pounds is proving a slippery customer.
Pounds sitting in guard here, content to control.
Popper trying to control the position.
Popper wants to get back to his feet but Pounds is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pounds works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Popper lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popper throws a body shot but no joy.
Pounds misses with a lunging right hand

and Popper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pounds's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pounds holds on and takes a little breather.
Pounds is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Popper trying to control from the bottom.
Pounds is looking to take a break and control but Popper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Popper trying to control but Pounds postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popper works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bung Popper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pounds looks to score with a jab to the body but Popper is just out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Popper as Pounds shoots in.
Popper connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Pounds gets a takedown into half guard.

Popper actively working from the bottom here.
Pounds lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pounds is controlling the pace.
Pounds is looking to take a break and control but Popper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pounds perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pounds working the head and body with strikes.
Pounds working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pounds is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pounds seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Popper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pounds not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popper trying to control from the bottom.
Pounds is looking to take a break and control but Popper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Popper gets back to full guard.
Pounds passes into half guard.
Pounds content to control rather than advance.

Popper looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pounds perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tanner Pounds overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounds sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Popper defending well though.
Popper is not content to let Pounds control the position.
Popper is looking for a sweep. Pounds is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pounds missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pounds has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pounds is nestled in close to Popper, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Popper regains full guard. Nicely done.
Popper is pulling down on Pounds's head. It's preventing any offense from Pounds, at least for the moment.
Pounds slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds is thwarting Popper's attempts to control the position.
Pounds missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pounds lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pounds drops an elbow to the side of Popper's head.
Popper taking some punishment here, with Pounds in his half guard.
Pounds winds up and cracks Popper with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Popper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pounds is working away from the top position though.
Pounds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Popper keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Pounds clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pounds keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Popper.
Popper throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pounds counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pounds thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pounds is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Popper has hold of Pounds's hands but Pounds slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pounds missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pounds not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pounds missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pounds is controlling the pace.

Popper actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pounds working the head and body with strikes.
Pounds is trying to control the action in half guard but Popper is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pounds thows a huge punch but Popper dodges it nicely.
Popper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Popper blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pounds.
Pounds not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pounds missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pounds wants to pass the guard but Popper is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounds takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Popper keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Well, if Pounds is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Popper is trying to maintain the position but Pounds is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pounds wants to slow Popper down by chopping away at his legs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pounds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popper throws a good cross that connects.
Nice uppercut there from Popper.
Pounds dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Popper scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Pounds tries to score with a low kick but Popper moves his leg out of the way.
Popper looks to score with a jab to the body but Pounds is just out of range.
Pounds swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Popper lands an overhand right.
Pounds ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Pounds looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pounds seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pounds working over Popper with some ground and pound. Popper looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Popper trying to control from the bottom.
Pounds sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Popper defending well though.
Pounds stalling.

Pounds is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Popper sees it coming and defends easily.
Popper is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Pounds had his way with Bung Popper in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pounds walks into a straight right hand from Popper.
Popper takes a swing at Pounds's ribcage but misses.
Popper walks into a left hand.
Popper swinging wildly here.
Pounds lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pounds is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A combination from Popper does no damage.
Pounds tries to counter with a takedown but Popper is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pounds turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Popper lands a nice shot to the body.
Popper misses with a double jab.
Pounds drops down looking for a counter takedown but Popper sprawls and moves away.
Pounds throws a body punch but Popper moves out of range.
Popper dodges the punch combination from Pounds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popper.
Popper has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Popper thuds a left hand into Pounds's body.
Pounds throws a right hand that misses

and Popper counters with a shoot takedown. Pounds fights it but they end up in guard.
Pounds wants to sweep here but Popper controlling him for the moment.
Popper wants to pass the guard but Pounds is keeping the position.
Pounds looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Popper puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Popper is trying to control the action in half guard but Pounds is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pounds is looking to improve his position.

Pounds looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounds trying to control but Popper postures up.
Popper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Popper sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pounds defending well though.
Pounds is trying to get back to full guard.
Popper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pounds keeps working.
Pounds trying to control here.

Popper seems to be working for a kimura but Pounds defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popper sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pounds defending well though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Popper lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Popper misses with a hook.
Pounds doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pounds slips under a jab.

Pounds manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Popper on his heels. He'll look to pass Popper's guard now, I'm sure.

Popper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pounds throws a big right hand that misses.
Pounds trying to control but Popper is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pounds controlling from the top position.
Popper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pounds.
Popper has momentary wrist control but Pounds slips an elbow through the middle.
Pounds throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Popper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pounds cracks Popper with a solid left hand.
Pounds working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Popper looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bung Popper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Popper has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 47:48
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bung Popper!
Bung Popper is the new featherweight champion!
Bung Popper seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.