PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Murat Orgun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murat Orgun could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jan Pope's chin.

Orgun
vs
Pope

170 cm
46
155 lbs
31 - 28 - 1

181 cm
26
153 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 31 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Murat Orgun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Pope!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope jabs Orgun right on the nose. Orgun blinks but takes it well.
Orgun swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Pope throws out a counter right but Orgun avoids it with no problem.
A big right from Pope misses.
Pope throws a hook but Orgun avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Pope.
Orgun takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Orgun waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pope.
Pope moves out of range of the strikes.
Pope misses with a hook.
Orgun throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Pope displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Orgun throws out the jab.
Nice takedown defense from Orgun. No joy for Pope on that attempt.
Orgun wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Orgun pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Orgun.
Pope dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Orgun. That did some damage!
Orgun's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pope connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Orgun scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope throws out a loose jab but Orgun uses good head movement to avoid it.
Orgun digs a good body shot into Pope's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orgun steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pope.
Pope throws a series of punches but Orgun avoids them all with ease.

Orgun gets the takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Orgun is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pope knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Orgun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pope keeps working.
Orgun in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Orgun definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Check out the look on Orgun's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Orgun misses with the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Pope's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orgun is looking to take a break and control but Pope is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orgun looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pope is avoiding damage well.
Orgun scoring with punches and elbows.
Pope manages to work his way to half guard, despite Orgun's best efforts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Orgun wants to control but Pope is keeping him busy.
Orgun throwing shots but Pope is blocking nicely.
Orgun is just content to waste time from the top position. Pope takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Orgun trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Pope looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Orgun.
Orgun wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Orgun is looking to work some ground and pound but Pope has wrist control.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Orgun 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.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Orgun might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Orgun preventing the sweep.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Orgun trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Orgun trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a hook but Orgun avoids it easily.
As Pope tries to get set, Orgun tries to push him back and clinch up but Pope manages to avoid the attempt.
Orgun is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Pope's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Pope gets tackled into the cage by Orgun. Orgun maintains the clinch.
Pope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope misses with a hook from the clinch.
Orgun tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Orgun digs a right hand into Pope's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pope's gas tank.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Orgun 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.
Orgun slips a jab from Pope.
Orgun uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pope.
Pope lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Pope tries to keep at a distance but Orgun has taken the fight into the clinch.
Orgun lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope avoiding damage as Orgun throws knees to the body.
Orgun doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Orgun manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Pope looks to throw an elbow but misses.
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 Murat Orgun will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pope throws a right hand that Orgun ducks under and follows up with a left that Orgun also avoids with ease.

Pope rushes Orgun and presses him up against the cage.
Pope lands a nice shot to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
Pope lands an uppercut.
Pope scores with a shoulder strike.
Orgun landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Orgun is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pope is defending well for now.
Orgun lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pope lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Orgun backwards.
Orgun struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
Orgun goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Orgun misses with a knee strike.
Orgun tries to work over Pope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knees in the clinch landing for Orgun.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Orgun drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pope gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orgun trying to land knees to the body.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Orgun tries a body shot but Pope blocks it.
Pope throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Orguns head.
Orgun tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murat Orgun has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Orgun blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pope.
Orgun pushes Pope back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Orgun uses good head movement to avoid it.
Orgun is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pope is defending well.
Pope avoiding damage as Orgun throws knees to the body.
Pope managing to block the knees to the body from Orgun.
Orgun tries to land knees in the clinch but Pope avoids the damage to the body.
Orgun missing with knees to the body.
Orgun tries a knee to the head but Pope blocks it.
Orgun drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murat Orgun. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orgun missing with knees to the body.
Orgun lands a knee to the head.
Pope lands with a light punch inside.
Pope throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Orguns head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope trying to control the position but instead, Orgun has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pope into the cage.
Orgun tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pope avoids it.
Pope has a couple of punches blocked by Orgun.
Pope lands a left hand that snaps the head of Orgun backwards.
Pope scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right from Pope on the inside.
Orgun tries for a takedown. No joy.
A shot in the inside from Pope.
Orgun stalling.
Pope working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Orgun is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pope is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orgun missing with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Orgun uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Pope lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Orgun backwards.
Pope swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Orgun takes a shot to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pope as Orgun tries to tie him up.
Orgun is trying to maintain a safe position but Pope gets an underhook and turns Orgun into the cage.
Orgun looking for a takedown.
Pope softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Pope avoiding damage as Orgun throws knees to the body.
Orgun is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pope is defending well for now.
Pope avoiding damage as Orgun throws knees to the body.
Pope scores with a shot to the side of Orgun's head.
Orgun has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pope after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pope.
Orgun blocks an uppercut.
Orgun missing with knees to the body.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Orgun.
Pope lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pope lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Orgun is trying to stall.
Orgun landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Orgun tries to land knees in the clinch but Pope avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Orgun.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Come on Pope - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pope lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pope.
Pope lands a hook to the side of the head.
Orgun tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pope avoids it.
Orgun blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan 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!

Orgun shoots in but no luck this time.
Pope throws the left hand but Orgun avoids the punch easily.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pope fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Orgun cracks Pope with an open hand slap.
Pope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice jab there from Pope.
Murat Orgun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Orgun fails to land the takedown.
Orgun shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pope pinned against the cage. Pope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murat Orgun. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orgun takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Orgun checks a low kick from Pope.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pope misses the jab.
Jan Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Orgun will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Orgun moves out of range as Pope strikes.
No luck for Orgun with that takedown attempt.
Pope tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Orgun on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Pope misses with a hook. Orgun ducked under it nicely.

Orgun looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Orgun.
Pope keeping control of the position.
Orgun looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is refusing to be controlled, as Orgun sits in half guard.
Orgun is nestled in close to Pope, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pope trying to control here.
Pope tries to get to full guard but Orgun has control of the leg.
Orgun sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pope defending well though.
Orgun with the ground and pound but Pope uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Orgun throws a big elbow that misses.
Orgun pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pope is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orgun trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Orgun looking to pass the guard.
Orgun with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pope preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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.
Pope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Orgun.
Pope uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Orgun misses with a kick to the body.
Jan Pope seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Orgun 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A telegraphed right hand from Pope misses the target.

Orgun throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pope was covering up waiting for the punch and Orgun finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Orgun trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pope looking to hit a scissor sweep but Orgun is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Orgun tries to free his leg and advance position but Pope is retaining full guard.
Pope looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Orgun tries to free his leg and advance position but Pope is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jan Pope.
I think Pope 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Pope!
An out of breath Jan Pope thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.