PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelvin Pouncey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatti Tasapaksu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tasapaksu is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Motorhead - Smiling Like A Killer . Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pouncey
vs
Tasapaksu

195 cm
34
255 lbs
13 - 12 - 1

195 cm
47
275 lbs
33 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

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 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kelvin Pouncey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tatti Tasapaksu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tasapaksu drops his hands momentarily and Pouncey takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pouncey falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Tasapaksu to counter with a crisp jab.
Pouncey catches Tasapaksu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pouncey thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tasapaksu tries a quick counter leg kick but Pouncey is wise to it.
Tasapaksu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pouncey.
Tasapaksu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pouncey swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tasapaksu throws a leg kick

and Pouncey counters with a takedown into side control.
Tasapaksu tries to bench press Pouncey off him but Pouncey keeps the position.
Tasapaksu can't do much from the bottom here.
Tasapaksu seems a little lost for a moment, as Pouncey dominates the positioning.
Tasapaksu is looking to regain half guard here but Pouncey keeps moving and retains side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pouncey trying to control the action but Tasapaksu is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouncey is really struggling to control Tasapaksu but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The strikes coming from Pouncey are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tasapaksu wants to get back to his feet but Pouncey drags him back down.
Pouncey is looking to take a break and control but Tasapaksu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pouncey landing a few strikes.

Pouncey wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tasapaksu, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pouncey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tasapaksu keeps working.
Tasapaksu is looking to reverse the position.
Pouncey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tasapaksu keeps working.
Check out the look on Pouncey's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Pouncey looks up at the clock and then as Tasapaksu takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pouncey smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouncey is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Tasapaksu's shoulder. That is not cool.
Tasapaksu can't do much from the bottom here.
Pouncey lands some shots froms side control.
An elbow from Pouncey crashes against the mat.
Pouncey looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tasapaksu is avoiding damage well.
Pouncey looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tasapaksu is avoiding damage well.
Pouncey looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tasapaksu is avoiding damage well.
Tasapaksu tries to improve position but can't.
Tasapaksu keeping his opponent close.
Pouncey in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pouncey is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tasapaksu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pouncey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tasapaksu keeps working.
Pouncey in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pouncey throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tasapaksu works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Pouncey.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelvin Pouncey dominated 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.

Pouncey moves out of range of the strikes.
Tasapaksu scores with a hook to the body. Pouncey takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pouncey avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tasapaksu jabs Pouncey right on the nose. Pouncey blinks but takes it well.
Tasapaksu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pouncey sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Pouncey misses the target.
Pouncey connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tasapaksu lands with a good body shot.
That kick from Pouncey tenderised Tasapaksu's leg. Tasapaksu is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tasapaksu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pouncey keeps the fight on the outside.
Tasapaksu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pouncey keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pouncey looks to score with a jab to the body but Tasapaksu is just out of range.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Pouncey here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouncey digs a good hook to Tasapaksu's body.
Tatti Tasapaksu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Pouncey lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tasapaksu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tasapaksu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tasapaksu flicks out a counter leg kick but Pouncey steps away.
Tasapaksu misses with a hook.
Tasapaksu motions for Pouncey to come forward. Tasapaksu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Pouncey scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Tasapaksu has one foot on Pouncey's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Tatti Tasapaksu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tasapaksu defending well as Pouncey loads up on a big left hand.

Tasapaksu gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pouncey to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pouncey is pushing down on Tasapaksu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tasapaksu is fighting to maintain full guard but Pouncey has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tasapaksu wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouncey is taking a breather. Tasapaksu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tasapaksu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tasapaksu is refusing to be controlled, as Pouncey sits in half guard.
Pouncey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tasapaksu can do to turn this around?
Pouncey landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tasapaksu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pouncey.
Pouncey with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pouncey is nestled in close to Tasapaksu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouncey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tasapaksu pushes Pouncey off looking to stand but Pouncey dives back in and keeps control.
Tasapaksu taking some punishment here, with Pouncey in his half guard.
Pouncey looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tasapaksu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pouncey throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tasapaksu to regain full guard.
Pouncey is looking to pass into half guard but Tasapaksu pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tasapaksu is in guard.

Pouncey has Tasapaksu pulled in close to control his posture.

Tasapaksu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tasapaksu throws a hook but Pouncey blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tasapaksu blocks a leg kick.
Tasapaksu with a nice cross.
Pouncey throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tasapaksu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tasapaksu throws the left hand but Pouncey avoids the punch easily.
Tasapaksu pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tasapaksu clinches.
Tasapaksu unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pouncey lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pouncey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tasapaksu trying to land knees to the body.
Tasapaksu tries to throw a body punch but Pouncey avoids it by throwing Tasapaksu back against the cage.
Pouncey misses with a punch to the body.
Tasapaksu just leaning against Pouncey, taking a breather.
Pouncey trying to stall but Tasapaksu improves his position.
Pouncey scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tatti Tasapaksu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Pouncey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

A cross from Pouncey lands.
Tasapaksu is looking to clinch.
Pouncey lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tasapaksu throws a head kick that misses

and Pouncey counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tasapaksu is wriggling around but Pouncey manages to pass to half guard.

Pouncey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Pouncey is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tasapaksu sees it coming and defends easily.
Pouncey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pouncey prevents Tasapaksu from improving his position.
Pouncey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouncey wants to pass the guard but Tasapaksu is defending well.
Pouncey looks to land a strike but Tasapaksu avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Tasapaksu wants to stand up but Pouncey is controlling him.
Pouncey trying to control but Tasapaksu is working from the bottom.
Pouncey throws an elbow that misses. Tasapaksu uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pouncey's guard. Nice move by Tasapaksu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pouncey holds on and takes a little breather.
Pouncey is trying to keep Tasapaksu in close.
Tasapaksu throwing strikes but missing.
Tasapaksu wanted to stand there but Pouncey had control of the position.
Pouncey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tasapaksu manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouncey wants to pass the guard but Tasapaksu is keeping the position.
Tasapaksu looking for a sweep. Not yet Tasapaksu, not yet.
Pouncey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pouncey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pouncey lands a couple of digs.
Pouncey wants to control from the top but Tasapaksu keeps moving.
Pouncey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pouncey working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pouncey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pouncey engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pouncey throws a big elbow that misses.
Tasapaksu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No joy there for Tasapaksu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tasapaksu misses with the combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tasapaksu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Pouncey closes the distance and clinches.
Tasapaksu misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kelvin Pouncey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pouncey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kelvin Pouncey!
Kelvin Pouncey gave a mention to Spartan Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).