PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Faflatas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lotus Pod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lotus Pod struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 147.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Faflatas
vs
Pod

175 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

174 cm
26
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nick Faflatas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lotus Pod!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pod rushes Faflatas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pod struggles to land a body shot inside as Faflatas controls his hands.
Pod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Faflatas creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Pod wants to get back to striking at distance but Faflatas won't allow it.
Faflatas wants a takedown.
Faflatas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Faflatas working Pod over with knees to the body.
Faflatas scores with a shot to the side of Pod's head.
Pod prevents the takedown attempt.
Pod tries a body shot but Faflatas blocks it.
Faflatas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pod misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faflatas has Pod pressed against the cage, preventing Pod from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Faflatas tries to work over Pod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Pod - that landed with a thud.
Faflatas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pod lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Faflatas wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Faflatas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pod pushes Faflatas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faflatas lands a damaging elbow.
Faflatas looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Faflatas throws a punch but it's blocked by Pod.
Pod tries to circle away but Faflatas has him pinned against the cage.
Faflatas blocks a body shot from Pod.
Faflatas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Faflatas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faflatas tries a body shot but Pod blocks it.
Faflatas prevents a body shot from Pod.
Pod pushes Faflatas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pod misses with a body punch.
Pod scores with a shot to the side of Faflatas's head.
Faflatas misses with a punch to the body.
Pod working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Faflatas's elbow.
Faflatas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Lotus Pod has been cut.
Pod tries to break the clinch but Faflatas is controlling the position.
Pod lands a nice uppercut.
Our sources have told us that Faflatas has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Pod can't break the clinch.
Pod is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pod prevents a body shot from Faflatas.
Faflatas lands an elbow inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pod tries to throw a body punch but Faflatas avoids it by throwing Pod back against the cage.
Faflatas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Faflatas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pod backwards.
Faflatas throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Faflatas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faflatas blocks a body shot from Pod.
Pod tries to break the clinch but Faflatas is controlling the position.
Pod tries to work over Faflatas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good body shot from Pod.
Pod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Faflatas is trying to drag Pod to the mat but Pod just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pod throws a head punch that misses.
Faflatas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short right from Pod.
Pod throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Faflatas manages to pull guard.
Pod working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pod won't allow Faflatas to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pod wanted to stand there but Faflatas had control of the position.
Pod with a nice head shot there.
Pod really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Faflatas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pod throws a strike but Faflatas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Faflatas stands and steps away. Pod gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pod moves into the clinch.
Faflatas misses with a body punch.
Pod blocks an elbow strike from Faflatas.
Faflatas working Pod over with knees to the body.
Faflatas tries to pull guard but Pod holds him up against the cage and eventually Faflatas drops back down to his feet.
Faflatas scores with a shoulder strike.
Pod tries to break the clinch but Faflatas is controlling the position.
Faflatas throws an elbow but it misses.
Faflatas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Faflatas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Faflatas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lotus Pod's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Faflatas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Faflatas dives in for a single leg takedown but Pod sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Faflatas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pod tries to circle away but Faflatas has him pinned against the cage.
Pod takes a knee right on the jaw!
Faflatas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pod just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Faflatas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faflatas pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pod lands a nice shot to the body.
Pod lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Faflatas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pod backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Faflatas's elbow.
Faflatas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Faflatas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pod's efforts to push away.
Pod tries a body shot but Faflatas blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pod scores with a nice hook to the head.

Faflatas pulls guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Faflatas manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Faflatas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Faflatas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pod has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pod has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right hand to the body from Pod.
Faflatas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pod can do to turn this around?
Pod tries to break free but Faflatas pushes him back against the cage.
Pod gets through Faflatas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Faflatas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pod after a bit of a struggle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pod.
Pod is trying to push Faflatas away but Faflatas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Faflatas is trying to pull guard but Pod has him pressed against the cage.
Pod misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Faflatas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pod walks away with a smile on his face. Faflatas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Pod clinches up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pod is trying to break the clinch but Faflatas is controlling him.
Faflatas prevents Pod from breaking the clinch.
Pod blocks a body shot from Faflatas.
Faflatas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Faflatas landing knees to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Faflatas fails to land.
Faflatas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pod just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pod tries a body shot but Faflatas blocks it.
Faflatas lands a shoulder strike.
Pod tries to throw a body punch but Faflatas avoids it by throwing Pod back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pod.
A right handed body shot lands from Faflatas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pod is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Good body shot from Pod.
Faflatas wants to take the fight to the mat but Pod manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pod struggles to land a body shot inside as Faflatas controls his hands.
Faflatas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pod wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nick Faflatas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Faflatas tries to work over Pod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pod swings wildly with an uppercut but Faflatas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pod works on Faflatas's body with a couple of short punches.
Pod lands a body shot in the clinch.
Faflatas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Faflatas gets control of Pod's arms and successfully pulls guard. Faflatas will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pod loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Faflatas has his feet on Pod's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faflatas misses with a takedown attempt

and Pod counters by clinching up.
A short body shot lands from Pod as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faflatas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Pod's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pod can't find room to land a body shot as Faflatas controls the action.
A hook to the body from Pod.
Pod is trying to break the clinch but Faflatas has him pressed against the cage.
Faflatas lands a damaging elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pod tries to throw a body punch but Faflatas avoids it by throwing Pod back against the cage.
Faflatas throws an elbow that misses.
Pod is trying to break the clinch but Faflatas has him pressed against the cage.
Pod struggles to land a body shot inside as Faflatas controls his hands.
Pod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pod creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Faflatas tries to pull guard but Pod won't allow it.
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 Nick Faflatas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lotus Pod's cut.
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!

Pod closes the distance and clinches.
Pod is trying to force a seperation but Faflatas has the dominant position.
Pod pushes Faflatas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pod can't break the clinch.
Faflatas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pod.
Pod prevents a body shot from Faflatas.
Faflatas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pod.
Faflatas is working for takedown but Pod is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pod has a couple of punches blocked by Faflatas.
Faflatas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Faflatas prevents a body shot from Pod.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faflatas prevents a body shot from Pod.
Faflatas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pod.
Faflatas tries to pull guard but Pod holds him up against the cage and eventually Faflatas drops back down to his feet.
Faflatas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pod's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pod is trying to break the clinch but Faflatas has him pressed against the cage.
Pod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Faflatas's elbow.
Pod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Faflatas is trying to drag Pod to the mat but Pod just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Faflatas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pod prevents a body shot from Faflatas.
Pod lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pod lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Faflatas backwards.
Faflatas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pod blocks it with crossed arms.
Pod lands a hook to the side of the head.
Faflatas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Faflatas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pod tries to work over Faflatas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pod struggles to land a body shot inside as Faflatas controls his hands.
Faflatas is looking to take this one to the mat.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Faflatas.
A shot in the inside from Pod.
Faflatas blocks a body shot from Pod.
Faflatas prevents Pod from breaking the clinch.
Pod lands a right hand that snaps the head of Faflatas backwards.
Faflatas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faflatas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pod to keep the fight standing.
Pod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faflatas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Faflatas misses with the head strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pod can't find room to land a body shot as Faflatas controls the action.
Faflatas is trying to pull guard but Pod turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faflatas with a knee to the head.
Pod lands a nice uppercut.
Pod wants to get back to striking at distance but Faflatas won't allow it.

Faflatas pulls guard successfully.
Pod stops Faflatas from standing up.
Pod postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Faflatas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pod throws an elbow that misses. Faflatas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pod's guard. Nice move by Faflatas!

Faflatas decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faflatas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Faflatas prevents a body shot from Pod.
Pod lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Faflatas's elbow.
Pod is trying to push Faflatas away but Faflatas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Faflatas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pod throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pod tries a body shot but Faflatas blocks it.
Pod has had enough of the clinch but Faflatas keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Faflatas fails to land.
Pod is trying to break the clinch but Faflatas is controlling him.
Faflatas tries to score a body lock takedown but Pod shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pod makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lotus Pod has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pod throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nick Faflatas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Faflatas tries to land knees in the clinch but Pod avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lotus Pod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faflatas 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Faflatas!