PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Lazenra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dynamite Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope has chosen ACDC - TNT as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Lazenra
vs
Pope

190 cm
24
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Lazenra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dynamite Pope!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lazenra pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pope back to the cage. Lazenra follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Lazenra looks to land a combination. Pope sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Dynamite Pope has been cut.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Lazenra circles away.
Pope shoots in and drives through. Lazenra sprawls well.
Lazenra misses with a two punch combination.
Lazenra throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pope shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lazenra as he jumps to the side.

Lazenra lands a left and a right that send Pope crashing to the mat, dazed. Lazenra thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lazenra looks to land a combination. Pope sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That has opened up Dynamite Pope's cut even more.
Lazenra looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pope steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lazenra.

Pope shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pope was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lazenra being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazenra can't do much from the bottom here.
Pope misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pope throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Pope trying to control the action but Lazenra is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Pope looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lazenra tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pope wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pope cracks Lazenra with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Pope really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lazenra. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pope in side control, throwing shots but Lazenra defends.
Pope tries to score with some ground and pound. Lazenra controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Lazenra is looking to reverse the position.
Lazenra manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lazenra is trying to control but can't.
Lazenra wants to get back to full guard.
Pope is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lazenra is trying to maintain the position but Pope 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope gets a double leg takedown into Lazenra's guard.
Pope controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lazenra working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pope drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lazenra dives on top into guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Lazenra dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dynamite Pope's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lazenra throws a right hand that Pope ducks under and follows up with a left that Pope also avoids with ease.
Pope steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lazenra.
Pope shoots for a double leg takedown but Lazenra sprawls well. He's pushed Pope's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pope takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lazenra lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lazenra lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lazenra lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lazenra here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Pope takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

The cut above Dynamite Pope's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pope has closed the distance and engaged Lazenra in a clinch.

Lazenra manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pope slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lazenra trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazenra wants to get back to his feet but Pope is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pope throws an elbow that misses. Lazenra uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pope's guard. Nice move by Lazenra!

Pope has momentary wrist control but Lazenra slips an elbow through the middle.
Lazenra wanted to stand there but Pope had control of the position.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Lazenra from controlling successfully.
Pope not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two 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.

Pope looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Lazenra has picked Pope up and slammed him! Pope can't keep hold of the triangle and Lazenra manages to pass to side control!
Pope tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lazenra wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pope is still trying to improve position.
Pope is trying to work for a sweep but Lazenra has mounted him!
Pope is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lazenra looking to control but Pope is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pope wants to hold on but Lazenra pushes him away.
Pope can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazenra looking to control but Pope is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lazenra wants to take Pope's back here but Pope is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Pope tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lazenra trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pope sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope is looking to get back to full guard here but Lazenra has managed to pass to side control instead.
Pope looking for a sweep but Lazenra has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Pope manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lazenra scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pope can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lazenra trying to control the action but Pope is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pope manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pope wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Lazenra dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dynamite Pope's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lazenra swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from Lazenra misses.

Lazenra gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lazenra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pope can do to turn this around?
Lazenra is trying to keep Pope in close.
Pope sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lazenra trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope passes into half guard.
Lazenra is looking to control Pope's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lazenra avoid being mounted?
Lazenra trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Pope manages to pass to mount!
Lazenra wants to control but Pope is having none of it.
Pope takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dynamite Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazenra is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lazenra is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pope controlling his opponent.
Lazenra is in a horrible position here. Pope smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pope controlling his opponent.
Pope's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazenra is trying to escape the mount.

Pope goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Lazenra is on top in guard.
Lazenra wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.

Pope looking for a guillotine here but Lazenra defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope trying to control the position.
Lazenra would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pope wants to control but Lazenra passes easily into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pope actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dynamite Pope comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lazenra 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Lazenra!
David Lazenra decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
Dynamite Pope was interviewed post fight and said 'Ad Aspera Ad Inferi'.