PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robo Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope has chosen Ghost - Monstrance Clock as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lewis
vs
Pope

225 cm
26
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

225 cm
35
344 lbs
8 - 41 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 41 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robo Pope!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Lewis persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.
Pope looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Pope throws a sloppy head kick

and Lewis counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pope!

Lewis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pope, who protects the arm well.
Pope is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
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.
Pope prevents Lewis from improving position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lewis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pope knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lewis working the ground and pound.

Lewis decides to stand back up.
Lewis dives in for a single leg takedown but Pope sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A head kick from Lewis lands but Pope takes it in his stride.

It looks like Robo Pope has been cut.
Pope has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Robo Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lewis 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 Reggie Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lewis or perhaps it was just good defense by Pope, which made it look bad.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick
and Lewis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lewis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pope misses with a head kick.
A head kick by Pope misses

and Lewis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lewis.
Lewis slips nicely into half guard.
Lewis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Lewis seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lewis wants to pass the guard but Pope is defending well.
Pope pushes Lewis off looking to stand but Lewis dives back in and keeps control.
Lewis trying to control the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lewis keeps Pope at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lewis clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.

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

Reggie Lewis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robo Pope's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lewis shoots in and drives through. Pope sprawls well.
Pope feints the counter takedown.
Lewis's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lewis duly obliges.

Lewis has closed the distance and engaged Pope in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lewis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pope just stands there and leans against the cage.

Lewis decides to pull guard.
Lewis is controlling Pope's posture.
Pope won't allow Lewis to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis wants to get back to his feet but Pope is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lewis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pope defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis wants to sweep but no luck.
Lewis pulls Pope in close to prevent any damage.
Lewis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pope can do to turn this around?
Lewis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pope in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick
and Lewis counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pope's knee momentarily.

Lewis feints and as Pope raises his hands in defense, Lewis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Pope kicks Lewis off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Lewis drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pope sprawls and moves away.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Lewis moves out of range easily.
Lewis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pope stuffs the takedown.
Pope throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lewis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pope manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick by Pope misses

and Lewis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Lewis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lewis tries to pull guard but Pope won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to break free but Lewis has control.

Lewis tightens his grip and picks Pope up, before dumping him to the ground. Pope manages to land in guard.

Pope uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lewis shoots in but no luck this time.
Pope drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lewis defends it well.
Lewis displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lewis avoids the head kick by Pope.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Lewis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pope tries to avoid it but Lewis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pope to the ground. Pope escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lewis throws a head kick but Pope moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope throws a head kick but Lewis moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Pope.

Lewis instigates a clinch.
I was talking to Lewis's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Lewis is controlling the position.

Lewis breaks from the clinch.

Lewis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Lewis tries for a kimura but Pope is defending well.
Lewis prevents Pope from escaping the position.
Lewis scoring with punches and elbows.
Lewis advances to mount.
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 Reggie Lewis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Robo Pope's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pope throws a head kick that misses
letting Lewis counter with a right hand.

Lewis pushes Pope up against the cage in a clinch.

Lewis pulls guard effortlessly.
Lewis wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Pope has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Lewis to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Pope is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Lewis pulls down on the head and he's put Pope to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Reggie Lewis!
In defeat, Robo Pope stepped up to the mic, saying 'I hope to be the first MMA fighter to die in the ring. Help make my dream come true.'.