PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oko Poli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Desean Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oko Poli has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Poli
vs
Bryant

172 cm
27
165 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

169 cm
32
153 lbs
10 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Oko Poli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Desean Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bryant gets a takedown into half guard.
Bryant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Poli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bryant is working for a kimura but Poli is defending it quite comfortably.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Bryant working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Poli wants to improve his position but Bryant is controlling well.
Bryant is nestled in close to Poli, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Poli is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Phoenix Mixed Martial Arts, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Bryant is trying to control. Poli wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Poli actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bryant connects with a nice short shot to Poli's temple.
Bryant working the head and body with strikes.
Bryant prevents Poli from improving his position.
Bryant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Poli looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poli tries to get to full guard but Bryant has control of the leg.

Bryant looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bryant slips a nice elbow through Poli's hands, connecting with Poli's forehead.
Bryant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Poli with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Bryant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poli defends it well.
Bryant lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Bryant is working for a kimura but Poli is defending it quite comfortably.

Bryant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poli defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Poli regains full guard. Nicely done.

Poli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bryant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bryant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Poli keeps moving.
Bryant forces his way into half guard.

Poli is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bryant pulls his head out easily.

Bryant is working for a submission of some sort.

Poli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Poli moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bryant with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Poli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bryant keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Poli's head.

Poli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bryant chips away with some ground and pound.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Poli keeping moving, preventing Bryant from controlling successfully.
Bryant lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poli has momentary wrist control but Bryant slips an elbow through the middle.

Poli looking for a guillotine here but Bryant defends easily.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Poli's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Poli's head.
Poli looking for a sweep. Not yet Poli, not yet.
Bryant trying to control but Poli is working from the bottom.

Poli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bryant postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bryant connects with a couple of short punches.

Poli working for a triangle but Bryant defends it easily.
Bryant postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poli has momentary wrist control but Bryant slips an elbow through the middle.

Bryant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Poli looking for a sweep. Not yet Poli, not yet.

Bryant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bryant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Poli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desean Bryant dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bryant gets the takedown into side control.
Poli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Poli is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Poli is looking for a sweep.
Bryant wants to control but Poli is keeping him busy.

Bryant working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Poli manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bryant's best efforts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poli is pressing down on Bryant's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Poli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Poli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bryant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bryant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bryant must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bryant stands up over Poli, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant lands a couple of elbows.

Poli has his foot on Bryant's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bryant works his way back into a safe position though.
Bryant postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bryant trying to control but Poli is working from the bottom.
Bryant keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Poli's head.
Bryant trying to control but Poli is working from the bottom.

Poli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bryant is aware though and is defending well.

Bryant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bryant is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Poli is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bryant defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bryant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Poli has his foot on Bryant's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bryant works his way back into a safe position though.
Bryant working some strikes from top position.
Bryant postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant with a nice head shot there.
Bryant is in close to Poli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bryant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bryant landing some decent shots from guard.
Bryant forces his way into half guard.

Bryant is working for a submission of some sort.
Poli is refusing to be controlled, as Bryant sits in half guard.

Bryant wants to work for an arm triangle but Poli is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bryant lands a nice short 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!

Poli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Poli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Poli.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Poli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bryant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bryant with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Poli wants to sweep here but Bryant controlling him for the moment.
Bryant is in close to Poli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Poli's brow.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bryant makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Bryant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bryant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bryant postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Poli's brow.

Bryant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bryant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poli is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bryant defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bryant's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bryant trying to control but Poli is working from the bottom.

Poli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Poli looking for a guillotine here but Bryant defends easily.
Poli keeping moving, preventing Bryant from controlling successfully.
Bryant landing with the ground and pound.

Bryant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bryant cracks Poli with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desean Bryant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Bryant is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Poli's half guard.

Bryant is looking for a kimura here.
Poli moves into full guard.
Bryant postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Poli keeping full guard, as Bryant tries to pass.
Bryant chips away with some ground and pound.
Bryant works over Poli with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bryant got a little sloppy there for a moment and Poli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bryant has managed to get both his arms back between Poli's legs - danger averted.

Poli had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bryant defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bryant chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant with a nice head shot there.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Bryant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Desean Bryant has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bryant cracks Poli with a solid left hand.
Bryant trying to control the position from guard on top but Poli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bryant works over Poli with some ground and pound from guard.
Bryant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Poli looking for a sweep. Not yet Poli, not yet.
Bryant with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bryant keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Poli's head.
Bryant is in close to Poli's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Poli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bryant works over Poli with some ground and pound from guard.
Bryant passes Poli's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bryant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant working Poli over with strikes.

Poli is rocked!

Bryant is working for a submission of some sort.
Oh Poli is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Poli manages to get to full guard.
Poli seems to have got his legs back now.

Poli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bryant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bryant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bryant wants to get up but he can't break Poli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Poli is looking for a triangle but Bryant pushes his legs off easily.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Poli's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bryant landing some decent shots from guard.
Bryant working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Poli's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poli is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bryant defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Poli is on top in guard.

Poli tries to free his leg and advance position but Bryant is retaining full guard.
Bryant trying to keep a closed guard but Poli is proving a slippery customer.
Bryant is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Bryant has his feet on Poli's thighs here. He's pushed Poli off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Poli screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Desean Bryant!