PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Gravano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Pollock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gravano
vs
Pollock

176 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
29
153 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sammy Gravano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Pollock!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gravano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pollock drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gravano defends it well.
Gravano has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Body Pain_14elite_700$+VM in the buildup to the fight.
Gravano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gravano is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pollock sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Gravano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gravano shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pollock as he jumps to the side.
Gravano tries to clinch
and Pollock counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pollock misses with a head kick.
Pollock throws a front kick aimed at Gravano's knee but Gravano avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pollock has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pollock jumps guard but Gravano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gravano tries to score a body lock takedown but Pollock shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pollock is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gravano is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pollock tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gravano just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pollock drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gravano pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gravano keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gravano misses with a head kick.
Gravano moves out of range of the leg kick from Pollock.

Pollock gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gravano has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pollock after a bit of a struggle.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gravano is trying to drag Pollock to the mat but Pollock just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pollock tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gravano just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pollock is struggling to control the position.
Pollock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gravano's efforts to push away.

Gravano pulls Pollock into guard.
Pollock trying to control but Gravano is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pollock stopping the sweep attempt from Gravano.
Gravano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pollock.
Pollock is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Pollock has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gravano working a defensive guard but Pollock passes into half guard.
Gravano wants to control but Pollock is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pollock throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gravano to regain full guard.
Gravano wants to stand up but Pollock is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pollock wants to stand but Gravano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gravano scores with a push kick.
Gravano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pollock as he avoids it easily.
Gravano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Henry Pollock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gravano has a takedown stuffed.
Pollock tries to counter by closing the distance.
Pollock throws a leg kick that misses.
Gravano feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Pollock dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gravano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pollock.
Gravano shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pollock connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pollock misses with a straight left.
Pollock fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gravano checks it well.
Pollock throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pollock slaps away a takedown attempt from Gravano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pollock tests Gravano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pollock just misses with a punch to the body.
Gravano is looking to counter the offense by Pollock and move into the clinch.
Pollock shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pollock avoids the head kick by Gravano.
Henry Pollock seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pollock cracks Gravano with a good jab.
Pollock wants to slow Gravano down by chopping away at his legs.
Gravano lands with a kick to the ribs.
Pollock circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gravano throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gravano is looking to clinch.
Sammy Gravano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gravano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Gravano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Pollock misses.
Pollock throws a head kick that misses.
Pollock throws a head kick but Gravano moves out of range.
Gravano blocks a head kick by Pollock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gravano clinches up against the cage.
Gravano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pollock.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gravano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gravano looks for a takedown but Pollock sprawls well.
Despite the aggression on Pollock's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Pollock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gravano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gravano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pollock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pollock jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pollock lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gravano moves out of range as Pollock throws a body kick.
Pollock has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pollock misses with a looping left.
Pollock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gravano with a poor takedown
and Pollock counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gravano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gravano looks for a takedown but Pollock sprawls well.
Gravano misses with a kick to the body
and Pollock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pollock throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gravano sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pollock misses with a combination
and Gravano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick misses from Gravano.
Pollock drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gravano defends it well.
Pollock looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pollock throws a hook but Gravano blocks it.
Gravano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pollock circles away.
Gravano is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pollock sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Pollock fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gravano, pushing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gravano is trying to pull guard but Pollock turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Gravano.
Gravano fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Pollock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gravano closes the distance and clinches up with Pollock, looking for a takedown. Gravano pushes Pollock against the cage but Pollock circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sammy Gravano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pollock swings for the body but Gravano moves out of range.
Pollock misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gravano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pollock swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd cheers as Pollock lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gravano doesn't seem phased though.
No joy there for Gravano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gravano throws a head kick that half lands.
Gravano ducks under a wild hook from Pollock.

Gravano moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gravano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pollock misses with a few strikes there.
Pollock tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pollock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gravano appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gravano turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gravano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pollock manages to avoid it.
Gravano fails with the takedown.
Gravano keeps Pollock at a distance using the push kick.
Gravano darts in looking for a takedown but Pollock gets double underhooks and turns Gravano into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Gravano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gravano has his takedown stuffed

and Pollock counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pollock is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gravano to keep the fight standing.
Gravano goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pollock prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pollock breaks from the clinch.

Pollock moves into the clinch.
Gravano is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Pollock manages to pull guard.
Gravano passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pollock can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pollock is trying to control Gravano's posture but Gravano avoids it.
Pollock tries to buck Gravano off but Gravano is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Pollock is right now.
Pollock wants to get back to his feet but Gravano drags him back down.

Gravano stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Pollock looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gravano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pollock circles away.
Gravano tries for a takedown but Pollock circles away easily
and Pollock counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gravano tries to clinch up but Pollock circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pollock scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gravano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pollock manages to avoid it.

Gravano has closed the distance and engaged Pollock in a clinch.
Pollock tries to pull guard but Gravano won't allow it.
Pollock tries to pull guard but Gravano holds him up against the cage and eventually Pollock drops back down to his feet.
Pollock is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gravano is defending well for now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pollock takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gravano prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Pollock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pollock winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Pollock!