PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Ippolito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tong Po (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Francesco Ippolito could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tong Po's chin.

Ippolito
vs
Po

180 cm
25
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francesco Ippolito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tong Po!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Po moves into the clinch.
Ippolito misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Po.
Po taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Po gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Po won't allow Ippolito to sweep him here.
Po throws a big elbow that misses.
Po wants to control from the top but Ippolito keeps moving.
Po wants to pass the guard but Ippolito is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Po trying to control but Ippolito is working from the bottom.
Ippolito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Po is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ippolito working for a triangle but Po defends it easily.
Po trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ippolito's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po trying to control but Ippolito is working from the bottom.
Po with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ippolito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Po trying to control but Ippolito is working from the bottom.
Ippolito wants to sweep but no luck.
Po wants to control from the top but Ippolito keeps moving.
Po working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ippolito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Po trying to control the position from guard on top but Ippolito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Po shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ippolito manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Po working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ippolito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Po wants to pass the guard but Ippolito is keeping the position.
Ippolito wants to sweep but no luck.
Ippolito is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Po can do anything to dispel that myth.
Po wants to get back to full guard.
Po wants to control but Ippolito is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ippolito moves into full mount! Po won't be happy about that!
Ippolito looking to finish with strikes here!
Ippolito throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ippolito landing punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ippolito raining down shots from the mount!
Po is looking to get to half guard.
Ippolito working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ippolito punishing his opponent with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Po taking shots to the head.
Ippolito working the ground and pound effectively.

Po is rocked!
Po taking shots to the head.
Po is still in real trouble! Can Ippolito finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ippolito cracks Po with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Francesco Ippolito!