PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Pounds (ranked 2743 p4p, 252 weight class) and Raphaele Heisenberg (ranked 3045 p4p, 275 weight class). Heisenberg comes into a darkened arena with his song building. For Heavy Metal we will die! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pounds
vs
Heisenberg

168 cm
34
150 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

161 cm
32
140 lbs
14 - 4 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tanner Pounds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphaele Heisenberg!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heisenberg gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pounds looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Raphaele Heisenberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heisenberg cracks Pounds with a right hand to the side of the head.
Heisenberg cracks a nice hook into Pounds's ribs.
Heisenberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Heisenberg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Heisenberg jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Heisenberg takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pounds tries to work over Heisenberg's front leg with a kick but Heisenberg checks it.
Pounds blocks a jab.
Heisenberg lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heisenberg throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab lands there for Heisenberg.
Heisenberg swings widly with a right hand
and Pounds counters with a stiff right hand.
Heisenberg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pounds.
Heisenberg connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pounds. Pounds circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pounds takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Heisenberg lands with an overhand left.
Pounds fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Heisenberg 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.
Pounds looks to score with a jab to the body but Heisenberg is just out of range.
Pounds feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Heisenberg's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heisenberg fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A jab from Heisenberg finds it's way through Pounds's defenses.
Heisenberg takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pounds goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pounds looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pounds is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Heisenberg's half guard.
Pounds 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.
Pounds is keen to just control but Heisenberg is a slippery customer.
Pounds stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heisenberg wants to improve his position but Pounds is controlling well.
Pounds controlling the action here.
Heisenberg is not content to let Pounds control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heisenberg wants to improve his position but Pounds is controlling well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pounds landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Well, if Pounds is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nice strikes from Pounds there.

Pounds is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pounds wants to control but Heisenberg is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heisenberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Heisenberg trying to control but Pounds postures up.
Nice strikes from Pounds there.
Heisenberg trying to hold on to Pounds's head to control him but Pounds postures up.
Heisenberg tries to get to full guard but Pounds has control of the leg.
Heisenberg moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Heisenberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pounds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pounds wants to control from the top but Heisenberg keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds looking to pass the guard.
Pounds stopping the sweep attempt from Heisenberg.
Pounds cracks Heisenberg with a solid left hand.
Heisenberg being controlled here, momentarily.

Heisenberg is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pounds defends well.
Pounds works over Heisenberg with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pounds wants to control from the top but Heisenberg keeps moving.
Pounds advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tanner Pounds will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Heisenberg drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Heisenberg jabs Pounds right on the nose. Pounds blinks but takes it well.
Pounds buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pounds throws a body kick that misses.
Pounds uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heisenberg.
Pounds shoots in but no luck this time.
The fighters circling - Pounds throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pounds fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Heisenberg checks it well.
Pounds displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Heisenberg throws out the jab.
Pounds moves out of range of the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Heisenberg.
Pounds was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Pounds takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Raphaele Heisenberg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heisenberg scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donk. Pounds catches Heisenberg right on the button with a cross.

Pounds feints and as Heisenberg raises his hands in defense, Pounds changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pounds looking to sit in guard and control but Heisenberg gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pounds is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds working a defensive guard here.
Heisenberg distracts Pounds with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pounds is pulling down on Heisenberg's head to control his posture.
Pounds is trying to control the position but Heisenberg postures up.
Heisenberg stands up over Pounds, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pounds is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounds is pressing down on Heisenberg's thigh, looking to free his foot. Heisenberg is holding on for now.
Heisenberg trying to control from the bottom.
Heisenberg manages to get to full guard.

Heisenberg is looking for a triangle but Pounds pushes his legs off easily.
Heisenberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pounds is one step ahead there.

Heisenberg has his foot on Pounds's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pounds works his way back into a safe position though.
Pounds works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Heisenberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pounds is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heisenberg tries to get to full guard but Pounds has control of the leg.
Pounds lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Heisenberg tries to roll over but Pounds keeps him under control.
Pounds is taking a breather. Heisenberg says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Heisenberg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pounds pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Pounds there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Pounds trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Heisenberg manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Heisenberg is looking to work some ground and pound but Pounds has wrist control.
Pounds trying to keep a closed guard but Heisenberg is proving a slippery customer.
Heisenberg controlling from the top position.
Pounds keeping moving, preventing Heisenberg from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raphaele Heisenberg will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Heisenberg blocks a jab.
Heisenberg throws out a counter right but Pounds avoids it with no problem.
Pounds pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Heisenberg fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pounds looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Heisenberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pounds feinted with a counter takedown.
Heisenberg jabs Pounds to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pounds is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Heisenberg misses with a double jab.
Heisenberg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Heisenberg throws a hook but Pounds blocks it.
Heisenberg lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Pounds as Heisenberg shoots in.

Heisenberg gets the takedown into side control.
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!
Pounds is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pounds controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Pounds has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Heisenberg is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds gets back to full guard.
Heisenberg is working Pounds over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pounds bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Heisenberg's guard.

Heisenberg working for a triangle but Pounds defends it easily.
Pounds trying to control but Heisenberg is working from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounds trying to control but Heisenberg is working from the bottom.

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

Heisenberg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pounds defends it easily.

Heisenberg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Heisenberg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pounds's guard.

Pounds is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Heisenberg wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounds looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Heisenberg with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pounds controlling the action here.
Pounds working the head and body with strikes.
Heisenberg is not content to let Pounds control the position.
Heisenberg is trying to get back to full guard.
Pounds content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Heisenberg tries to roll over but Pounds keeps him under control.
Pounds looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds wants to pass to mount but Heisenberg is defending the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Heisenberg manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pounds sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Heisenberg is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pounds preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pounds slips nicely into half guard.
Pounds is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Heisenberg!
Heisenberg is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphaele Heisenberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heisenberg has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphaele Heisenberg!
Raphaele Heisenberg was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.