PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Pochettino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Galagher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pochettino
vs
Galagher

182 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Pochettino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zack Galagher!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Galagher. No joy for Pochettino on that attempt.
Pochettino will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pochettino throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Galagher's waist but Galagher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pochettino off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Pochettino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Galagher throws a head kick that misses.
Pochettino changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Galagher tries to avoid it but Pochettino manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Galagher to the ground. Galagher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Galagher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pochettino misses with the combination.
Pochettino shoots in but no luck this time.
Pochettino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Galagher.
Pochettino shoots for a takedown but Galagher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pochettino misses with a takedown attempt - Galagher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pochettino shoots in but no luck this time.
Pochettino's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Pochettino duly obliges.
Pochettino is breathing heavily.

Galagher pushes Pochettino up against the cage in a clinch.
Galagher drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pochettino pulls his leg out and moves away.

Pochettino fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Galagher sprawls well initially but Pochettino persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Galagher regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galagher is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Pochettino drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pochettino jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Galagher can do anything to dispel that myth.
Galagher manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pochettino is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Galagher lands a big shot there that rocks Pochettino but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pochettino is wriggling around trying to escape.
Galagher lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Pochettino hang on?
Galagher unloading with bombs!
Pochettino really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pochettino is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galagher breaks from Pochettino's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pochettino throwing hammer fists to the chest of Galagher. What's that going to do exactly?
Galagher landing shots from mount.
Galagher avoids the attempt from Pochettino to control.
Galagher with shots to the head and body - Pochettino looks very uncomfortable down there.
Pochettino gets back to half guard.
Galagher wants to get back to his feet.
Galagher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pochettino makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pochettino.
Pochettino is trying to keep Galagher in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galagher wants to stand but Pochettino has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Galagher really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pochettino. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Galagher wants to stand and escape but instead Pochettino has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pochettino sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Galagher's guard.
Pochettino wants to control but Galagher is keeping him busy.
Galagher wants to improve his position but Pochettino is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Galagher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pochettino frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Galagher is squirming around, avoiding Pochettino's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Galagher is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pochettino controlling the position easily from mount.
Galagher swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Pochettino breaks from Galagher's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Galagher defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pochettino.
Galagher tries to hold on but Pochettino postures up.
Pochettino tries to control but Galagher wriggling away.
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 Matt Pochettino will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Galagher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pochettino looks for a takedown but Galagher sprawls well.
Pochettino takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pochettino dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pochettino will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pochettino scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Pochettino shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Pochettino stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Galagher has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pochettino is trying to break free.

Pochettino has Galagher pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Pochettino pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Galagher tumbling to the mat - Pochettino dives into Galagher's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Galagher looking for a sweep. Not yet Galagher, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pochettino wants to pass the guard but Galagher is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galagher throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Galagher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pochettino is one step ahead there.
Pochettino trying to control the position from guard on top but Galagher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pochettino shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Galagher but Galagher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Pochettino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Galagher goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A nice combination there by Pochettino.
Pochettino stuffs the takedown attempt from Galagher. Galagher gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two 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.

Galagher scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Galagher is trying to move to mount but Pochettino reverses beautifully and ends up in Galagher's guard.
Galagher wants to sweep but no luck.
Galagher is looking to stand up but Pochettino isn't so interested in that idea.
Galagher trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Galagher looking for a sweep. Not yet Galagher, not yet.
Pochettino stands and throws Galagher's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pochettino looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Galagher throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Pochettino has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Galagher.
Pochettino lands an overhand right.
Galagher misses with a double jab.
Pochettino doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Galagher decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pochettino's guard.
Galagher postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pochettino manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Galagher manages to get himself to full guard.
Galagher wants to stand up but Pochettino is controlling him.

Pochettino drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pochettino jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pochettino thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Galagher wants to get back to his feet but Pochettino passes into half guard.

Pochettino is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Galagher doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pochettino.
Galagher missing with punches from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pochettino passes to full mount!

Pochettino is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Galagher is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matt Pochettino!