PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devon Arias (ranked 5012 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robo Pope (ranked 14007 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope has chosen Ghost - Monstrance Clock as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Arias
vs
Pope

196 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
46
351 lbs
10 - 70 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Devon Arias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 70 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robo Pope!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arias looks for a takedown but Pope sprawls well.
Pope looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Pope misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pope throws a head kick but Arias moves out of range.
Arias tries for a takedown but Pope sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pope throws a lazy head kick
and Arias counters with a series of strikes. Pope will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pope throws a head kick that misses.

Pope tries to sprawl but Arias drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Arias is working for a kimura but Pope is defending it quite comfortably.
Arias content to control rather than advance.

Arias decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Pope 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arias throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pope tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Arias is in Pope's guard.

Pope manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Pope tries to clinch there but Arias circles away.

Pope moves into the clinch.
Arias is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pope is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Arias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope tries to break free but Arias pushes him back against the cage.
Arias has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pope after a bit of a struggle.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Arias tries for a takedown but Pope manages to get underhooks.
Arias is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pope pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to force a seperation but Arias has the dominant position.

Arias escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Pope. No joy for Arias on that attempt.
Pope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arias.

Pope takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arias keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Pope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arias shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pope defends it nicely.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Arias moves out of range easily.
Robo Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick
and Arias counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a head kick that misses
and Arias counters with a series of strikes. Pope will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pope misses with a head kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Arias misses the target.
Arias cracks Pope with a good jab.
Pope tries to clinch but Arias moves away
letting Arias counter with a right hand.

Pope fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arias, pushing him back against the cage.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope is looking to break free of the clinch but Arias has double underhooks.

Arias manages to break the clinch.
Arias tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pope sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Arias somewhat.
Pope throws a head kick that misses.

Arias shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arias throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Pope to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arias is looking to work some ground and pound but Pope has wrist control.
Arias wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Arias drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pope looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pope looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pope!

Pope decides to stand back up.

Arias tries to keep at a distance but Pope has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Arias goes for a takedown attempt but Pope pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robo Pope will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arias closes the distance and clinches up with Pope, looking for a takedown. Arias pushes Pope against the cage but Pope circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Robo Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arias throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Pope clinches.
Arias looking to stall.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Pope throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arias lands a jab to the nose.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Arias swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pope tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Arias counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Pope as Arias shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pope misses with a head kick.

Pope rushes Arias and presses him up against the cage.
Arias changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pope fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Arias. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pope instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pope wants to get back to striking at distance but Arias won't allow it.
Arias has Pope pressed against the cage, preventing Pope from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Arias is looking for a takedown.

Arias breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Pope.
As Pope looks to move away, Arias throws a big counter combo but Pope just gets out of the way.
A head kick by Pope misses
enabling Arias to counter with a crisp jab.
Arias shoots in but Pope avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Robo Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arias misses with a takedown attempt - Pope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pope is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arias swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Arias moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Arias or perhaps it was just good defense by Pope, which made it look bad.
Arias looks for a takedown but Pope sprawls well.
Pope throws a counter combo.
Pope tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Arias went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Arias shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pope sprawls well. Pope wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Arias gets slowly back to his feet.
Pope tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pope pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Arias goes for a double leg but Pope avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pope continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Arias looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Arias persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.

Pope fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arias, pushing him back against the cage.

Arias breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope is looking to clinch but Arias is avoiding it.
Arias scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Arias closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pope to the mat! Pope manages to get full guard.

Pope has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Arias has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope is trying to force a seperation but Arias has the dominant position.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Arias pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Devon Arias is winning the standup battle so far.
Pope pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Arias avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Arias misses the target.

Arias closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pope quickly recovers to half guard.

Pope manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arias lands with a right hand.
Pope tries a head kick but it misses.
Pope stuffs the takedown attempt from Arias. Arias gets slowly back to his feet.

Pope clinches.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Arias shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pope misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pope throws a head kick but Arias moves out of range.
Arias shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pope eats them both and turns towards Arias to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Pope displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arias.
Pope misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robo Pope 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!

Pope pushes Arias up against the cage in a clinch.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pope gets underhooks to prevent Arias's takedown attempt.

Arias's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arias shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense.
Donk. Arias catches Pope right on the button with a cross.
Pope tries a head kick but it misses.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Arias is looking to counter punch.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Arias was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Arias is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Arias shoots in but Pope avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Arias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pope closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arias stalling in the clinch but Pope improves position.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Arias has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pope breaks the clinch.
Arias scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pope in his tracks.
Pope tries to clinch up
and Arias counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Pope gets a clinch.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pope wants to break free but Arias has control.
Pope is trying to force a seperation but Arias has the dominant position.
Arias wants a takedown but no success here.
Pope wants to get back to striking at distance but Arias won't allow it.
Arias tries to throw a body punch but Pope avoids it by throwing Arias back against the cage.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Arias breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Pope rushes Arias and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arias breaks from the clinch.
Pope tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Arias was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Pope stuffs the takedown.
Pope takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Arias fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pope tries to clinch but Arias moves out of range.
Arias swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Pope rushes Arias and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pope instigates a clinch.

Arias's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Pope wants to clinch but Arias slips to the side
and Arias counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pope stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pope wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pope has Arias up against the cage in a clinch.
Pope is trying to force a seperation but Arias has the dominant position.
Pope gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arias.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Pope rushes Arias and presses him up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pope as Arias tries to tie him up.
Pope tries to break free but Arias pushes him back against the cage.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Robo Pope seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Arias changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pope fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Pope closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arias breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Pope has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Arias is controlling him.
Pope wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Arias has him pressed against the cage.

Arias breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope ducks right into an uppercut from Arias.
Arias dives in for a single leg takedown but Pope sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Despite the aggression on Pope's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Pope tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck for Arias with that takedown attempt.
Pope moves to clinch but Arias breaks away
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Devon Arias has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pope misses with a head kick.
Arias throwing a counter right hand but Pope manages to avoid it.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Arias.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robo Pope comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pope 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robo Pope!
Robo Pope took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Thank you for your cooperation. God bless.'.