PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fran Popovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gomer Pyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fran Popovich could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Gomer Pyle's chin.

Popovich
vs
Pyle

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fran Popovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gomer Pyle!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Pyle. No joy for Popovich on that attempt.
Popovich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pyle circles away.
Pyle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pyle shoots in and bounces Popovich off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Popovich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popovich wants to sweep but no luck.

Popovich is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Popovich prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pyle has had enough of the clinch but Popovich keeps him there for the moment.

Popovich has clasped his hands together around Pyle's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The strikes coming from Popovich are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Popovich stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pyle fails with a takedown attempt.
Pyle looks gassed!

Popovich looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Popovich postures up in Pyle's guard and throws a big left but Pyle blocks it.
Popovich content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pyle swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich postures up in Pyle's guard and throws a big left but Pyle blocks it.
Pyle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Popovich wants to control from the top but Pyle keeps moving.
Popovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pyle swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pyle tries for a takedown but Popovich circles away easily

and Popovich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pyle won't be happy with that.
Fran Popovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gomer Pyle.
Pyle tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich is looking to take a break and control but Pyle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Popovich in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Popovich has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Popovich trying to control the position but Pyle is working away.

Popovich decides to stand back up.
Popovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pyle misses with the combination.
Popovich misses with a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Popovich. No joy for Pyle on that attempt.

Pyle gets caught flat footed, as Popovich shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovich passes Pyle's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Popovich content to control rather than advance.
Popovich prevents Pyle from improving his position.
Pyle wants to get back to full guard but Popovich has passed into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popovich sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Popovich looking to control but Pyle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fran Popovich dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Popovich drives through and clinches with Pyle against the cage.
Popovich wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pyle stops a takedown attempt from Popovich.
Pyle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Popovich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pyle trying to land knees to the body.
Popovich misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pyle.
Popovich is looking to break free of the clinch but Pyle has double underhooks.
Pyle looking to throw knees to the head but Popovich is blocking nicely.
Pyle prevents Popovich from breaking the clinch.

Pyle is fighting off a takedown attempt but Popovich is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pyle to the mat. Pyle regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Pyle is looking to stand up but Popovich isn't so interested in that idea.
Popovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Pyle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popovich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pyle is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popovich gets to his feet. Pyle looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popovich closes the distance and clinches up with Pyle, looking for a takedown. Popovich pushes Pyle against the cage but Pyle circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Popovich missing with a left hand there. Pyle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Popovich closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Popovich lands in his opponent's guard.

Pyle looking for a guillotine here but Popovich defends easily.
Popovich is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pyle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Popovich is controlling him.
Pyle keeping moving, preventing Popovich from controlling successfully.
Pyle wants to get back to his feet but Popovich is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Popovich controls from within his opponent's guard.

Pyle has his feet on Popovich's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popovich darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pyle is staying active underneath Popovich, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Popovich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pyle's head.
Popovich has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pyle can't escape the position.
Popovich sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Popovich sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovich looking to ground and pound but Pyle is blocking nicely.
Popovich sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Pyle wants to control but Popovich is having none of it.
Popovich tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Popovich has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Popovich punching from mount but Pyle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fran Popovich dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pyle misses with a takedown

and Popovich decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pyle's guard.
Popovich wants to control from the top but Pyle keeps moving.
Pyle trying to control the position.

Popovich drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Popovich seems to have locked his on tight now - Pyle screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Popovich, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Fran Popovich!