PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Podolski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Junior
vs
Podolski

180 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bobby Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucas Podolski!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior has a takedown stuffed.
Podolski stuffs the takedown.
Podolski wants to clinch.
Junior closes this distance looking for a takedown but Podolski circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Junior looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Podolski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Junior tries to free his leg and advance position but Podolski is retaining full guard.
Junior is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Podolski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Junior passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podolski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Junior's best efforts.
Podolski is looking for a sweep. Junior is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Podolski is trying to control but Junior manages to pass to mount!
Podolski tries to improve his position but instead Junior has taken his back!
Junior slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Junior is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Junior gets his hands free as Podolski looks to control.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Podolski tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Podolski tries to control Junior's body but Junior pushes him off. Podolski squirms to his side and now Junior has his back!
Junior has good solid back control here.
Junior missing with strikes.
Podolski just trying to survive but Junior is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Podolski rolls, trying to escape but Junior keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Podolski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Junior struggling to keep hold of the position.
Junior lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Junior.

Junior patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Junior is controlling the position but Podolski somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Podolski shoots in but Junior avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Podolski misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Podolski shoots and misses

so Junior counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Junior got a little sloppy there for a moment and Podolski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Junior has managed to get both his arms back between Podolski's legs - danger averted.
Junior stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Podolski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Junior loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Podolski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Podolski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Junior dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Podolski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Junior manages to avoid it.
Junior takes one to the chin there.
Junior shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Podolski sprawls well. Podolski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Junior tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Podolski swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Podolski as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Podolski tries for a takedown but Junior circles away easily

and Junior moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podolski lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Junior or not.
Podolski tries to circle away but Junior has him pinned against the cage.
Podolski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Junior backwards.
Junior's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Junior fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Podolski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Podolski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Junior taking a breather.
Podolski tries to break free but Junior pushes him back against the cage.
Podolski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Junior.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Junior working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Podolski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Junior tries to pull guard but Podolski holds him up against the cage and eventually Junior drops back down to his feet.

Junior escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Podolski is looking to clinch but Junior is avoiding it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Podolski!
Junior tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Junior slips a jab and a cross from Podolski.
Podolski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Junior moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Podolski lands with a right hand.
Junior takes one to the chin there.
Podolski scores with a one two! Junior had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Podolski moves in looking to clinch but Junior pushes him off.
Podolski shoots in for a double leg but Junior sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bobby Junior is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Podolski wants to clinch.
Bobby Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Podolski tries to clinch up but Junior circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Podolski throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Junior throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Podolski's head.

Junior clinches with his opponent.
Podolski works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Podolski tries to break free but Junior pushes him back against the cage.
Podolski tries a body shot but Junior blocks it.
Podolski is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Junior is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Junior tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Junior escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Podolski shoots in looking for a takedown. Junior tries to sprawl out of it but Podolski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Junior manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Podolski defending well as Junior loads up on a big left hand.
Podolski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Podolski moves into the clinch.
Junior tries to pull guard but Podolski holds him up against the cage and eventually Junior drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Podolski struggles to land a body shot inside as Junior controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Podolski fails to land.
Podolski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Podolski stops a takedown attempt from Junior.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Podolski tries to break free but Junior pushes him back against the cage.
Junior stalling the fight.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Junior breaks from the clinch.
Junior fails with an attempt to clinch.
Junior closes this distance looking for a takedown but Podolski circles away.
Podolski has his takedown stuffed

and Junior counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Podolski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Junior tries to move into full mount but can't pass Podolski's legs.
Podolski is looking to reverse the position.
Junior is looking to take a break and control but Podolski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Junior wants to stand but Podolski has his arm trapped.

Junior tries for a kimura but Podolski is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Podolski is looking for a sweep.
Junior trying to control the position but Podolski is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Podolski scores with a nice right hand.
Junior closes the distance and clinches up with Podolski, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes Podolski against the cage but Podolski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Podolski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Podolski scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Junior will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Junior checks a leg kick.
Lucas Podolski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Junior circles away from the clinch attempt.
Junior shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Podolski sprawls well. Podolski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Podolski tries to close the distance and clinch but Junior swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Podolski tries for a takedown but Junior sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bobby Junior is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Podolski looks for the body kick but Junior saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Junior, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Junior!