PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eli Gull (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Gull
vs
Pope

172 cm
24
156 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

172 cm
20
157 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

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 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eli Gull!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gull lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Luther Pope has been cut.
Pope misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gull tries to move into range but Pope moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pope fails to land with a series of punches.

Gull shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pope manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gull wants to pass the guard but Pope is keeping the position.
Pope is looking to stand up but Gull isn't so interested in that idea.
Gull trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gull is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope wants to get back to his feet but Gull passes into half guard.
Pope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gull.
Gull missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gull thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gull with a hook.
Pope throws a series of punches but Gull moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope stalks Gull and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gull's face. Gull staggers backwards, shaken.
Pope scores with a jab to the head.
A punch lands to the side of Pope 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A swing and a miss from Gull.
A right-left combo lands from Pope.
Gull takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gull moves out of range of the strikes.
Pope ducks under a wild hook from Gull.
Gull misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gull throws a hook but Pope avoids it easily.
Pope thuds a left hand into Gull's body.
Pope paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gull paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gull shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gull showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Gull content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is pressing down on Gull's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gull sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gull in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pope trying to control the position.
Pope wants to get back to his feet but Gull is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Gull from controlling successfully.
Gull postures up in Pope's guard and throws a big left but Pope blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gull dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luther Pope's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gull uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pope has time to react.
Gull jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pope moves out of range as Gull strikes.
Gull keeps the fight on the outside.
No joy there for Pope, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pope's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Pope duly obliges.
Gull scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pope tries to bum rush Gull with a series of wild strikes but Gull uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pope misses with a body shot.
Pope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gull.
Gull fails to land the takedown.
Pope takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Pope is rocked!
Pope closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice shot lands for Pope.
Luther Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gull shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pope as he avoids it easily.
Gull pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gull missing with a left hand there. Pope was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gull throws an overhand right that lands on Pope's shoulder, as Pope tries to avoid the shot.
Gull lands with a cross.
Pope is still on wobbly legs! Can Gull finish him?
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pope seems to have recovered his senses.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gull misses with a hook. Pope ducked under it nicely.
Gull takes a swing at Pope's ribcage but misses.
Pope misses with an uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Gull.
Gull is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Gull doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pope scoring well with a low kick there.

Pope has Gull up against the cage in a clinch.

Pope breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gull.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eli Gull. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gull throws the left hand but Pope avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gull shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pope as he jumps to the side.
Nice body punch from Pope.
Gull is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pope.
Gull slips a jab and a cross from Pope.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pope. Gull does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pope feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gull's calf.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Gull circles away.
Pope fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gull looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gull throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pope digs a good body shot into Gull's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gull takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pope moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A nice combination there by Pope.
Pope scores with a nice strike.
Pope scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope lands a right hook to the body.
Pope throws a combination. Gull tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pope lands a body shot.
Luther Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gull on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pope. Pope obviously looking to wear him down.
Pope lands a nice looking body shot.
Pope tests Gull's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gull on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gull circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gull misses the shot to the body.
Pope lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gull backs up against the cage.
Pope tries to clinch but Gull is having none of it.
Pope scores with a decent looking hook.
Luther Pope seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pope clobbers Gull with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pope lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pope lands with a nice combination. Gull backs away looking to recover.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pope displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gull throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pope is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gull rather than just go for the knockout.
Pope looks to land a combination. Gull sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Luther Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Gull misses.
Pope tries to clinch there but Gull circles away.
Pope lands with a shot to the body.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Gull.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gull's efforts to push away.
Gull tries to pull guard but Pope won't allow it.

Gull breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gull shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gull on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gull chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pope can pounce on him.
Pope connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd cheers as Pope lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gull doesn't seem phased though.
Pope throws a series of strikes that have Gull backpedaling.
Pope throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gull.
Pope throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gull stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Pope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luther Pope's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice body punch from Pope.
Pope tries to clinch up but Gull circles away and keeps his distance.
Gull walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A punch lands to the side of Gull 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pope lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gull circles away quickly and effectively.
Pope takes one to the side of the head.
Gull takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pope with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pope connects with a nice looking jab.
Pope scores with a nice right hand.
Gull slips a straight right by Pope.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pope!
Gull looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gull takes a swing at Pope's ribcage but misses.
Gull changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pope is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pope scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gull takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gull throws an overhand right that lands on Pope's shoulder, as Pope tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Gull misses.
Pope thuds his right hand into Gull's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gull digs a good body shot into Pope's ribs.
Gull throws a big shot that misses.
Pope fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gull keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gull takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Pope throws a nice looking combination but Gull bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gull scores with the left hand. Pope knows he should have avoided that one.
Gull misses the body punch
and Pope counters with a stiff right hand.
Pope fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pope throws a solid leg kick but Gull takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Pope.
Pope lands with an overhand left.
Nice takedown defense from Pope. No joy for Gull on that attempt.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gull has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pope.
Gull tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pope looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gull is fending him off so far but Pope persists. Nope, Gull circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick lands from Pope.
Gull shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pope defends it nicely.
Pope catches Gull with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pope lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Pope.
Pope tries to bum rush Gull with a series of wild strikes but Gull uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gull will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pope dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Pope clinches up with Gull and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope pushes Gull back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Pope as the two fighters clinch.
Gull blocks a body shot from Pope.
Pope lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pope presses Gull against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Pope working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pope trying to control the position but instead, Gull has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pope into the cage.
Pope lands a body shot.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Gull controls the action.
Nice body punch from Pope - that landed with a thud.
Pope throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gulls head.
Gull can't break the clinch.
Gull tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
Pope lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pope lands with a right to the head.
Gull tries to land knees in the clinch but Pope avoids the damage to the body.
Pope lands a right hand.
Pope works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gull is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pope lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Pope as the two fighters clinch.
Pope gets through Gull's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pope.
Pope lands a nice shot to the body.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope pushes Gull up against the cage in a clinch.
Pope throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gulls head.
A short uppercut from Pope.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pope lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gull backwards.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pope.
Nice body punch from Pope - that landed with a thud.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pope jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice cross by Pope.
Pope scores with a nice right hand.
Pope throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gull on the side of the head.
Gull changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pope tries to avoid it but Gull manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pope to the ground. Pope escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eli Gull. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pope moves into the clinch successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope lands a body shot.
Pope lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gull or not.
A body shot lands from Pope.
Pope lands a body shot.
Nice body punch from Pope - that landed with a thud.
A hook to the body from Pope.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luther Pope comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pope 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luther Pope!