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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Mifsud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes to the cage accompanied by No Sunshine. Luther Pope could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Michael Mifsud's chin.
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| 172 cm
25
157 lbs
19 - 9 - 0 |
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170 cm
25
145 lbs
11 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed |
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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
19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Mifsud!
The judges for this bout are , and .
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mifsud fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pope manages to avoid it.
Pope missing with a left hand there. Mifsud was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pope throws a hook but Mifsud blocks it.
Pope lands an overhand right.
Pope misses with a looping right.
Mifsud goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A jab from Mifsud does it's job there.
Pope chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mifsud can pounce on him.
Pope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mifsud throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
Mifsud avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mifsud throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
Mifsud tries to bum rush Pope with a series of wild strikes but Pope uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Pope throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice jab there from Pope.
Mifsud takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Pope lands a really nice looking cross but Mifsud seems unphased.
Mifsud finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mifsud scores with a nice body kick.
Luther Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pope lands a really nice looking cross but Mifsud seems unphased.
Pope keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Mifsud misses.
Mifsud on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mifsud misses with the body kick
and Pope counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Mifsud steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pope.
Pope connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pope's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mifsud connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Pope scrambles back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mifsud is defended easily by Pope.
Pope misses with a looping right.
Mifsud displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pope throws out the jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mifsud.
A low kick from Mifsud is predictable there
and Pope counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mifsud lands a front kick.
Pope is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mifsud throws a half hearted mid kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to clinch up but Mifsud keeps it at a distance.
Pope slips under a jab.
Mifsud uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pope.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mifsud was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Pope thows a body shot but no joy.
Mifsud tries to land a leg kick but Pope saw it coming and moves away.
Pope misses the shot to the body.
Pope throws the kick towards the body but Mifsud avoids it.
Pope misses with a few strikes there.
Mifsud misses with a low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pope.
Mifsud closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pope circles away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mifsud throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Mifsud shoots in and drives through. Pope sprawls well.
Luther Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Mifsud.
Mifsud staying out of range there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Pope. Mifsud shrugs it off though.
Pope throws a leg kick but Mifsud checks it.
Pope does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pope throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mifsud swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Pope counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope thows a body shot but no joy.
Pope thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mifsud takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luther Pope 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.
Mifsud throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pope lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pope throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Mifsud counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pope's knee momentarily.
Good work by Pope as he checks the leg kick.
Mifsud misses with a leg kick
and Pope counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mifsud's knee momentarily.
Mifsud motions for Pope to come forward. Mifsud throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mifsud changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pope throws a looping overhand right but Mifsud ducks down to avoid it.
Mifsud is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pope rather than just go for the knockout.
Mifsud blocks a head kick by Pope.
Mifsud throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pope stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pope throws an overhand right that lands on Mifsud's shoulder, as Mifsud tries to avoid the shot.
Pope throws a poor cross that misses
and Mifsud counters with a good low kick that Pope was not able to check.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope lands a body shot.
Pope connects with a solid leg kick.
Mifsud misses with a leg kick
and Pope counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pope throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mifsud misses with a body kick.
A good leg kick by Pope.
Mifsud bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Mifsud goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pope has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mifsud but great work by Pope.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mifsud is trying to improve his position.
Pope stands up and we're back to a striking position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mifsud finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mifsud throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
Pope motions for Mifsud to come forward. Pope throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pope throws a low kick but Mifsud avoids it.
Mifsud motions for Pope to come forward. Mifsud throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mifsud moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mifsud.
Mifsud throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mifsud turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mifsud misses with a low kick.
Mifsud shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pope's guard.
Mifsud with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mifsud stays in close to Pope's body and controls the position.
Pope is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mifsud advances to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mifsud looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pope with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mifsud has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pope keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mifsud thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pope's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pope is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mifsud scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mifsud seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mifsud throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pope is looking for a sweep. Mifsud is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Mifsud showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Mifsud keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pope.
Pope with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pope. Mifsud does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mifsud moves away from the strike by Pope.
Mifsud misses with a body kick.
Pope takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pope throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mifsud.
Mifsud throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mifsud throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mifsud misses with a low kick as Pope jumps back.
Pope misses with a wild combination.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mifsud takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mifsud ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pope misses with a wild combination.
Mifsud jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pope misses with a hook.
Mifsud connects with a solid leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mifsud slips a jab from Pope.
Mifsud throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pope throws a hook to the side of Mifsud's head but Mifsud sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with a wild body shot.
Mifsud takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mifsud moves out of range of the strikes.
Mifsud turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mifsud throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Luther Pope is winning the standup battle so far.
Mifsud shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pope throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mifsud swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.
Mifsud misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Pope throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mifsud lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mifsud with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope lands with a right hand.
Mifsud fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pope to the ground. Mifsud is now in Pope's guard.
Mifsud trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mifsud throwing strikes from guard but Pope blocks nicely.
Mifsud sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mifsud throwing strikes but missing.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Mifsud from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope being controlled here, momentarily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mifsud tries to free his leg and advance position but Pope is retaining full guard.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Michael Mifsud hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Pope takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mifsud misses with a body kick.
Mifsud throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pope feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mifsud's calf.
And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Mifsud comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mifsud 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 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Mifsud!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
56% |
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