PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Joubert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Pope (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.

Joubert
vs
Pope

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Reaper Combatwear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Caleb Joubert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dean Pope!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joubert as he avoids it easily.
Joubert shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pope as he jumps to the side.
No luck for Pope with that takedown attempt.
Pope closes the distance and clinches up with Joubert, looking for a takedown. Pope pushes Joubert against the cage but Joubert circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Caleb Joubert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Pope.
Joubert shoots in for a double leg but Pope sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pope throws a leg kick but Joubert sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Joubert fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Joubert circles away.
Joubert needs to keep his hands up - Pope had a free shot at his head there.
Joubert looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Joubert persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.

Pope drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pope stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joubert swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joubert trying to keep a closed guard but Pope is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joubert throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joubert manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pope is desperately trying to improve his position but Joubert has a good base and remains in mount.
Joubert manages to capitalize on a mistake by Pope to take his back!
Joubert biding his time, looking for the opening.
Pope tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Joubert controlling from the full mount.
Joubert trying to control but Pope is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joubert controlling from the full mount.
Joubert misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Joubert throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Pope blocking the ground and pound.
Pope bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pope is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to pass the guard but Joubert is keeping the position.
Joubert can't keep his opponent in guard - Pope advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Pope is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Joubert sees it coming and defends easily.
Pope trying to pass the guard but Joubert defending well.

Joubert is defending against the submission attempts here by Pope.
Pope looks gassed!
Pope missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joubert trying to hold on to Pope's head to control him but Pope postures up.
Pope trying to control the action but Joubert is working from the bottom.
Pope might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Joubert kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Pope is working for an americana but Joubert has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Pope was thinking about the submission.
Joubert throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Joubert is proving hard to escape from.

Pope postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Joubert is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pope, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Pope dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joubert has Pope up against the cage in a clinch.

Joubert's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pope.
Pope looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joubert is fending him off so far but Pope persists. Nope, Joubert circles away and we're back to standing.
Dean Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pope stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pope wants it to stay on the feet.
Pope fails with the takedown.
Caleb Joubert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Pope.
Pope shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Joubert but Joubert pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A shot to the liver by Joubert. Beautiful body shot.
Joubert shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pope is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pope is defended easily by Joubert.
Joubert fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pope fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pope displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Joubert.
Joubert lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pope will feel that in the morning.
Pope shoots in and drives through. Joubert sprawls well.

Joubert closes the distance and clinches.
Pope tries for a takedown but Joubert manages to get underhooks.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Joubert has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pope down to the mat. Pope avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joubert misses with the combination.
Caleb Joubert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pope displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Joubert.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Joubert crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Pope - the referee stops the clock and Joubert gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Pope. Joubert manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Pope keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice takedown defense from Joubert. No joy for Pope on that attempt.
Joubert shoots in and drives through. Pope sprawls well.
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Joubert moves out of range easily.
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Joubert.
Pope shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joubert defends it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Joubert. No joy for Pope on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joubert is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pope shoots in and drives through. Joubert sprawls well.
Pope closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joubert circles away.
Pope ducks right into an uppercut from Joubert.
Caleb Joubert is winning the standup battle so far.

Joubert gets caught flat footed, as Pope shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Joubert holds on and takes a little breather.
Pope looking to pass the guard.
Pope throws a big right hand that misses.
Joubert wants to sweep here but Pope controlling him for the moment.

Pope drops back looking for a leg! Joubert is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Joubert manages to kick Pope off! Pope jumps back into Joubert's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to free his leg and advance position but Joubert is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joubert tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pope thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pope trying to control the position from guard on top but Joubert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joubert is pulling down on Pope's head to control his posture.
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 Caleb Joubert will probably get the nod.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pope misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pope tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Joubert swivels and escapes.
Joubert stuffs the takedown.
Caleb Joubert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Pope.
Pope avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pope takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Joubert darts in and clinches Pope up against the cage.
Joubert lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Joubert breaks the clinch.
Pope takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joubert is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pope sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Joubert leaves Pope with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Joubert closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joubert's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Joubert moves into range and connects with a jab.

Joubert closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pope has Joubert pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Joubert manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pope prevents a takedown attempt there.

Joubert breaks the clinch.
Joubert tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pope paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joubert lands with a slapping head kick.

Joubert closes the distance and clinches.
Joubert drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pope gets through Joubert's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is working for takedown but Joubert is calmly controlling the position for now.

Joubert breaks the clinch.
Joubert fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pope.
Joubert moves in looking to clinch but Pope pushes him off.

Joubert moves into range and clinches up with Pope.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pope can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to drag Joubert to the mat but Joubert just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Joubert has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pope is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pope wants to break free but Joubert has control.
A bit of stalling here from Joubert.
Joubert stops a takedown attempt from Pope.
Joubert landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Joubert jumps guard but Pope turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Pope has clasped his hands together around Joubert's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Joubert prevents Pope from moving into mount.
Joubert is trying to control Pope's posture but Pope avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope stands up.

Joubert gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pope wants to take the fight to the mat but Joubert manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Joubert.

Joubert pulls Pope into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pope decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Pope shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope shoots for a takedown but Joubert saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Joubert closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caleb Joubert showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joubert has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!