PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Poppy (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.

Paul
vs
Poppy

185 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Poppy!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul tries to clinch there but Poppy circles away.
Paul cracks a nice hook into Poppy's ribs.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Poppy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Poppy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paul.
Paul has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paul.
Paul looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Paul misses with a low kick.

Paul gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Poppy has had enough of the clinch but Paul keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul drops down looking for an ankle pick but Poppy pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paul is looking to score with low kicks.

Paul clinches up with Poppy and pushes him back against the cage.
Paul is looking for a takedown.
Paul tries to pull guard but Poppy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Poppy can't break the clinch.
Paul is trying to pull guard but Poppy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Paul breaks the clinch.

Poppy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppy passes Paul's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Poppy is taking a breather. Paul says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Paul on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Paul tries to get out of the position.

Poppy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Paul is just riding it out for now. Poppy eventually gives up the hold.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Poppy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Paul trying to hold on to Poppy's head to control him but Poppy postures up.
Paul might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poppy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Paul is just riding it out for now. Poppy eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paul is looking to control Poppy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Paul avoid being mounted?
Paul is staying active underneath Poppy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Poppy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Paul doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Poppy.
Paul trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poppy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Paul knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Poppy on the ground.
Poppy controlling the action here.

Poppy wants to work for an arm triangle but Paul is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Paul wants to get back to full guard.
Paul tries to kick Poppy off in order to stand up. Poppy Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paul wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Poppy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Poppy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Paul, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Poppy dominated that round.
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.

Poppy attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Paul throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poppy's waist but Poppy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paul off to one side.
Paul fails in his attempt to clinch.

Paul clinches with his opponent.
Poppy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Paul jumps guard but Poppy turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Poppy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Paul pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paul will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Paul. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Poppy tries to avoid it but Paul manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Poppy to the ground. Poppy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Poppy shoots in looking for a takedown. Paul tries to sprawl out of it but Poppy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Paul manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paul.
Poppy slips a jab and a cross from Paul.
Paul throws a series of punches but Poppy moves out of range.
Poppy pivots, looking for a leg kick but Paul is out of range and Poppy settles back down.
Paul fails with an attempt to clinch.
Poppy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Poppy wants it to stay on the feet.
Poppy swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Poppy swats away the attempt to clinch by Paul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppy misses with a low kick.
Poppy wants to land a leg kick but Paul is out of range.
Paul tries for a takedown but Poppy circles away easily

and Poppy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Poppy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Poppy is pushing down on Paul's leg trying to pass to half guard. Paul is fighting to maintain full guard but Poppy has managed to sneak the leg through.

Poppy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Paul doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Poppy.

Poppy is trying to work for a kimura but Paul is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppy seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Poppy moves into full mount! Paul won't be happy about that!
Poppy moves to back control.

Paul won't enjoy being in this position. Poppy looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Paul is tapping - it's over boys! Poppy picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nick Poppy!