PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rolad Kjeldsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rolad Kjeldsson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kjeldsson
vs
Pope

190 cm
21
145 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

176 cm
26
152 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Vitality

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rolad Kjeldsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dean Pope!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kjeldsson pinned against the cage. Kjeldsson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kjeldsson connects with a single shot there.
Kjeldsson misses with a two punch combination.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Pope lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kjeldsson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kjeldsson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kjeldsson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Pope gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pope not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kjeldsson has hold of Pope's hands but Pope slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pope slips a nice elbow through Kjeldsson's hands, connecting with Kjeldsson's forehead.

Pope is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kjeldsson is just riding it out for now. Pope eventually gives up the hold.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pope wants to work for an arm triangle but Kjeldsson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pope is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kjeldsson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pope.
Kjeldsson is not content to let Pope control the position.

Pope is looking for a kimura but Kjeldsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pope to get the leverage.

Pope is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kjeldsson tries to roll over but Pope keeps him under control.
Kjeldsson keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson is looking to control Pope's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kjeldsson avoid being mounted?
Pope has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pope wants to control but Kjeldsson is keeping him busy.
Pope throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Pope is looking for a kimura here.
Kjeldsson wants to improve his position but Pope is controlling well.

Pope is looking for a kimura but Kjeldsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pope to get the leverage.
Kjeldsson wants to get back to his feet.

Pope is looking for a kimura here.
Pope is looking to stall here but Kjeldsson recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pope drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pope jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pope tries to free his leg and advance position but Kjeldsson is retaining full guard.
Pope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kjeldsson wants to stand and escape but Pope is having none of it.

Pope postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kjeldsson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pope, into his guard.
Kjeldsson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Pope had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kjeldsson defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope looking for a triangle here. Kjeldsson is fighting it but it looks tight! Pope pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Kjeldsson is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Dean Pope!
Dean Pope took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.