PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anton Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evert Bosma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bosma has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music. Anton Pope has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pope
vs
Bosma

206 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

191 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anton Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Evert Bosma!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bosma clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.
Pope jumps guard but Bosma stands there with Pope around his waist. Pope gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bosma tries to break free but Pope pushes him back against the cage.
Bosma tries to circle away but Pope has him pinned against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pope really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bosma is trying to force a seperation but Pope has the dominant position.
Bosma blocks a body shot from Pope.

Pope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Bosma circles away.
Bosma tries for a takedown but Pope sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bosma changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pope tries to avoid it but Bosma 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 one minute gone in the round.
Bosma misses with a two punch combination.

Bosma fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pope, pushing him back against the cage.
Pope effectively controlling the action here.

Pope pulls Bosma into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pope being controlled here, momentarily.

Pope has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bosma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pope controlling the position.
Pope is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anton Pope has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pope fails with the takedown.
Pope shoots in for a takedown but Bosma shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anton Pope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope shoots in looking for a takedown but Bosma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pope's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pope works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bosma shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pope pinned against the cage. Pope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bosma misses with a double jab.

Pope feints and as Bosma raises his hands in defense, Pope changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pope has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bosma is proving hard to escape from.
Bosma wants to hit a switch here but Pope passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bosma there!
Bosma holds on for dear life, controlling Pope's posture momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pope can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bosma is looking to escape.
Pope controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bosma sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Pope dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bosma shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pope pinned against the cage. Pope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bosma shoots in but no luck this time.
Bosma throws a leg kick but Pope sees it coming and checks it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bosma shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pope counters with a two punch combo.
Anton Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evert Bosma.
Nice takedown defense from Bosma. No joy for Pope on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bosma looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bosma takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bosma throws a hook but Pope blocks it.

Bosma clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.

Pope manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pope working a defensive guard here.
Pope looking for a sweep. Not yet Pope, not yet.
Bosma trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pope looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope pulls Bosma in close to prevent any damage.

Anton Pope has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pope tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bosma defends well and Pope ends up having to push Bosma into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pope has Bosma pressed against the cage.
Pope misses with a body punch.
Bosma displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pope up against the cage.
Bosma is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is pushing Bosma up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pope tries to pull guard but Bosma forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pope's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nice body punch from Bosma.
Pope jumps guard but Bosma stands there with Pope around his waist. Pope gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pope tries to pull guard but Bosma won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bosma is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bosma is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pope gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bosma looking to stall.
Bosma scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pope tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bosma smiles and moves away.

Bosma clinches with his opponent.
Pope is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
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 Anton Pope will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pope's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bosma gets a clinch.

Bosma pulls guard.
Bosma wants to sweep but no luck.
Bosma trying to keep a closed guard but Pope is proving a slippery customer.
Pope trying to control but Bosma is working from the bottom.
Pope controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pope seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bosma for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Anton Pope wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bosma closes the distance and pushes Pope back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bosma gets underhooks to prevent Pope's takedown attempt.
Pope landing knees to the body.
Bosma controlling the action here for a moment.
Pope has Bosma pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bosma manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pope is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bosma is defending well for now.
Bosma is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pope pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pope comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bosma is looking to break free of the clinch but Pope has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Bosma shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pope counters with a straight right hand.
No luck for Bosma with that takedown attempt.
Anton Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evert Bosma.
Bosma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bosma shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pope defends it nicely.
Pope displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bosma.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope leaves Bosma with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bosma dodges the punch combination from Pope.
Pope is looking to clinch but Bosma is avoiding it.
Pope throws a jab when Bosma was well out of range.
Bosma throws the kick towards the body but Pope avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Pope lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bosma doesn't seem phased though.
Pope misses with a hook. Bosma ducked under it nicely.

Pope moves into range and clinches up with Bosma.
Pope tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bosma smiles and moves away.
Bosma dives in for a single leg takedown but Pope sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pope looking for a takedown.
Pope tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Evert Bosma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anton Pope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pope gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bosma.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anton Pope.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pope, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anton Pope!
Evert Bosma spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back'.