PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ze Minotauro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, For Whom The Bell Tolls. Minotauro has chosen Buckethead - jump man as his entrance music. Michael Pope has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pope
vs
Minotauro

190 cm
32
213 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

185 cm
43
253 lbs
33 - 24 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ze Minotauro!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope closes the distance but Minotauro moves to the side

and Minotauro counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Minotauro.
Pope misses with the head strike.
Minotauro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Minotauro takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pope lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Ze Minotauro has been cut.
Pope looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pope throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pope gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Minotauro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Minotauro walks into a straight right hand from Pope.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Nice cross by Minotauro.
Pope tries to clinch but Minotauro moves away
and Minotauro counters with a left to the body.
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!
Minotauro scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Minotauro lands a really nice looking cross but Pope seems unphased.
Minotauro has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Pope walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Michael Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minotauro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope tries to clinch up but Minotauro circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Minotauro.
Pope wants to clinch but Minotauro slips to the side
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pope tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Minotauro's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pope under the eye.
Pope is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Pope lands a jab to the nose.
Minotauro lands with an uppercut that bounces Pope off the cage and back into range.
Minotauro misses with an uppercut. Pope saw that one coming.
Minotauro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Minotauro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope blocks a head kick by Minotauro.
Pope tries to clinch up
and Minotauro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Minotauro throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minotauro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Minotauro has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pope finds it's way round the side to connect with Minotauro's head.
Pope is looking to clinch but Minotauro is avoiding it.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minotauro swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pope drives through and clinches with Minotauro against the cage.
Minotauro misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Minotauro on the inside.
Minotauro stalling the fight.
A head punch on the inside from Minotauro fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Minotauro.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pope creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pope lands an elbow that stopped Minotauro in his tracks for a moment.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Pope clinches with his opponent.
Pope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pope throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Minotauro blocks an uppercut.
Minotauro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pope as Minotauro tries to tie him up.
A short uppercut from Pope.
Minotauro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Minotauro struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Pope.
Pope scores with a shot to the side of Minotauro's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Minotauro.
Pope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Minotauro lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro tries to break free but Pope pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Minotauro.
Minotauro is trying to stall.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Minotauro trying to stall but Pope improves his position.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Minotauro is looking to control Pope's arms but Pope gets an underhook and turns him. Now Minotauro has his back to the cage.
Pope blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pope misses with a hook from the clinch.
Minotauro can't break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Minotauro.
Pope working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pope creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Pope misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pope.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Minotauro avoids a wild elbow strike from Pope.
Pope lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ze Minotauro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ze Minotauro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pope tries to clinch up but Minotauro circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Minotauro.
Minotauro takes a swing at Pope's ribcage but misses.
Ze Minotauro seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Pope forces Minotauro back against the cage and clinches.
Pope lands with a right to the head.
Pope misses with an elbow over the top.
Pope throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Minotauro avoids the elbow strike from Pope, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Minotauro pushes off an throws an elbow but Pope leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Minotauro swings wildly with an uppercut but Pope uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pope blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Minotauro fails to land.
A short right from Pope on the inside.
Minotauro has Pope pressed against the cage.
Pope blocking some punches.
Pope has a couple of punches blocked by Minotauro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Minotauro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope pushes off an throws an elbow but Minotauro leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short right from Minotauro on the inside.
Minotauro working aggressively here.
Minotauro misses with some punches.
Minotauro swings wildly with an uppercut but Pope uses good head movement to avoid it.
Minotauro content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right from Minotauro on the inside.
Minotauro throws a punch but it's blocked by Pope.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Minotauro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pope lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Minotauro is controlling the position.
Minotauro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Minotauro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Minotauro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with a hook from the clinch.

Pope breaks from the clinch.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
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!
Pope wants to clinch but Minotauro slips to the side
and Minotauro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Pope has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pope scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pope working aggressively here.
Minotauro blocks an elbow strike from Pope.
Minotauro throws a head punch that misses.
Minotauro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Minotauro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pope blocking some punches.
Minotauro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Minotauro misses with some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pope just misses with a elbow thrown towards Minotauro's brow.
Pope scores with a shoulder strike.
Pope has a couple of punches blocked by Minotauro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pope pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Minotauro working aggressively here.
Pope lands with a right to the head.
Minotauro has Pope pressed against the cage.
Minotauro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pope.
Pope working aggressively here.

Pope breaks the clinch.
Minotauro throws a low kick, looking for Pope's leg but Pope calmly moves out of range.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minotauro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minotauro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Minotauro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pope throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Minotauro's head.
Pope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Minotauro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minotauro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to clinch up but Minotauro circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope tries to clinch but Minotauro is having none of it.
Pope loads up on a big right hand but Minotauro slips the punch.
Pope tries to clinch but Minotauro moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pope clinches up against the cage.
Pope dodges an elbow strike from Minotauro.
Pope is trying to push Minotauro away but Minotauro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Minotauro throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Minotauro.
Minotauro blocking some punches.
Minotauro has a couple of punches blocked by Pope.
Minotauro misses with the head strike.
Minotauro misses with a short punch on the inside.

Minotauro breaks the clinch.
Pope looks to clinch
and Minotauro counters with a stiff right hand.
Michael Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pope is looking to clinch but Minotauro is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ze Minotauro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ze Minotauro's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pope tries to clinch up.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Minotauro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Minotauro throws a looping overhand right but Pope ducks down to avoid it.
A big right from Minotauro misses.
Minotauro throws a lazy right hand but Pope sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pope tries to clinch up but Minotauro circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope checks the leg kick.
Pope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Minotauro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pope scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope wants to clinch but Minotauro slips to the side
and Minotauro counters with a nice body kick.

Pope clinches with his opponent.
Minotauro dodges an elbow strike from Pope.
A short uppercut from Minotauro.
Pope lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pope.
Pope misses with the head strike.
Pope throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pope wants to break free but Minotauro has control.
A nice right hand lands inside from Minotauro.
Pope blocks an uppercut.
Pope lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Michael Pope has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Pope.
Minotauro pushes Pope back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Minotauro working aggressively here.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Minotauro.
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pope just misses with a elbow thrown towards Minotauro's brow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pope blocks an elbow strike from Minotauro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Minotauro blocking some punches.
A short right from Pope on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Minotauro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pope misses with an elbow over the top.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pope tries to clinch there but Minotauro circles away.
Minotauro misses with a low kick as Pope jumps back.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope wants to clinch but Minotauro slips to the side
and Minotauro counters with a nice leg kick.
Pope throws a hook but Minotauro avoids it easily.
Pope wants to clinch
and Minotauro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Minotauro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro throws a leg kick that is checked
and Pope connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Good standup being displayed there by Minotauro as he connects with a hook.
Minotauro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Minotauro.
Minotauro will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Minotauro tries to bum rush Pope with a series of wild strikes but Pope uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pope on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Pope throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Minotauro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Minotauro keeps the fight on the outside.
Minotauro misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro throws a lazy right hand but Pope sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Minotauro pushes him off.
Pope walks into a jab.
Pope throws a series of punches but Minotauro avoids them all with ease.
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!
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minotauro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pope tries to clinch but Minotauro moves out of range.
Michael Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Minotauro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Pope fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Minotauro, pushing him back against the cage.
Minotauro has a couple of punches blocked by Pope.
Minotauro takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Minotauro.
Pope throws an elbow but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ze Minotauro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Minotauro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Pope!
After the fight, Michael Pope was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.