PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dick Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jan Pope enters the cage!

Tanner
vs
Pope

189 cm
42
154 lbs
33 - 15 - 0

181 cm
28
153 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 33 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Pope!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanner lands with a nice combination. Pope backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Jan Pope has been cut.
Pope chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tanner can pounce on him.
Tanner tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Tanner's corner calls for a 1-2. Tanner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tanner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tanner throws a head kick but Pope moves out of range.
Pope tries to counter with a clinch but Tanner shakes him off and moves away.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pope paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pope misses with a straight right.

Tanner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tanner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Tanner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tanner putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pope in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanner working hard to break the clinch.
We've been informed that Pope has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Tanner letting Pope take a breather here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanner looking to throw knees to the head but Pope is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.

Tanner has Pope up against the cage in a clinch.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tanner blocks a body shot from Pope.
Tanner slows down the pace here.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Tanner has him pressed against the cage.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.
Pope missing with a left hand there. Tanner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Pope swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Pope swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a leg kick but Tanner sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Tanner has Pope up against the cage in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Pope.
Pope looking to throw knees to the head but Tanner is blocking nicely.
Tanner is trying to force a seperation but Pope has the dominant position.
Pope has a couple of punches blocked by Tanner.
Tanner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tanner effectively controlling the action here.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tanner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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!

Tanner breaks the clinch.
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tanner moves away.
Tanner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Pope tenderised Tanner's leg. Tanner is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tanner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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

Tanner manages to break the clinch.

Tanner moves into range and clinches up with Pope.
Tanner pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tanner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Tanner.
Pope tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanner's elbow.
Pope tries to land knees in the clinch but Tanner avoids the damage to the body.
Pope leaning against his opponent.
Tanner slowing the pace effectively.

Tanner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope throws a leg kick but Tanner sees it coming and moves out of range.

Tanner instigates a clinch.

Tanner breaks the clinch.
Tanner moves out of range as Pope strikes.
Nice shot by Pope.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Tanner moves into the clinch.
Tanner is looking to break free of the clinch but Pope has double underhooks.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pope managing to block the knees to the body from Tanner.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Tanner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jan Pope's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pope gets a clinch.
Tanner misses with the head strike.
Pope tries to land a knee to the head but Tanner blocks with his arms.
Tanner blocks an uppercut.
Tanner manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tanner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pope can do to turn this around?
Pope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope tries to clinch
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tanner just misses with a punch to the body.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tanner cracks Pope with a right hand to the side of the head.
Pope tries to clinch up but Tanner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner blocks a low kick nicely.
Pope swings for the body but Tanner moves out of range.
Tanner slips a straight right by Pope.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
A punch lands to the side of Tanner 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tanner moves out of range of the strikes.
Pope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope keeps the fight on the outside.
Pope misses with a left hand
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pope scores with a jab to the head.
Tanner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tanner is looking to clinch.

Pope closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tanner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tanner blocking some punches.
Tanner slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tanner controlling the action here for a moment.
Tanner seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tanner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
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!
Tanner tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Tanner scores with a decent looking hook.

Pope clinches with his opponent.
Tanner trying to land knees to the body.
Pope misses with a punch to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tanner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.
Jan Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tanner clinches.
A hook to the body from Pope.
A shot in the inside from Pope.
Tanner managing to block the knees to the body from Pope.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tanner.
Pope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pope working aggressively here.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tanner is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tanner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Pope's defenses.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanner tries to clinch but Pope moves out of range.
Tanner thumps Pope with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice cross by Pope.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tanner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pope is defending well for now.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Tanner misses with a knee to the head.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Tanner.
Tanner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanner connects with a knee to the head.
Dick Tanner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Pope throws an elbow but misses.
A short uppercut from Pope.

Tanner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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 Dick Tanner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jan Pope'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. This is the final round!

Tanner tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Pope takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Tanner rushes Pope and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pope doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pope throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pope has a couple of punches blocked by Tanner.
Tanner landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tanner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pope blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Tanner.
Pope tries to work over Tanner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner misses with a knee to the head.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pope lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pope throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tanner blocks it with crossed arms.
Tanner trying to stall but Pope improves his position.
Pope keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tanner's efforts to push away.
Pope tries to land knees in the clinch but Tanner avoids the damage to the body.
Pope trying to stall but Tanner improves his position.
Tanner lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tanner misses with a knee to the head.
Tanner slowing the pace effectively.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jan Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to work over Tanner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pope lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tanner backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pope tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tanner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tanner displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pope up against the cage.
Tanner crunches a lovely knee into Pope's ribcage.
Tanner just leaning against Pope, taking a breather.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.
Pope throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Tanner manages to break the clinch.

Tanner darts in and clinches Pope up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Pope.
Tanner wants to break free but Pope has control.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
Tanner tries to break free but Pope pushes him back against the cage.
Tanner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Pope.
Pope using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanner blocks a body shot from Pope.
A nice left hand lands by Pope.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a lazy right hand but Tanner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tanner slips under a jab from Pope.
Tanner swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Pope. Beautiful body shot.
Pope keeps the fight on the outside.
Pope wants to clinch up but Tanner keeps it at a distance.
Tanner went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Tanner tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Pope misses with a hook. Tanner ducked under it nicely.
Pope looks for the body kick but Tanner saw that one coming.
Tanner looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanner tries to clinch up but Pope circles away and keeps his distance.
Tanner lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pope works Tanner's body with a nice hook.
Pope on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pope misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Pope misses the target.
Tanner fires out a quick counter leg kick but Pope just manages to avoid it.
Tanner lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

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 Dick Tanner.
Well Tanner has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Tanner!
After the fight, Dick Tanner 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.