PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abel Popham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dillon Weber (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.

Popham
vs
Weber

179 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abel Popham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dillon Weber!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popham drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Popham looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Popham wants to get up but he can't break Weber's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Popham passes Weber's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popham prevents Weber from improving his position.
Weber has a hand on Popham's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Popham takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popham wants to get back to his feet but Weber is holding on tight.
Weber tries to hold on but Popham pushes him away.

Popham looking to secure an arm triangle but Weber defends it well.
Popham connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Weber tries to hold on but Popham pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popham has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Weber's face.
Popham controlling from mount.

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.
Weber wants to control but Popham is having none of it.
Popham tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Weber tries to lock up and control but Popham gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Popham landing strikes, looking to finish!
Weber is looking to improve his position but Popham isn't that keen on the idea.
Popham could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weber tries to hold on but Popham pushes him away.

Popham has control of Weber's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Weber regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Weber wants to control but Popham is having none of it.
Weber is desperately trying to improve his position but Popham has a good base and remains in mount.
Popham controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Weber wants to control but Popham is having none of it.
Weber sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Popham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Weber trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Popham manages to pass to mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Popham controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Popham dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Popham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Weber shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Popham pinned against the cage. Popham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Weber fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popham throws a sloppy head kick and Weber moves out of range easily.

Popham drives through and clinches with Weber against the cage.
Popham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Weber smiles and moves away.
Weber misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popham tries a head kick but it misses.
Weber wants to counter the offense by Popham and move into the clinch position.
Weber wants to clinch up but Popham keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Weber is defended easily by Popham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Abel Popham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dillon Weber.
Weber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Popham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Weber somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Popham.
Popham keeps the fight on the outside.
Popham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Weber's waist but Weber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Popham off to one side.

Popham pushes Weber up against the cage in a clinch.
Weber tries to pull guard but Popham holds him up against the cage and eventually Weber drops back down to his feet.
Popham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Weber can do to turn this around?

Weber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weber closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Popham manages to break the clinch.

Weber manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Popham on his heels. He'll look to pass Popham's guard now, I'm sure.
Popham wants to stand up but Weber is controlling him.
Weber stopping the sweep attempt from Popham.
Popham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Weber manages to get himself to full guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popham controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Popham throwing strikes from guard but Weber blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popham passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Popham advances to mount.
Weber is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Weber is looking to get to half guard.
Popham lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Popham controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popham has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Weber is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popham controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Popham dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Weber shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Popham sprawls well. Popham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Weber gets slowly back to his feet.
Weber shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Popham sprawls well. Popham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Weber gets slowly back to his feet.
Weber dips to his left and cracks Popham with an uppercut!

It looks like Abel Popham has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Weber drives through with a takedown into guard.
Weber stopping the sweep attempt from Popham.

Popham is looking for a triangle but Weber pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popham working for a triangle but Weber defends it easily.
Weber stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Popham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Weber tries to stand but Popham is controlling from the bottom.
Popham keeping moving, preventing Weber from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Weber tries to free his leg and advance position but Popham is retaining full guard.
Weber must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Weber trying to control but Popham is working from the bottom.
Popham trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Abel Popham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weber trying to control the position from guard on top but Popham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Popham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Popham has his foot on Weber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Weber works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popham working a defensive guard here.
Weber pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popham is keeping the position for now.
Popham keeping moving, preventing Weber from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Popham is on top in guard.

Weber working for a triangle but Popham defends it easily.
Weber takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Weber can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Popham controls the pace.

Weber throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Popham is looking to stand up but Weber won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abel Popham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Popham 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abel Popham!