PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jan Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fubar Teller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pope
vs
Teller

181 cm
30
153 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

172 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fubar Teller!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Pope, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Teller wants to clinch up but Pope keeps it at a distance.
An attempted straight right counter from Pope misses the target.
Teller throws a low kick, looking for Pope's leg but Pope calmly moves out of range.
Pope is looking to counter punch.

Teller forces Pope back against the cage and clinches.
Pope misses with the head strike.
Teller misses with the head strike.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Teller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pope fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Teller's coach down at Body Pain_14elite_700$+VM was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Teller's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jan Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pope looks to land a right hand but Teller moved out of range.
Pope moves out of range as Teller throws a body kick.
Good leg kick by Teller there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Teller shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pope but Pope pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pope throws a poor cross that misses
and Teller counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Teller throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pope counters with a good low kick that Teller was not able to check.
Pope scores with a one two! Teller had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Fubar Teller has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Teller misses its intended target.

Teller closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Teller lands in his opponent's guard.
Teller pushes down on Pope's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Pope is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Teller pulls his head out easily.
Pope tries to roll over but Teller keeps him under control.
Pope on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pope tries to roll over but Teller keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pope keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pope has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Teller is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Pope slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pope manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Teller manages to get himself to full guard.

Teller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pope has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pope wants to control from the top but Teller keeps moving.

Teller is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pope defends well.
Teller keeping moving, preventing Pope from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Teller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pope can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Teller wants to control but Pope passes easily into half guard.
Teller is staying active underneath Pope, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pope throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pope prevents Teller from improving his position.
Teller is pressing down on Pope's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Teller is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Teller lands strikes from half guard.
Teller wants to free his trapped foot but Pope is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Teller trying to control from half guard but Pope is working away.

Teller is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pope is just riding it out for now. Teller eventually gives up the hold.
Teller thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pope is trying to control but can't.
Pope is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Teller's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Teller's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fubar Teller will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fubar Teller's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pope on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pope fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Teller.
Pope throws a hook to the side of Teller's head but Teller sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Teller lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Pope instigates a clinch.
Teller drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pope pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pope scores with a punch to the head.
Pope shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Teller pinned against the cage. Teller gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Teller with the counter takedown but Pope avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope throws a leg kick

and Teller decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pope's guard.
Pope bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Teller's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Teller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fubar Teller has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teller is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pope is refusing to be controlled, as Teller sits in half guard.
Pope is trying to get back to full guard.

Teller is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pope sees it coming and defends easily.
Teller is thwarting Pope's attempts to control the position.
Ground and pound from Teller.
Teller lands with a punch from half guard.
Pope is trying to stand back up but Teller is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pope trying to hold on to Teller's head to control him but Teller postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is refusing to be controlled, as Teller sits in half guard.
Teller looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pope with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Teller takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Teller looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pope with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pope is trying to maintain the position but Teller is very close to passing his half guard.
Teller lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Pope is rocked!
Pope won't allow Teller to pass to mount.
Oh Pope is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pope is pressing down on Teller's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pope seems to have got his legs back now.
Pope is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Teller trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Teller won't allow Pope to sweep him here.
Pope controls Teller momentarily but Teller frees himself.
Teller controls from within his opponent's guard.
Teller postures up.
Teller throws an elbow that misses. Pope uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Teller's guard. Nice move by Pope!

Teller controls Pope momentarily but Pope frees himself.
Teller bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pope's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Teller trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Teller postures up and lands a big shot to Pope's brow.
Teller makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Teller passes Pope's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Teller blocks the strikes from Pope.
Pope throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pope regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pope is controlling Teller's posture.
Teller trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Teller advances to half guard.
Teller tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pope knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fubar Teller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fubar Teller's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Teller has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pope finds it's way round the side to connect with Teller's head.
Teller throws a right hand that misses
and Pope makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pope works Teller's body with a nice hook.
Pope throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Teller counters with a takedown into side control.

Pope throws Teller to one side and escapes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope throws a poor cross that misses

so Teller counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Teller stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pope swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Teller has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pope wants to sweep but no luck.
Pope is trying to control the position but Teller postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teller throws a big right hand that misses.
Pope will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Teller looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Teller postures up and lands a big shot to Pope's brow.
Teller content to stall in guard here.
Teller scoring with some ground and pound.
Pope lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Teller cracks Pope with a solid left hand.

Pope throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jan Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope trying to control the position.
Pope throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Teller is stalling in the full guard.
Pope throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Teller sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pope throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pope listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Pope thumps Teller with a low kick.

Pope tries to sprawl but Teller drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is not content to let Teller control the position.
Pope punching from the bottom.
Pope wants to improve his position but Teller is controlling well.

Pope is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Teller pulls his head out easily.
Teller scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pope is trying to get back to full guard.
Teller takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Teller is thwarting Pope's attempts to control the position.
Teller lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope trying to control from the bottom.
Teller seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pope tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Pope is trying to control but can't.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Teller connects with a nice short shot to Pope's temple.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pope manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Teller throwing strikes but missing.
Fubar Teller is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pope wants to sweep here but Teller controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Teller looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Teller's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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 Jan Pope.
I think Teller has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fubar Teller!
Fubar Teller thanked the fans post fight for their support.