PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Titus Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zig Slipper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zig Slipper acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Pope
vs
Slipper

151 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

160 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 Helsinki, Titus Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zig Slipper!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pope tries to keep at a distance but Slipper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pope goes for a takedown in the clinch but Slipper prevents it.
Pope tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Slipper smiles and moves away.
Slipper scores with a hook to the body. Pope takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Slipper scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Slipper drives through with a takedown into Pope's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pope throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Slipper lands a couple of elbows.
Slipper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Slipper slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Slipper cracks Pope with a big elbow.
Slipper working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope stops Slipper from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slipper is putting a hurting on Pope here, landing some big shots from side control.
Slipper is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Slipper working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pope struggling a bit here.
Slipper in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pope is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Slipper off and has taken his back!
Slipper wants to get back to his feet.
Slipper trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Slipper manages to stand up with Pope still on his back. Eventually Pope drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Slipper tries a head kick but it misses.

Slipper clinches with his opponent.

Slipper pulls guard successfully.
Slipper controlling Pope's posture.

Slipper scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pope clinches.

Pope manages to break the clinch.

Slipper has managed to clinch.

Slipper jumps into guard, dragging Pope to the mat.
Pope stopping the sweep attempt from Slipper.
Slipper working a defensive guard here.
Slipper trying to control the position here.
Pope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slipper managing to control the position.
Slipper is trying to control the position but Pope postures up.
Slipper is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Slipper misses with a few strikes there.
Pope seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Pope tries to keep at a distance but Slipper has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Slipper dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Slipper connects with a looping right hand.

Slipper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Slipper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pope is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Slipper is keeping busy.
Pope tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slipper just stands there and leans against the cage.
Slipper misses with a punch to the body.

Slipper pulls guard effortlessly.
Pope throws a strike but Slipper rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Slipper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Slipper from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slipper slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Slipper moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slipper is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pope is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pope is looking for a sweep.

Slipper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pope knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Slipper controlling from side mount.
Slipper tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Slipper has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Pope shoots in looking for a takedown. Slipper tries to sprawl out of it but Pope keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Slipper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Slipper closes the distance and pushes Pope back into the cage.
Pope could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Slipper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Slipper closes the distance and pushes Pope back into the cage.
Slipper is stalling here.
Slipper prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Pope. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pope is fighting off a takedown attempt but Slipper is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pope to the mat. Pope regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slipper wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Pope is trying to keep Slipper in close.
Slipper not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Slipper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pope is keeping the position for now.
Slipper content to stall in guard here.
Slipper sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pope's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Slipper throwing shots but Pope is blocking nicely.
Slipper throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Slipper is trying to control. Pope wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Slipper is pressing down on Pope's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pope is holding on for now.
Slipper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pope keeps working.
Slipper looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pope is looking for a sweep. Slipper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Slipper passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pope!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Slipper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Slipper throws a nice head kick!
Slipper misses with a body kick.

Slipper closes the distance and pushes Pope back into the cage.
Pope is looking for a takedown.

Slipper jumps into guard, dragging Pope to the mat.
Slipper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pope lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slipper managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slipper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Slipper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Slipper is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Slipper 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 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.
Slipper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pope working a defensive guard here.
Slipper trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slipper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Slipper wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Pope keeping full guard, as Slipper tries to pass.
Pope bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Slipper's guard.

Slipper has Pope pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slipper is trying to hold Pope in close to prevent damage but Pope has managed to pass into half guard.
Slipper manages to get to full guard.
Slipper wants to sweep here but Pope controlling him for the moment.
Slipper is looking to sweep but instead, Pope has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Pope is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Slipper kicks off Pope and gets to his feet.
Pope is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Slipper.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Slipper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Slipper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.

Slipper pulls Pope into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zig Slipper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Slipper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zig Slipper!