PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Falco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Pope
vs
Falco

172 cm
19
157 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
157 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Falco!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Falco.
Falco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pope finds it's way round the side to connect with Falco's head.
Falco throws a leg kick but Pope moved away.
Falco pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pope misses with the combination.
Falco lands a nice hook to Pope's body. Pope takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pope throws a shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Falco. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Falco.
Pope gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Falco.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Nice shot lands for Falco.
Falco throws a series of punches but Pope avoids them all with ease.
Falco uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pope.
Pope scores with a shot to the body.
Falco dodges the punch combination from Pope.
Pope changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Falco misses.
Pope connects with a body shot.
Pope throws a left and a right that both miss
and Falco counters with a body kick.
Falco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Falco misses the target.
Pope misses with a straight left.
Pope fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pope is looking to wear down Falco with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Falco lands with a hook. Pope tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pope moves out of range as Falco strikes.
Falco looks to land a right hand but Pope moved out of range.
Pope misses with a few strikes there.
Pope lands a with a good body shot.
Falco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pope moves into range and connects with a jab.
Falco misses with a series of wild punches.
Pope misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pope ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pope misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Falco dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pope misses with a hook. Falco ducked under it nicely.
Falco wants to slow Pope down by chopping away at his legs.
Falco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Falco looks to land a combination but Pope avoids it well.
Pope walks forward, straight into a front kick from Falco.
Falco thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A punch combination from Pope misses.
Falco just misses with a punch to the body.
Pope throws a right hand that Falco ducks under and follows up with a left that Falco also avoids with ease.
Falco looks to land a right hand but Pope moved out of range.

Falco has taken the fight to the clinch.
Falco lands a left hand.
Falco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pope has Falco pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Pope for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Pope taking a breather.
Falco digs a right hand underneath Pope's ribcage. Pope let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Falco lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Falco as Pope tries to tie him up.
Pope scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Falcos head.
Falco slowing the pace effectively.
Falco tries a body shot but Pope blocks it.
Pope is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pope content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Falco as Pope tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Luther Pope.
Falco throws a shot from downtown. Pope moves away and avoids it.
Falco falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pope counters with a nice body shot.
Falco on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Falco scores with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Falco attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Falco swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.
Falco misses with a straight left.
Falco takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shane Falco will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good shot there by Falco.
Falco looks to land a left hand but Pope moved out of range nicely.
A cross from Pope lands.
Luther Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Falco rushes Pope and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pope stalling against the cage.
Pope looking to stall.
A right handed body shot lands from Falco.
Pope looking to stall.
Falco tries to throw a body punch but Pope avoids it by throwing Falco back against the cage.
Falco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Falco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pope is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Falco is keeping busy.
Pope can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Luther Pope.
The fighters circling - Falco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope throws a body punch but Falco moves out of range.
Pope takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Falco tries to land a leg kick but Pope saw it coming and moves away.
Pope motions for Falco to come forward. Pope throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pope closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Pope closes the distance and clinches.
Falco effectively controlling the action here.
Pope is trying to stall.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Falco.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Pope is struggling to control the position.
Pope wants to stall.
A right hand to the body from Falco.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pope tries to stall but Falco uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A bit of stalling here from Pope.
Falco works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The referee calls for Pope to work.
Pope misses with some punches.
Pope controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Luther Pope.
Pope missing with a left hand there. Falco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Falco keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Falco throws a hook to the side of Pope's head but Pope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick from Falco lands but Pope takes it in his stride.
Falco tries to clinch but Pope moves away
and Pope counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Falco misses with a body shot.
Falco thows a leg kick but Pope checks it
and Pope cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pope fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope checks a low kick from Falco.
Falco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pope is out of range.
Falco feints and then cracks Pope's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pope down.
Pope fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pope looks to score with a jab to the body but Falco is just out of range.
Falco moves away from the strike by Pope.
Pope staying out of range there.
Pope falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Falco counter with a right hand.
Pope looks to throw the jab but Falco is out of range.
Pope shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Falco keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Falco throws a leg kick that is checked
and Pope counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Falco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Falco looks to clinch
and Pope counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pope.
Falco swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Falco.
Pope swings for the body but Falco moves out of range.
Falco lands with a nice combination. Pope backs away looking to recover.
Pope throws out a powerful jab.
Falco fails to land with a series of punches.
Pope misses with a double jab
and Falco counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Pope.
Pope circles away from the clinch attempt.
Falco throws a big shot that misses.
Falco throws a hook to the side of Pope's head but Pope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pope lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Falco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Falco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Falco misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Falco misses the target.
Falco throws a head kick that misses.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Falco was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Falco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pope.
Falco throws and low kick but Pope moves out of range easily.
Pope tries to clinch but Falco is having none of it.
Falco lands with a straight right. Pope didn't see that one coming.
Falco keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pope.
Shane Falco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope misses with a double jab.
A left lands for Falco.
Falco misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Falco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Falco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Falco looks for the body kick but Pope saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco misses with a hook. Pope ducked under it nicely.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Falco closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Falco on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Falco thows a body shot but no joy.
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A combination from Pope does no damage.
Pope misses with a body punch
and Falco counters with a series of strikes. Pope will be more careful next time no doubt.
Falco misses with a series of wild punches.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Falco checks a leg kick.
Falco moves out of range of the leg kick from Pope.
Pope throws a shot from downtown. Falco moves away and avoids it.
Pope misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Falco.

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.
Falco throws out a powerful jab.
Pope avoids the body shot from Falco.
Pope scores with a decent looking hook.
Pope doesn't manage to clinch there - Falco circles away.
Falco ducks under a wild hook from Pope.
No joy there for Falco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Pope has closed the distance and engaged Falco in a clinch.
Falco lands a shot to the body.
Falco has a couple of punches blocked by Pope.
Falco digs a right hand into Pope's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pope's gas tank.
Pope is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pope has Falco pushed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Falco misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Falco.
Still in the clinch, Falco scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pope trying to control the position but instead, Falco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pope into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with the head strike.
A short right from Falco on the inside.
Falco holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Falco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Falco lands a nice shot to the body.
Pope tries to throw a body punch but Falco avoids it by throwing Pope back against the cage.
Falco leaning against his opponent.
Falco lands a right hand.
Pope is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Falco stalling the fight.
Falco lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pope.
Falco lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pope or not.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pope is trying to maintain a safe position but Falco gets an underhook and turns Pope into the cage.
Nice body punch from Falco - that landed with a thud.
Falco digs a right hand into Pope's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pope's gas tank.
Falco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Falco.
Pope taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falco'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.
Pope is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Falco lands a shot to the body.
Falco lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pope.
Falco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Pope takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Falco lands a nice shot to the body.
A body shot lands from Falco.
Pope stalling the fight.
Pope looking to stall.
Falco presses Pope against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Falco.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short uppercut from Falco.
Pope tries to stall but Falco uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A right handed body shot lands from Falco.
Falco lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pope or not.
A short body shot lands from Falco as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Falco really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pope moves forwards but Falco connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Falco scores with a jab to the body.
Pope on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Pope is rocked!
Pope misses with a body shot
and Falco counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pope thinking.
Falco connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Falco connects with the punch.
Oh Pope is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pope takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pope seems to have got his legs back now.
Falco tried to score with a low kick but Pope checks it.
Falco misses with a low kick.
Falco swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Pope counters with a nice uppercut.
Falco lands with a shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Falco. That's going to slow Pope down.
Falco dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Falco connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Falco.
Good leg kick by Falco there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Falco with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Falco.
Pope on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pope looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Falco thumps Pope with a low kick.
Falco misses with a looping right.
Pope tries to clinch there but Falco circles away.
Falco lands with a nice combination. Pope backs away looking to recover.

Falco gets a clinch.
Falco is working Pope over against the cage.
Good body shot from Falco.
Pope stalling in the clinch but Falco improves position.
Falco lands a shot to the body.
Falco works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice body punch from Falco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Falco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short body shot lands from Falco as the two fighters clinch.
Pope takes a shot to the head.
Falco taking a breather.
A short body shot lands from Falco as the two fighters clinch.
Pope tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Falco's elbow.
Falco lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pope.
Falco scores with a hook to the body.
Falco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Falco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Falco throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Popes head.
Falco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hand to the body from Falco.
Falco lands a body punch.
Good body shot from Falco.
Falco lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pope.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Falco.
Falco holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Shane Falco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Falco.
Pope is trying to stall.
Falco digs a right hand into Pope's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pope's gas tank.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Falco.
Pope is trying to stall.
Falco stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Falco works on Pope's body with a couple of short punches.
Falco lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pope or not.
Falco lands a nice shot to the body.
Pope tries to stall but Falco uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Falco lands a nice shot to the body.
Falco stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A hook to the body from Falco.
Falco is leaning against Pope and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Falco.
Falco lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Falco works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Falco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Falco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Falco.
Falco lands with a light punch inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Falco.
A right handed body shot lands from Falco.
Nice body punch from Falco - that landed with a thud.
Falco lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Falco scores with a hook to the body.
Falco cracks Pope with a nice body shot.
Falco cracks Pope with a nice body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Falco.
A right handed body shot lands from Falco.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Falco pushes Pope back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Falco lands a hook that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Falco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Falco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Falco scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Falco dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Pope misses.
Pope throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pope throws a sloppy body shot
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pope pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Falco digs a good hook to Pope's body.
A punch combination from Pope misses.
Falco wants to clinch.
Pope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Falco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope lands a two punch combo.
Pope takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Falco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Falco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Falco fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Pope instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Falco.
Pope letting Falco take a breather here.
The crowd are getting on Falco's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
A short right from Falco.
Falco lands a hook that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
A short uppercut from Falco.
Falco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pope's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Falco as Pope tries to tie him up.
Falco lands a hook that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
A short body shot lands from Falco as the two fighters clinch.
Falco lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pope or not.
Luther Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Falco on the inside.
Nice body punch from Falco - that landed with a thud.
A shot in the inside from Falco.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Falco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Falco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Falco lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Falco.
Pope wants to stall.
Pope lands a right hand that snaps the head of Falco backwards.
Falco digs a right hand underneath Pope's ribcage. Pope let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Falco - that landed with a thud.
Falco lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope stalling in the clinch but Falco improves position.
Falco gets through Pope's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pope misses with a punch to the body.
Falco lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pope trying to control the position but instead, Falco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pope into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco scores with a shot to the side of Pope's head.
Good body shot from Falco.
A right hook to the body lands for Falco.
A body shot lands from Falco.
Falco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Falco - that landed with a thud.
A nice left hand lands by Falco.
A shot in the inside from Falco.
A nice right hand lands inside from Falco.
Pope is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pope seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Falco is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Falco lands a shot to the body.
Falco lands a nice shot to the body.
Falco is leaning against Pope and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Falco pushes Pope back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Good body shot from Falco.
Falco digs a right hand into Pope's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pope's gas tank.
Falco lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Falco lands a body punch in the clinch.
Falco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Falco creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Pope with a big uppercut! Pope tries to clinch up but Falco pushes him back against the cage and lands another moster strike that crumples Pope to the mat! Pope covers up and Falco unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:17 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Shane Falco! Shane Falco retains his featherweight title!