PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bill Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theodore King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Theodore King will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pope
vs
King

190 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Theodore King!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense.
King closes the distance and clinches up with Pope, looking for a takedown. King pushes Pope against the cage but Pope circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pope shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and King counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pope!
Pope keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pope tries to hold on but King postures up.
Pope is looking to improve his position but King isn't that keen on the idea.
King can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pope is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope wants to hold on but King pushes him away.
Pope is desperately trying to improve his position but King has a good base and remains in mount.
King tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Pope tries to get back to half guard but can't.
King tries to control but Pope wriggling away.
Pope wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

King is looking for the choke from the back position but Pope is controlling his hands well.
King really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pope. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pope tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Pope tries to hold on but King postures up.
Pope tries to reverse the position but King maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pope is breathing heavily.
King can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pope is looking to escape.
Pope is looking to get to half guard.
Pope is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
King wants to stand but Pope is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
King trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pope is trying desperately to improve position.
Pope wants to hold on but King pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King working Pope over with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

King goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pope is on top in guard.
King 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.

Pope is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pope tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
King working a defensive guard here.
Pope won't allow King to sweep him here.
King keeping moving, preventing Pope from controlling successfully.

Pope thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

King gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King thows a huge punch but Pope dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodore King dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

King darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
King wants to stand up but Pope is controlling the position.
Pope is trying to control but can't.

Pope looking for submissions off his back.
King winds up and cracks Pope with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pope won't allow King to pass to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pope tries to roll over but King keeps him under control.
King is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
King prevents Pope from improving his position.
Pope is in trouble now - King has advanced to mount!
King avoids the attempt from Pope to control.
King takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
King looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

King tightening his grip on Pope, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope breaks King's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. King is keeping the position for now.
King tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pope is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. King is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

King scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Pope trying to control here.
Pope is looking to improve his position.

Pope is defending against the submission attempts here by King.
It looks like King is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope looking for submissions off his back.

King is looking for a kimura but Pope is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for King to get the leverage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

King closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pope to the mat! Pope manages to get full guard.

Pope working for a triangle but King defends it easily.

Pope looking for subs off his back but King has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodore King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

King scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pope manages to get back to half guard.

Pope looking for submissions off his back.
Pope is looking for a sweep. King is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pope is trying to defend against the ground and pound but King scores with a couple of nice shots.
King is trying to control. Pope wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Pope looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

King is working for a submission of some sort.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

King scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Pope wants to improve his position but King is controlling well.
King is keen to just control but Pope is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to get to full guard but King has control of the leg.

Pope looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Pope is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but King pulls his head out easily.

Pope looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
King wants to pass to mount but Pope is defending the position.
King throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
King fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope doesn't succeed with the takedown

and King counters with a takedown into side control.
Pope is looking to reverse the position.
Pope wants to control but King postures up.

King has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
King moves in looking to clinch but Pope pushes him off.
King fails with the takedown

and Pope counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. King is keeping the position for now.
King wants to stand and escape but Pope is having none of it.

Pope drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pope jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pope in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
King keeping full guard, as Pope tries to pass.
Bill Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King trying to control the position.
Theodore King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pope throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theodore King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got King winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Theodore King!