PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bear Bertozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Acelino POPO (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bertozzi comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Indestructible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bertozzi
vs
POPO

170 cm
20
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Terror-Trition: Video Proven 155Q for $49 [†CoE†]
Terror-Trition: Video Proven 155Q for $49 [†CoE†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bear Bertozzi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Acelino POPO!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
POPO shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bertozzi sprawls well. Bertozzi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. POPO gets slowly back to his feet.
Bertozzi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bertozzi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Bertozzi closes the distance and clinches.

Bertozzi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Bertozzi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by POPO, who protects the arm well.

Bertozzi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but POPO is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Bertozzi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bertozzi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, POPO rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bertozzi's guard! Nice work there by POPO!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
POPO trying to control but Bertozzi is working from the bottom.
Bertozzi looking for a sweep. Not yet Bertozzi, not yet.
POPO trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bertozzi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. POPO defends it easily.
POPO wants to pass the guard but Bertozzi is keeping the position.

Bertozzi looking for a guillotine here but POPO defends easily.
POPO cracks Bertozzi with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
POPO chips away with some ground and pound.
POPO trying to control the position from guard on top but Bertozzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bertozzi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. POPO gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bertozzi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead POPO passes into half guard.
Bertozzi is breathing heavily.
Bertozzi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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

Bertozzi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but POPO can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
POPO trying to control the position from guard on top but Bertozzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
POPO slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bertozzi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Bertozzi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
POPO scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
POPO has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

POPO is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
POPO trying to control the action but Bertozzi is working from the bottom.

Bertozzi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bertozzi looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

POPO is trying to work for a kimura but Bertozzi is defending well.

POPO is looking for a kimura but Bertozzi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for POPO to get the leverage.
POPO moves nicely into side control.
POPO trying to control the position but Bertozzi is working away.
Bertozzi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
POPO is keen to just control but Bertozzi is a slippery customer.

Bertozzi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but POPO pulls his head out easily.
POPO passes to full mount!
POPO with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Acelino POPO dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

POPO tests Bertozzi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bertozzi is looking to clinch.
Bertozzi misses with a takedown attempt - POPO sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bertozzi doesn't manage to clinch there - POPO circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
POPO misses with a takedown attempt

and Bertozzi counters with a nice double leg into side control. POPO won't be happy with that.

Bertozzi swings around for an armbar but POPO sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bertozzi's guard.

Bertozzi is looking for a triangle but POPO pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
POPO wants to control from the top but Bertozzi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

POPO got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bertozzi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, POPO has managed to get both his arms back between Bertozzi's legs - danger averted.
POPO trying to control but Bertozzi is working from the bottom.
POPO stands up over Bertozzi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
POPO stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bertozzi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
POPO trying to control but Bertozzi is working from the bottom.
POPO stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bertozzi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
POPO passes into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Bertozzi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
POPO is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
POPO uses his free foot to push down on Bertozzi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bertozzi.
POPO lands a big elbow.

POPO looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
POPO landing strikes from the mount and Bertozzi is in trouble!
POPO scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bertozzi?
Bertozzi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
POPO trying to control but Bertozzi is having none of it.
Bertozzi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bertozzi taking shots to the head.
POPO with a couple of short strikes.

POPO has hold of Bertozzi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bertozzi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Bertozzi is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
POPO lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

POPO wants to finish this one by submission but Bertozzi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from POPO.
POPO unloading with bombs!

POPO working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Bertozzi tries to reverse the position but POPO maintains control.

POPO is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by POPO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Acelino POPO!
Acelino POPO is the new bantamweight champion!