PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ace Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Batista de Guia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). de Guia has chosen "Quilombo" by Soulfly as his entrance music. Ace Popo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Batista de Guia's chin.

Popo
vs
de Guia

168 cm
21
158 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
150 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ace Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Batista de Guia!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popo shoots in for a takedown but de Guia shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Popo throws a poor cross that misses
and de Guia cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popo keeps the fight on the outside.
Popo dodges the punch combination from de Guia.
de Guia thuds his shin into the meat of Popo's side.
de Guia shoots in for a double leg but Popo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Popo misses the body punch

and de Guia counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Popo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
de Guia wants to stand but Popo is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Popo is squirming around, avoiding de Guia's attempts to control the action.
de Guia avoids the attempt from Popo to control.
Popo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Popo is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
de Guia trying to control but Popo is having none of it.
Popo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
de Guia is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Popo can't escape the position.
de Guia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Popo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Guia tries to control but Popo wriggling away.
Popo tries to hold on but de Guia postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popo is looking to get to half guard.

de Guia stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
de Guia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Popo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Popo misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
de Guia avoids the body shot from Popo.
de Guia goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Popo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. de Guia is trying to defend but Popo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Popo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so de Guia is just riding it out for now. Popo eventually gives up the hold.
de Guia is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

de Guia feints a jab promting Popo to slip. de Guia then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Popo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Popo rushes de Guia and presses him up against the cage.
Popo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as de Guia walks away with a smile on his face. Popo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Popo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Popo showed some decent athleticism there.

Popo is working for a submission of some sort.

Popo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Guia trying to control from the bottom.

Popo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and de Guia defends it well.

Popo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so de Guia is just riding it out for now. Popo eventually gives up the hold.
Popo throwing shots but de Guia is blocking nicely.

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.
Popo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
de Guia is trying to control but can't.
Popo passes the guard and advances to mount!
de Guia trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force de Guia to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so de Guia shrugs it off.

Popo has hold of de Guia's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and de Guia manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
de Guia wants to hold on but Popo pushes him away.

Popo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and de Guia is now in Popo's guard. A big mistake from Popo there, giving up the dominant position!
Popo wants to sweep here but de Guia controlling him for the moment.
de Guia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Guia trying to control the position from guard on top but Popo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popo wants to sweep here but de Guia controlling him for the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
de Guia trying to control the position from guard on top but Popo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Popo looking for a guillotine here but de Guia defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Popo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. de Guia is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ace Popo dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Popo throws a combination that misses
and de Guia counters with a flying knee. Nice.
de Guia tries to clinch but Popo moves away

and Popo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in de Guia's guard now.

Popo 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.
de Guia keeping full guard, as Popo tries to pass.
de Guia keeping moving, preventing Popo from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
de Guia wants to get back to his feet but Popo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ace Popo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. de Guia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
de Guia trying to control the position here.
Popo passes de Guia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Popo wants to pass to mount but de Guia is defending the position.
de Guia pushes Popo off looking to stand but Popo dives back in and keeps control.
Popo wants to pass the guard but de Guia is defending well.

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.

Popo seems to be working for a kimura but de Guia defends the submission attempt.

Popo wants to work for an arm triangle but de Guia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Popo seems to be working for a kimura but de Guia defends the submission attempt.
de Guia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Popo wants to control but de Guia is keeping him busy.

Popo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
de Guia trying to hold on to Popo's head to control him but Popo postures up.

Popo seems to be working for a kimura but de Guia defends the submission attempt.

Popo is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Popo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Popo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ace Popo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Popo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ace Popo!