PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ground Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ninja Assassin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Pounder
vs
Assassin

209 cm
22
230 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

185 cm
28
211 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ground Pounder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ninja Assassin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pounder!
A slow jab from Pounder misses its intended target.

Pounder closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Assassin quickly recovers to half guard.
Assassin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pounder scores with a couple of nice shots.
Assassin gets back to full guard.
Assassin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Assassin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pounder knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Assassin on the ground.
Pounder thows a big elbow that misses.
Pounder postures up.
Pounder preventing the sweep.
Pounder throwing strikes from guard but Assassin blocks nicely.

Assassin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin controls Pounder momentarily but Pounder frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pounder avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Assassin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pounder is one step ahead there.
Pounder throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pounder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Assassin's head.
Assassin working a defensive guard but Pounder manages to pass into side control anyway.
Pounder working the ground and pound but Assassin is defending the strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Assassin throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Pounder throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Pounder in side control, throwing shots but Assassin defends.
Assassin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Assassin is looking for a sweep.
Assassin gets back to half guard.
Assassin works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounder postures up and lands a big shot to Assassin's brow.
Pounder is looking to work some ground and pound but Assassin has wrist control.
Pounder lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assassin 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.
Pounder has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Assassin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pounder stopping the sweep attempt from Assassin.
Assassin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Assassin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pounder is aware though and is defending well.
Pounder is working Assassin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Assassin wants to sweep but no luck.
Assassin managing to control the position.
Pounder lands a couple of elbows.
Assassin 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ground Pounder dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Assassin does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pounder ducks under a wild hook from Assassin.
Assassin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pounder cracks Assassin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pounder shoots in for a takedown but Assassin shows good takedown defense.

Pounder shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Assassin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pounder preventing the sweep.
Assassin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Assassin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pounder is one step ahead there.
Pounder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Assassin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin trying to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pounder throwing strikes but missing.
Pounder throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Assassin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Assassin is looking for a triangle but Pounder pushes his legs off easily.
Assassin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pounder is looking to control Assassin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pounder avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounder has his hands clasped together around Assassin's back. He's all about the action.
Ground Pounder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Assassin throwing shots but Pounder is blocking nicely.
Pounder slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Assassin trying to control but Pounder is working from the bottom.
Assassin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pounder pulls Assassin in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pounder drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Assassin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Assassin wants to control but Pounder is keeping busy.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard.
Pounder is thwarting Assassin's attempts to control the position.
Assassin is pressing down on Pounder's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounder with a nice head shot there.
Pounder scoring with punches to the head and body.
Assassin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pounder working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pounder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Assassin wants to sweep but no luck.
Pounder with a flurry of punches that miss.
Assassin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pounder manages to get himself to full guard.
Pounder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pounder controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ground Pounder dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Assassin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pounder counters with a left and a right that stings Assassin.

Assassin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pounder did well to prevent Assassin getting side control.
Pounder trying to control from the bottom.
Pounder is trying is best to control the position here.
Pounder is looking to improve his position.
Assassin is trying to control the action in half guard but Pounder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pounder controlling the position well.

Ground Pounder has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pounder.
Assassin parries the strikes from Pounder easily there. Pounder is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Assassin to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pounder.
Pounder grinds an elbow into Assassin's temple.
Pounder lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Assassin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pounder's best efforts.
Assassin tries to roll over but Pounder keeps him under control.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard but Pounder has passed into side control.
Assassin is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Assassin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pounder scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Assassin to see if he's OK.
An elbow from Pounder crashes against the mat.

Pounder is trying to get an arm triangle but Assassin is defending well.
Assassin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Assassin wants to control but Pounder is keeping busy.
Assassin wants to improve his position but Pounder is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assassin trying to hold on to Pounder's head to control him but Pounder postures up.
Assassin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Assassin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pounder throws a strike but Assassin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four 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.
Assassin passes Pounder's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Assassin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pounder is staying active underneath Assassin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pounder tries to roll over but Assassin keeps him under control.
Pounder controlling the position well.
Pounder on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pounder tries to get out of the position.
Pounder is looking to improve his position.
Assassin trying to control from half guard but Pounder is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ground Pounder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pounder has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ground Pounder!