PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Claudio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harper Pool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Claudio
vs
Pool

180 cm
27
183 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

181 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

PWNAGE™ (WOT)
[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paulo Claudio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harper Pool!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pool shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Claudio wants to control but Pool is having none of it.
Pool throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Pool working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pool pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pool looking to finish with strikes here!
Claudio in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pool is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Pool has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pool looking to ground and pound but Claudio is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pool landing shots from mount.
Pool thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Claudio tries to hold on but Pool postures up.
Claudio slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Claudio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pool.
Pool with the ground and pound but Claudio uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Claudio wants to stand and escape but Pool is having none of it.
Claudio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Claudio has his foot on Pool's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pool works his way back into a safe position though.
Pool in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Claudio working a defensive guard here.
Pool throws a strike but Claudio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pool is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pool tries to break free but Claudio pushes him back against the cage.
Pool wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Claudio.
Claudio can't break the clinch.
Claudio swings wildly with an uppercut but Pool uses good head movement to avoid it.
Claudio lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pool lands a right hand that snaps the head of Claudio backwards.
Claudio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pool is trying to break free.
Claudio tries a body shot but Pool blocks it.

Pool breaks the clinch.
Pool will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Claudio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pool closes the distance looking to clinch
and Claudio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Claudio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pool.
Paulo Claudio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harper Pool.
Claudio misses with a combination
and Pool counters with a big head kick but Claudio shrugs it off.
A combination from Pool does no damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pool fails with a takedown attempt.

Claudio gets caught napping as Pool dives in and scores a takedown. Claudio manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Claudio misses with a straight left.
Pool looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Claudio throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pool sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Pool shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Claudio is trying to defend but Pool finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pool throwing shots but Claudio is blocking nicely.

Claudio actively working from the bottom here.
Pool throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Pool.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pool lands a nice short elbow.
Claudio is looking to control Pool's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Claudio avoid being mounted?
Pool looks to land a strike but Claudio avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Pool lands a couple of elbows.
Claudio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pool throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pool working some strikes from top position.
Pool is looking to work some ground and pound but Claudio has wrist control.
Claudio keeping full guard, as Pool tries to pass.
Pool stops Claudio from standing up.
Pool trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pool throws a big right hand that misses.
Claudio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pool is one step ahead there.

Pool gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pool tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Claudio swivels and escapes.

Pool clinches up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pool - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Claudio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Pool takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudio lands with a left to the head.
Claudio lands with a right to the head.
Claudio misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pool is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pool's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pool breaks from the clinch.
Pool closes the distance looking to clinch
and Claudio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Claudio throws a combination that misses
and Pool counters with a flying knee. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harper Pool showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Claudio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pool tries to close the distance and clinch up but Claudio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pool tries to clinch but Claudio is having none of it.
Pool goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pool misses with a takedown attempt
and Claudio counters with a three punch combo that has Pool backing up. Pool nods at Claudio to acknowledge the strikes.
Pool shoots in looking for a takedown but Claudio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pool's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pool throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pool shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Claudio pinned against the cage. Claudio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paulo Claudio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harper Pool.
Pool swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Claudio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pool wants to clinch but Claudio slips to the side
and Claudio counters with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Pool.
Harper Pool seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Claudio moves into range and clinches up with Pool.

Claudio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pool is trying hard to land a takedown here. Claudio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paulo Claudio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pool slaps away a takedown attempt from Claudio, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Pool fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Claudio to the ground. Pool is now in Claudio's guard.
Pool missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pool is looking to work some ground and pound but Claudio has wrist control.
Claudio is trying to keep Pool in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pool missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pool throws a big right hand that misses.
Claudio trying to keep a closed guard but Pool is proving a slippery customer.
Pool with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pool missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Claudio throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pool uses it to pass to side control.
Pool fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pool connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Claudio some visible discomfort.
The strikes coming from Pool are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Pool lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pool creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Claudio sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Pool cracks Claudio with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pool working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pool misses with the ground and pound.
Pool fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pool working the ground and pound but Claudio is defending the strikes.
Pool postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Harper Pool has got the better of the ground game so far.
Claudio wants to control but Pool postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Claudio takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Harper Pool is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pool tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harper Pool comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pool 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harper Pool!
Harper Pool took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Thank you to all my fans i love yay.Thank you DTK and PWNAGE and my brand.And to Shawn Field.ALl the respect in the world to you but when its me vs you its done.*Walks off'.