PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Spezza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Spezza
vs
Pope

178 cm
22
162 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

176 cm
28
152 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Spezza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dean Pope!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope with a poor takedown
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spezza stuffs the takedown.

Pope darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Spezza is refusing to be controlled, as Pope sits in half guard.

Pope seems to be looking for submissions.

Pope is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Pope is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Spezza is just riding it out for now. Pope eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Spezza is looking for a sweep. Pope is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pope is looking to stall here but Spezza recovers full guard.
Spezza keeping moving, preventing Pope from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pope's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope postures up in Spezza's guard and throws a big left but Spezza blocks it.
Pope is looking to work some ground and pound but Spezza has wrist control.
Pope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Spezza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pope.
Pope tries to free his leg and advance position but Spezza is retaining full guard.
Spezza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pope has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pope drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Spezza dives on top into guard.
Spezza advances to half guard.
Pope missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pope makes his way to full guard, as Spezza worked for a kimura.
Pope being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pope is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Pope throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spezza sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Pope dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Spezza bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pope's head backwards.
A big left from Pope misses.
Pope tries for a takedown but Spezza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pope with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spezza misses with an uppercut.
Pope shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Spezza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jason Spezza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Pope.
Pope throws a right hand that misses
and Spezza counters with a stiff right hand.

Pope closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Spezza's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Spezza has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Pope doesn't defend quickly enough and Spezza has managed to lock this one up! Can Pope escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Spezza on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jason Spezza!
A very excited looking Jason Spezza rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.