PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gregorio Reese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Reese
vs
Pope

225 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gregorio Reese!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Pope!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reese shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pope trying to control from the bottom.
Reese is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reese wants to pass the guard but Pope is defending well.
Reese wants to stand up but Pope is controlling the position.
Reese controlling the pace.
Reese thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pope's head.
Pope should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope wants to get back to full guard.
Pope tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Reese manages to move to mount!
Reese trying to control but Pope is having none of it.
Pope is looking to get to half guard.
Pope tries to hold on but Reese postures up.
Pope can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pope keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Reese controlling from mount.

Reese is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pope has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pope!
Reese looking to control.
Reese pulls Pope in close to his closed guard and prevents Pope from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gregorio Reese just wasn't active enough.
Pope throws a push kick but Reese slaps the foot to one side.

Pope bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Reese tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pope wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Pope decides to stand back up. Pope steps back and let's Reese get back to his feet.

Reese shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reese showed some decent athleticism there.
Reese takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Reese trying to mount his opponent but Pope defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope pushes Reese off but Reese dives into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reese tries to advance to mount but Pope instead regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Reese lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reese moves into full mount! Pope won't be happy about that!
Reese avoids the attempt from Pope to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reese connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregorio Reese dominated that round.
That's time! Reese's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pope fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reese avoids it really well and circles away.
Pope leaves Reese with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Reese swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Reese tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Reese just misses with a punch to the body.

Reese gets a double leg takedown into Pope's guard.
Reese trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Reese engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pope is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reese is aware though and is defending well.
Reese really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pope is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Reese paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pope shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reese as he jumps to the side.
Gregorio Reese has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Pope.
Pope is breathing heavily.
Pope throws a head kick but Reese moves out of range.

Reese darts in and clinches Pope up against the cage.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Reese has him pressed against the cage.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Reese lands a shot to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Reese just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pope's brow.

Reese ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Reese no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Reese is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Reese is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to get back to full guard.
Gregorio Reese overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reese is thwarting Pope's attempts to control the position.
Reese not doing much here.
Pope wants to improve his position but Reese is controlling well.
Pope trying to hold on to Reese's head to control him but Reese postures up.
Reese is taking a breather. Pope says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Pope.

Reese clinches up against the cage.

Reese pulls guard effortlessly.
Reese wants to get back to his feet but Pope is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pope wants to control from the top but Reese keeps moving.
Reese on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Reese tries to get out of the position.

Pope gets to his feet - Reese follows without any prompting.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reese forces Pope back against the cage and clinches.
Reese managing to block the knees to the body from Pope.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregorio Reese 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pope throws a shot from downtown. Reese moves away and avoids it.
Reese goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Pope gets caught flat footed, as Reese shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pope looking for a sweep. Not yet Pope, not yet.
Pope working a defensive guard but Reese manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Pope's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Reese thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pope is looking to regain half guard here but Reese keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Pope tries to control but Reese manages to take his back.
Reese lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Pope hold on?!
Pope is trying to break free.
Reese is punishing Pope with some ground and pound.
Reese trying to control.
Pope is in bad spot here.
Pope takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Reese lands punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pope defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Pope trying to get back to his feet but Reese is in full control for now.
Reese has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Pope's body.
I really don't envy Pope right now.
Pope is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reese lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese has the hooks in. Pope is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Reese will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Pope defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Reese has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Pope has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Reese is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Pope is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Reese.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reese is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Pope defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Pope defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Reese's arms.
Pope holding both Reese 's hands and preventing any damage.
John Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gregorio Reese is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reese has Pope flattened out and is raining down punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregorio Reese showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reese 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregorio Reese!