PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robo Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anna Karenina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes into the arena with Ghost - Monstrance Clock blaring out of the sound system. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Pope
vs
Karenina

225 cm
25
303 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robo Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anna Karenina!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karenina shoots in looking for a takedown. Pope tries to sprawl out of it but Karenina keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pope manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Karenina scores with a one two! Pope had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Robo Pope's cut is getting worse.
Karenina fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pope.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Karenina throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pope's waist but Pope gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karenina off to one side.
Karenina shoots for a takedown but Pope saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Robo Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anna Karenina.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karenina tries to clinch but Pope moves out of range.
Pope takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Pope wants to clinch up but Karenina keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karenina.
Pope has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Clean and Green in the buildup to the fight.
Karenina swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.
Karenina shoots for a double leg takedown but Pope sprawls well. He's pushed Karenina's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Karenina shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pope pinned against the cage. Pope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pope rushes Karenina and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Karenina keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.

Karenina manages to break the clinch.
Karenina darts in looking for a takedown but Pope gets double underhooks and turns Karenina into the cage.
Karenina looks winded!
Karenina is trying to pull guard but Pope turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Pope breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karenina tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pope swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope is looking to clinch but Karenina is avoiding it.

Pope rushes Karenina and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pope can't break the clinch.
Pope prevents the takedown attempt.
Karenina keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Pope is trying to force a seperation but Karenina has the dominant position.
Pope tries to break free but Karenina pushes him back against the cage.
Karenina misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Karenina's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Karenina shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karenina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karenina moves in looking to clinch but Pope pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Robo Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Pope drives through and clinches with Karenina against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karenina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karenina feints a jab promting Pope to slip. Karenina then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pope slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Robo Pope's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Pope tries to clinch but Karenina is having none of it.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Pope wants to clinch.
Karenina tries to clinch but Pope is having none of it.
Pope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karenina circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karenina.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.

Pope clinches up with Karenina and pushes him back against the cage.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to force a seperation but Karenina has the dominant position.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Karenina tries to pull guard but Pope holds him up against the cage and eventually Karenina drops back down to his feet.
Karenina tries to pull guard but Pope won't allow it.
Pope tries to circle away but Karenina has him pinned against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Pope wants to get back to striking at distance but Karenina won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A frustrated look appears on Pope's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pope tries to circle away but Karenina has him pinned against the cage.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anna Karenina dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robo Pope's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pope tries to clinch up but Karenina circles away and keeps his distance.
Karenina dives in and grabs Pope's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pope pushes down on Karenina's head and hops out.
Karenina thuds a left hand into Pope's body.
Pope tries to clinch but Karenina moves out of range.
Karenina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pope takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope is looking to clinch but Karenina is avoiding it.
Pope tries to clinch up but Karenina circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope is looking to clinch but Karenina is avoiding it.

Karenina tries to keep at a distance but Pope has taken the fight into the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pope is looking to break free of the clinch but Karenina has double underhooks.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Karenina is controlling the position.
Pope wants to break free but Karenina has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pope can't break the clinch.
Karenina is trying to pull guard but Pope has him pressed against the cage.

Karenina breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pope wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pope has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Karenina wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karenina drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Robo Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anna Karenina.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Pope tries to break the clinch but Karenina is controlling the position.
Karenina tries to pull guard but Pope holds him up against the cage and eventually Karenina drops back down to his feet.
Karenina wants to take the fight to the mat but Pope manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Karenina is breathing heavily.
Karenina has Pope pressed against the cage, preventing Pope from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pope tries to clinch up.
Anna Karenina seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pope can't break the clinch.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina is controlling him.
Pope has had enough of the clinch but Karenina keeps him there for the moment.
Pope can't break the clinch.
Karenina is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pope to keep the fight standing.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karenina is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Karenina fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Karenina is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to break free but Karenina pushes him back against the cage.
Pope wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Pope wants to break free but Karenina has control.
Karenina lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karenina tries to land a knee to the head but Pope blocks with his arms.
Pope has had enough of the clinch but Karenina keeps him there for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope can't break the clinch.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robo Pope will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Robo Pope's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Pope takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Karenina avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pope tries to clinch up but Karenina circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Karenina pushes him off.

Pope takes the fight into the clinch.
Karenina is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pope to keep the fight standing.
Karenina looking to slow down the pace here.
Pope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Karenina tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karenina drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Robo Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anna Karenina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope wants to break free but Karenina has control.
Karenina goes for a takedown attempt but Pope pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Karenina takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch but Karenina swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karenina keeps the fight on the outside.
Karenina shoots for a double leg takedown but Pope sprawls well. He's pushed Karenina's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karenina lands with a kick to the temple. Pope shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karenina paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pope tries to clinch up but Karenina circles away and keeps his distance.
Pope tries to clinch up but Karenina circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karenina tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pope sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Karenina somewhat.
Pope steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Karenina. That one must have hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pope fails in his attempt to clinch.

Pope closes the distance and pushes Karenina back into the cage.
Karenina tries to throw a body punch but Pope avoids it by throwing Karenina back against the cage.
Karenina prevents Pope from breaking the clinch.
Pope tries to break free but Karenina pushes him back against the cage.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Pope needs to keep his hands up - Karenina had a free shot at his head there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karenina tries to clinch but Pope moves out of range.
Karenina lands a nice looking body kick.

Karenina tries to keep at a distance but Pope has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to break free but Karenina has control.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina has him pressed against the cage.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope is trying to break free.
Karenina is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pope pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pope is looking to break free of the clinch but Karenina has double underhooks.
Karenina has a couple of punches blocked by Pope.
Karenina keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pope's efforts to push away.

Karenina pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pope instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karenina tries for a takedown but Pope manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pope wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Karenina is controlling him.
Karenina jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pope walks away with a smile on his face. Karenina gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karenina manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Pope darts in and clinches Karenina up against the cage.
Pope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pope is looking to break free of the clinch but Karenina has double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karenina keeps control of Pope as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pope gets underhooks to prevent Karenina's takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Robo Pope.
I think Pope 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Robo Pope!