PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Gurel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Suleman Pokong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suleman Pokong will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gurel
vs
Pokong

180 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

175 cm
23
170 lbs
6 - 9 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jake Gurel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Suleman Pokong!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pokong misses with a double jab.
Pokong pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gurel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice takedown defense from Pokong. No joy for Gurel on that attempt.
Pokong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gurel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pokong swivels and escapes.
Pokong shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gurel eats them both and turns towards Pokong to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
We've been informed that Pokong has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gurel slips a jab and a cross from Pokong.

Gurel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gurel seems to be looking for submissions.
Pokong scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Gurel manages to mount him!
Pokong's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurel lands a big elbow.
Gurel with good strikes from the mount here!
Gurel lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Gurel jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Pokong is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Pokong and Gurel has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gurel controls the position.
Gurel cracks Pokong with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gurel is trying to get an arm triangle but Pokong is defending well.
Gurel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gurel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gurel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gurel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokong is trying to get back to half guard.
Pokong gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pokong is squirming around, avoiding Gurel's attempts to control the action.

Gurel gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gurel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gurel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pokong pushes Gurel off looking to stand but Gurel dives back in and keeps control.
Gurel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pokong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gurel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Gurel dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gurel shoots in and gets a takedown into Pokong's guard.
Gurel won't allow Pokong to get back to his feet.
Gurel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gurel throwing strikes from guard but Pokong blocks nicely.
Pokong keeping full guard, as Gurel tries to pass.
Gurel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gurel wants to control from the top but Pokong keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurel tries to free his leg and advance position but Pokong is retaining full guard.

Jake Gurel has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pokong lands a really nice looking cross but Gurel seems unphased.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pokong enables Gurel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pokong manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gurel throws a strike but Pokong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gurel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gurel is trying to control. Pokong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pokong wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokong is trying to get back to full guard.
Gurel trying to control from half guard but Pokong is working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gurel scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gurel wants to free his trapped foot but Pokong is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gurel lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gurel working Pokong over with strikes.

Gurel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pokong sees it coming and defends easily.
Pokong tries to get to full guard but Gurel has control of the leg.
Gurel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gurel trying to control from half guard but Pokong is working away.
Gurel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokong is looking for a sweep. Gurel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gurel wants to control but Pokong is keeping him busy.
Gurel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gurel working Pokong over with strikes.
Jake Gurel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pokong pushes Gurel off looking to stand but Gurel dives back in and keeps control.
Gurel is trying to control. Pokong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gurel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pokong's head.
Gurel moves nicely into side control.
Gurel grinds an elbow into Pokong's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Gurel dominated that second round.
That's time! Gurel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gurel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pokong to the mat! Pokong manages to get full guard.
Gurel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pokong wants to stand but Gurel is controlling the position.
Pokong being controlled here, momentarily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gurel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pokong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gurel is controlling him.
Gurel forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gurel is working for a submission of some sort.
Gurel is nestled in close to Pokong, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gurel is keen to just control but Pokong is a slippery customer.

Gurel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gurel seems to be working for a kimura but Pokong defends the submission attempt.
Pokong is concentrating on defense, preventing Gurel from advancing position.
Pokong tries to roll over but Gurel keeps him under control.

Gurel is looking for a kimura but Pokong is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gurel to get the leverage.
Pokong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gurel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokong is looking to escape.
Gurel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Gurel seems to be working for a kimura but Pokong defends the submission attempt.
Gurel is pressing down on Pokong's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pokong is holding on for now.

Gurel is trying for a kimura here. Pokong looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Gurel wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jake Gurel!
A very excited looking Jake Gurel made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.