PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Patricky Freire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oko Poli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Freire
vs
Poli

170 cm
27
155 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
165 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Patricky Freire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Oko Poli!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Freire drives through with a takedown into Poli's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Poli working for a triangle but Freire defends it easily.
Freire trying to control but Poli is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freire wants to pass the guard but Poli is keeping the position.
Freire pushes down on Poli's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Poli slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Freire works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Freire frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freire unloads with some shots from mount but Poli bucks and avoids them well.
Freire fails to advance to Poli's back.
Freire landing punches.
Poli is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
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!
Poli is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freire is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Poli is surviving well by controlling Freire's body position as best he can.
Poli really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Freire looking to control but Poli is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poli is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Poli is still trying to improve position.
Freire is trying to take his opponent's back.
Poli is desperately trying to improve his position but Freire has a good base and remains in mount.

Freire is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Poli can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freire punching from mount but Poli doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Poli is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poli is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freire manages to capitalize on a mistake by Poli to take his back!
Will Freire go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Poli is in bad spot here.
Freire doesn't have the hooks in and Poli manages to turn into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Poli preventing the sweep.

Freire looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Poli from controlling successfully.

Freire has an active guard here but Poli has managed to pass into half guard.
My spies in The gym inform me that Poli has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Poli is looking for a kimura but Freire is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Poli to get the leverage.
Freire is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Poli uses his free foot to push down on Freire's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Freire.
Freire manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Freire wants to improve his position but Poli is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freire wants to control but Poli is keeping busy.
Freire is pressing down on Poli's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Poli not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Poli wants to control from the top but Freire keeps moving.

Freire working for a triangle but Poli defends it easily.
Poli stays in close to Freire's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patricky Freire dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Freire is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Poli's half guard.

Freire is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Freire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Poli can do to turn this around?
Poli tries to get to full guard but Freire has control of the leg.

Freire seems to be working for a kimura but Poli defends the submission attempt.
Poli is looking for a sweep. Freire is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Poli is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Freire pulls his head out easily.
Patricky Freire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Poli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Freire is looking to advance position but Poli won't allow it.
Freire is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire wants to pass the guard but Poli is defending well.

Freire is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poli defends it well.
Poli is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Freire's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Freire's back!
Freire is really stuck here.
Freire is working hard here to advance position.
Freire manages to reverse the position and now he's in Poli's guard. Nice work there by Freire.

Poli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Freire works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freire looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Poli is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Poli gets back to full guard.
Freire trying to control but Poli is working from the bottom.
Poli wants to sweep but no luck.
Freire wants to pass the guard but Poli is keeping the position.

Poli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Freire can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Freire avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Freire drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Freire jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freire slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Freire tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Poli gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Poli is controlling an arm, preventing Freire from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Poli slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Freire looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Poli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Freire is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poli keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Freire looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Poli is desperately trying to improve his position but Freire has a good base and remains in mount.
Freire looking to control but Poli is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poli is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poli regains half guard.

Freire moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Poli.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patricky Freire dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Poli with a poor takedown
and Freire counters with a right hand to the body.

Poli shoots in and bounces Freire off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Freire manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poli manages to get himself to full guard.

Freire wants to control from the top but Poli keeps moving.
Poli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Poli is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Freire defends well.
Freire is looking to work some ground and pound but Poli has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Poli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Freire is aware though and is defending well.
Poli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Freire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Freire trying to control the position from guard on top but Poli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Poli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Freire doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Freire manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire passes Poli's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Poli looking for submissions off his back.
Freire thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poli's head.

Freire is trying to work for a kimura but Poli is defending well.
Freire tries to pass the half guard into mount. Poli knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Freire is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Poli!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poli is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poli sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Freire wants to work for an arm triangle but Poli is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Freire performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. Poli manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Poli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Freire gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Freire trying to control the position from guard on top but Poli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Poli is looking to cinch up a triangle. Freire throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Poli's body to avoid the submission. Poli has instead reached around Freire's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Poli arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Oko Poli!
After the fight, Oko Poli was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.