PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rizal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Pollock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rizal comes to the ring accompanied by Smells Like Jose Spirit. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rizal
vs
Pollock

168 cm
27
147 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
27
153 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Rizal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Pollock!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pollock lands a jab-cross combination.
Rizal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pollock sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pollock unleashes a big counter combination but Rizal bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rizal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pollocks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rizal seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Pollock takes one on the button.
Nice uppercut lands for Rizal. That snapped Pollock's head back.
Rizal tries to clinch there but Pollock circles away.
Pollock swings for the body but Rizal moves out of range.
Pollock takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rizal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rizal works the jab nicely.

Pollock is rocked!
Rizal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pollock takes the fight into the clinch.
Pollock fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pollock's efforts to push away.
Pollock is trying to pull guard but Rizal has him pressed against the ropes.
Pollock wants to take the fight to the mat but Rizal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jose Rizal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Pollock.
Rizal tries to pull guard but Pollock won't allow it.

Pollock works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Rizal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rizal has his foot on Pollock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pollock works his way back into a safe position though.

Pollock got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rizal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pollock has managed to get both his arms back between Rizal's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rizal working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pollock has passed into half guard!
Rizal wants to control but Pollock is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pollock is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rizal trying to control here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rizal is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pollock wants to control but Rizal is keeping him busy.
Pollock is taking a breather. Rizal 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.
Pollock is stalling here. Rizal is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Pollock seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rizal has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rizal tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Rizal is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Pollock is trying to escape and Rizal transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Pollock is forced to tap! Nice work there by Rizal! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jose Rizal!
A relieved looking Jose Rizal thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.