PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fletcher Gross (ranked 5692 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emis Pop (ranked 4679 p4p, 444 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gross
vs
Pop

171 cm
23
194 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fletcher Gross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Emis Pop!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gross fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pop, pushing him back against the cage.

Gross drags the fight down to the ground.
Pop stops Gross from standing up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gross holds on and takes a little breather.
Gross's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Pop must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gross is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Gross escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pop gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pop trying to control but Gross is working from the bottom.
Gross looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gross is on top in guard.

Gross stopping the sweep attempt from Pop.
Gross slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pop working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gross.
Pop can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gross controls the pace.
Pop is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gross looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Pop is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gross defends well.
Pop tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gross misses with a low kick as Pop jumps back.

Gross closes the distance and pushes Pop back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gross tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pop smiles and moves away.
Pop misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Gross on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Pop will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pop.
Fletcher Gross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emis Pop.
Pop is looking to slow Gross down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pop looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pop is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gross wants to stand and escape but Pop is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pop trying to control the position from guard on top but Gross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gross seems keen to control Pop's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pop postures up in Gross's guard and throws a big left but Gross blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fletcher Gross dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gross clinches up with Pop and pushes him back against the cage.
Pop tries to pull guard but Gross won't allow it.
Pop is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pop wants a takedown but no success here.
Pop is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pop is trying to break free.

Pop is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gross is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pop to the mat. Pop regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Pop is looking to stand back up but Gross counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Pop.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gross performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gross has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Gross.
Gross prevents Pop from improving his position.
Gross keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Further stalling from Gross.
Pop slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gross controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Pop has his foot on Gross's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gross works his way back into a safe position though.
Gross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pop can do to turn this around?
Gross is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gross seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pop for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gross waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pop.
Pop scores with a head kick.

Gross drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gross sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pop looking for a sweep. Not yet Pop, not yet.
Gross is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Fletcher Gross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pop trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pop is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Gross dives into side control.
Pop tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pop trying to remain calm as Gross controls from the top position.
Pop manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pop tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gross knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Pop decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
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 Fletcher Gross will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pop moves into range and clinches up with Gross.
Gross stalling.
Pop stalling.
Pop misses with a knee to the head.
Pop tries to pull guard but Gross won't allow it.
Pop goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gross prevents it.
Pop is trying to pull guard but Gross has him pressed against the cage.
Fletcher Gross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emis Pop.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pop is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gross to keep the fight standing.
Pop tries to break free but Gross pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Gross turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gross manages to end up in side control.
Gross 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.
Pop takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pop tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Gross putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gross content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Gross is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Pop really wants to buck Gross off and get back to his feet.
Gross looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pop wants to hold on but Gross pushes him away.
Gross controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pop is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gross looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pop is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pop is desperately trying to improve his position but Gross has a good base and remains in mount.
Gross content just to control the position here.
Gross lands a big shot there that rocks Pop but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pop squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Gross sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
BOOM! Gross connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gross content just to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pop tries to hold on but Gross postures up.
Emis Pop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fletcher Gross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pop gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fletcher Gross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gross, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fletcher Gross!