PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Maddox Pope (ranked 3435 p4p, 5292 weight class) and Pauly Just Training (ranked 176 p4p, 214 weight class). Pope's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Shut Up - Stormzy. The key to victory for Maddox Pope has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pope
vs
Just Training

173 cm
26
141
3 - 3 - 0

166 cm
21
143
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Maddox Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pauly Just Training!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Just Training shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pope manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Just Training is standing up over Pope. Pope looks to escape but Just Training dives into side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Just Training working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Just Training looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Just Training throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Just Training has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Pope slaps away a takedown attempt from Just Training, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Just Training.
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Just Training.
Maddox Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauly Just Training.
Pope lands the left hand.

Just Training scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Just Training looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Just Training looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Just Training is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Pope tries to hold on but Just Training pushes him away.
Just Training controlling his opponent.
Just Training landing strikes from the mount.
Just Training lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Pope hang on?
The referee warns Pope that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Pope is rocked!
Pope tries to reverse the position but Just Training maintains control.
Oh Pope is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

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

Just Training moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Pope has worked his arm free - good work by Pope!
Pope seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pope is trying to get back to his feet.

Just Training goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pope has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Just Training but great work by Pope.
Just Training sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Just Training is trying to maintain the position but Pope is very close to passing his half guard.

Just Training looking for a kimura from the bottom but Pope passes into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Just Training pushes Pope away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pope gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Just Training is looking to reverse the position.
Pope tries to stand but Just Training is controlling his head.
Just Training is trying to control Pope's posture but Pope avoids it.
Just Training regains half guard.
Just Training flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Just Training tries to get to full guard but Pope has control of the leg.
Pope tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Just Training keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Just Training looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Just Training manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Just Training is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pope defends well.
Pope would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauly Just Training dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pope tries to clinch but Just Training is having none of it.

Just Training drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pauly Just Training has got the better of the ground game so far.
Just Training advances to half guard.

Just Training is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pope sees it coming and defends easily.

Pope is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Just Training pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Just Training is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Just Training is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pope has managed to free his arm - good work.

Pope is defending against the submission attempts here by Just Training.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope is looking to get back to is feet but Just Training passes into side control.
Pope is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Just Training wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pope keeps working.
Pope is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Just Training has hold of Pope's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Pope seems comfortable defending it but Just Training has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Pope is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Pope is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Just Training couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pauly Just Training!
Pauly Just Training looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Phew! It feels good to get back to my winning ways!'.