PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nou Hematopoye (ranked 710 p4p, 895 weight class) and Bjj Catch Wrestler (ranked 79 p4p, 104 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hematopoye
vs
Catch Wrestler

171 cm
28
149
13 - 7 - 0

180 cm
29
158
16 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Urban Fighter

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nou Hematopoye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Bjj Catch Wrestler!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Catch Wrestler tries to clinch
and Hematopoye cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hematopoye listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Catch Wrestler takes a swing at Hematopoye's ribcage but misses.
Hematopoye connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hematopoye misses with a looping left.
Hematopoye misses with a wild body shot.

Hematopoye tries to sprawl but Catch Wrestler drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hematopoye trying to control but Catch Wrestler postures up.
Hematopoye regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hematopoye isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Catch Wrestler stacks Hematopoye on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Catch Wrestler!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Catch Wrestler working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hematopoye is trying to get back to half guard.
Catch Wrestler working away.
Catch Wrestler throws a strike aimed at the side of Hematopoye's head but Hematopoye avoids it well.
Catch Wrestler is looking to take a break and control but Hematopoye is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Catch Wrestler working away.

Catch Wrestler tries for a kimura but Hematopoye is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Catch Wrestler taking a breather here.
Hematopoye is looking to regain half guard here but Catch Wrestler keeps moving and retains side control.
Hematopoye is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Catch Wrestler perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hematopoye is trying to get back to full guard.

Hematopoye is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Catch Wrestler pulls his head out easily.
Catch Wrestler is looking to take a break and control but Hematopoye is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hematopoye trying to control but Catch Wrestler postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hematopoye drops his hands momentarily and Catch Wrestler takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Catch Wrestler lands with an overhand left.
Hematopoye takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A lazy left from Hematopoye finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hematopoye jabs Catch Wrestler right on the nose. Catch Wrestler blinks but takes it well.
Hematopoye scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hematopoye misses with a body punch
and Catch Wrestler counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Catch Wrestler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hematopoye paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Catch Wrestler scores with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hematopoye connects with a nice looking jab.
Hematopoye uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Catch Wrestler.
Catch Wrestler misses with a body shot.
Catch Wrestler lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Catch Wrestler on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Catch Wrestler has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hematopoye keeps the fight on the outside.
Catch Wrestler takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Catch Wrestler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bjj Catch Wrestler will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Catch Wrestler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hematopoye manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hematopoye throws out a loose jab but Catch Wrestler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hematopoye moves out of range as Catch Wrestler strikes.
Catch Wrestler scores with a punch to the head.

Hematopoye tries to keep at a distance but Catch Wrestler has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hematopoye blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Catch Wrestler lands a body shot.
Hematopoye drops down looking for an ankle pick but Catch Wrestler pulls his leg out and moves away.

Catch Wrestler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hematopoye, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hematopoye.
Hematopoye tries to pull guard but Catch Wrestler holds him up against the cage and eventually Hematopoye drops back down to his feet.
Catch Wrestler misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hematopoye tightens his grip and picks Catch Wrestler up, before dumping him to the ground. Catch Wrestler manages to land in guard.

Catch Wrestler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hematopoye defends it easily.
Hematopoye sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Hematopoye got a little sloppy there for a moment and Catch Wrestler has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hematopoye has managed to get both his arms back between Catch Wrestler's legs - danger averted.
Catch Wrestler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hematopoye working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Catch Wrestler's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Catch Wrestler has his hands on Hematopoye's head, controlling the position.
Hematopoye working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Catch Wrestler's head.
Catch Wrestler controls Hematopoye momentarily but Hematopoye frees himself.
Catch Wrestler wants to sweep here but Hematopoye controlling him for the moment.
Catch Wrestler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hematopoye scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Catch Wrestler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hematopoye defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hematopoye accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Catch Wrestler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Catch Wrestler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hematopoye gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hematopoye wants to pass the guard but Catch Wrestler is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hematopoye throwing strikes from guard but Catch Wrestler blocks nicely.
Catch Wrestler is pulling down on Hematopoye's head to control his posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Catch Wrestler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Catch Wrestler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Catch Wrestler has his foot on Hematopoye's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hematopoye works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bjj Catch Wrestler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

Catch Wrestler stalks Hematopoye and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hematopoye's face. Hematopoye staggers backwards, shaken.
Hematopoye misses with a lunging right hand
letting Catch Wrestler counter with a right hand.
Hematopoye looks to land a left hand but Catch Wrestler moved out of range nicely.
Bjj Catch Wrestler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Catch Wrestler connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hematopoye. Hematopoye circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Catch Wrestler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hematopoye lands a lovely overhand right.
Catch Wrestler has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Catch Wrestler moves out of range as Hematopoye strikes.
Catch Wrestler is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Hematopoye is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hematopoye just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Catch Wrestler misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Catch Wrestler rushes Hematopoye and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hematopoye blocking some punches.
Catch Wrestler lands with a left to the head.
Catch Wrestler lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hematopoye backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hematopoye has Catch Wrestler pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hematopoye pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Catch Wrestler tumbling to the mat - Hematopoye dives into Catch Wrestler's guard.

Catch Wrestler manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hematopoye blocks a body shot from Catch Wrestler.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hematopoye.
Hematopoye tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Catch Wrestler smiles and moves away.
Nice defenses there by Hematopoye.
Hematopoye misses with a right hand
and Catch Wrestler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Catch Wrestler feints a jab promting Hematopoye to slip. Catch Wrestler then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hematopoye slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Catch Wrestler fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hematopoye sprawls well initially but Catch Wrestler persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bjj Catch Wrestler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Catch Wrestler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hematopoye is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Alpha Brasil, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Catch Wrestler 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.
Nou Hematopoye has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bjj Catch Wrestler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Catch Wrestler seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Catch Wrestler is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hematopoye looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Catch Wrestler content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hematopoye shoots in for a takedown but Catch Wrestler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Catch Wrestler tries to counter with a clinch but Hematopoye shakes him off and moves away.
Hematopoye misses with a wild body shot.
Catch Wrestler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hematopoye sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Catch Wrestler tries to clinch but Hematopoye is having none of it.

Catch Wrestler has closed the distance and engaged Hematopoye in a clinch.
Hematopoye wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catch Wrestler blocks an uppercut.
Hematopoye working hard to break the clinch.
Hematopoye has a couple of punches blocked by Catch Wrestler.
Hematopoye is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nou Hematopoye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Catch Wrestler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hematopoye's efforts to push away.
Hematopoye fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hematopoye lands a takedown into guard.
Catch Wrestler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Catch Wrestler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Catch Wrestler's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjj Catch Wrestler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Catch Wrestler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjj Catch Wrestler!
After winning the bout, Bjj Catch Wrestler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.