PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Roman Gladiator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Popper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gladiator
vs
Popper

155 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
130 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Gladiator!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Popper!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gladiator shoots in for a takedown but Popper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Popper closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Popper lands in his opponent's guard.
Popper is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Popper throwing strikes but missing.
Popper is looking to work some ground and pound but Gladiator has wrist control.
Popper working some strikes from top position.
Popper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Popper with a nice head shot there.
Gladiator being controlled here, momentarily.
Popper throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popper content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Popper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Popper passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Popper wants to free his trapped foot but Gladiator is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Popper looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gladiator is trying to stand.
Popper landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gladiator tries to roll over but Popper keeps him under control.

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.

Popper is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gladiator is just riding it out for now. Popper eventually gives up the hold.
Popper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Popper is thwarting Gladiator's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gladiator tries to roll over but Popper keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Popper shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gladiator manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gladiator is looking to stand up but Popper isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popper lands a couple of elbows.
Gladiator trying to keep a closed guard but Popper is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Popper stopping the sweep attempt from Gladiator.
Popper pushes down on Gladiator's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Still in half guard, Popper seems content to control.
Popper prevents Gladiator from improving his position.
Gladiator is trying to control but can't.
Well, if Popper is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Popper looks gassed!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Popper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Popper controlling the action here.
Gladiator has hold of Popper's hands but Popper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Popper looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gladiator tries to roll over but Popper keeps him under control.
Gladiator is looking to control Popper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gladiator avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Popper is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Popper frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Popper is breathing heavily.
Gladiator tries to lock up and control but Popper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Popper with shots to the head and body - Gladiator looks very uncomfortable down there.
Popper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gladiator wants to hold on but Popper pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gladiator takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gladiator tries to reverse the position but Popper maintains control.
Popper controlling the position easily from mount.
Gladiator is in all sorts of trouble here.
Popper working the ground and pound effectively.
Gladiator is trying to escape the mount.
Gladiator is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popper looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gladiator is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gladiator working to try and regain half guard.
Popper working the ground and pound effectively.
Gladiator is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gladiator is trying desperately to improve position.
Gladiator tries to lock up and control but Popper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Popper working for a submission but Gladiator is keeping him at bay.

Popper goes for an armbar but Gladiator turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gladiator.
Popper looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gladiator puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popper is trying to maintain the position but Gladiator is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Popper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gladiator doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Popper counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Popper postures up.
Gladiator is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Popper is controlling him.
Popper is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gladiator looking to control but Popper passes into half guard.
Popper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Popper lands a nice short elbow.
Gladiator is looking to control Popper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gladiator avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gladiator punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popper controlling the pace.
Gladiator wants to get back to full guard.
Popper lands with a punch from half guard.
Popper sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Popper tries to stand and escape but Gladiator is controlling the position.
Popper prevents Gladiator from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gladiator tries to clinch up but Popper circles away and keeps his distance.
Gladiator shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Popper as he avoids it easily.
Gladiator tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popper paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Popper is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gladiator's half guard.
Gladiator gets back to full guard.
Popper trying to control the position from guard on top but Gladiator is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gladiator is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gladiator trying to control from half guard but Popper is working away.
Gladiator not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gladiator trying to control from half guard but Popper is working away.
Gladiator tries to pass the half guard into mount. Popper knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Popper keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Popper wants to get back to full guard.
John Popper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gladiator tries to stand and escape but Popper is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gladiator wants to clinch up but Popper keeps it at a distance.

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.
Gladiator tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gladiator is looking to clinch but Popper is avoiding it.
Gladiator throws a solid leg kick but Popper takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gladiator.
Gladiator fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
John Popper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gladiator gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Popper counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Gladiator. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gladiator taking some punishment here, with Popper in his half guard.

Gladiator looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Popper lands a nice short elbow.
Popper wants to free his trapped foot but Gladiator is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Popper tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gladiator.
Roman Gladiator has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Popper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gladiator landing strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Popper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Popper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Popper!