PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Garibaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lolly Pop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garibaldi's entrance music is War. A fine choice. Michael Garibaldi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garibaldi
vs
Pop

190 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
200 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Control Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Garibaldi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lolly Pop!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pop takes a jab right on the kisser.
Garibaldi misses with an uppercut. Pop saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garibaldi. Pop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garibaldi shoots for a double leg takedown but Pop sprawls well. He's pushed Garibaldi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Garibaldi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pop moves away.
Garibaldi misses with a body shot.
Garibaldi tries to land a front kick but Pop steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Michael Garibaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garibaldi tries to clinch up but Pop circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garibaldi throws a hook but Pop avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garibaldi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Garibaldi throws a body punch but Pop moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garibaldi wants to clinch up but Pop keeps it at a distance.
Garibaldi shoots in but no luck this time.
A slow jab from Garibaldi misses its intended target.
Pop misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pop takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pop checks a low kick from Garibaldi.
Garibaldi thows a body shot but no joy.
Garibaldi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pop moves away.

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.
Garibaldi tries to clinch but Pop moves out of range.
Garibaldi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pop was well out of range. Poor timing from Garibaldi.
Pop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garibaldi is looking to wear down Pop with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pop staying out of range there.
Pop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Garibaldi.
Garibaldi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pop.
Pop doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Garibaldi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Garibaldi shoots in and bounces Pop off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pop trying to control the position here.

Pop looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Garibaldi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Garibaldi content to stall in guard here.
Pop bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Garibaldi's guard.
Pop throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Garibaldi is controlling Pop's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pop trying to control but Garibaldi is working from the bottom.
Garibaldi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garibaldi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pop with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garibaldi is trying to control the position but Pop postures up.
Pop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garibaldi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A slow jab from Garibaldi misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Garibaldi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A big left from Garibaldi misses.

Pop feints and as Garibaldi raises his hands in defense, Pop changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pop postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pop preventing the sweep.
Pop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garibaldi is keeping the position for now.
Pop stopping the sweep attempt from Garibaldi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pop looking to sit in guard and control but Garibaldi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pop wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Garibaldi throws a looping overhand right but Pop ducks down to avoid it.
Garibaldi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pop counters with a takedown into side control.
Garibaldi tries to improve position but can't.
Pop is looking to take a break and control but Garibaldi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garibaldi is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Garibaldi is trying to buck Pop off.
Garibaldi tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garibaldi struggling a bit here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pop walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pop as he jumps to the side.
Garibaldi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pop fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

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.
Pop will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pop.
Garibaldi throws a looping overhand right but Pop ducks down to avoid it.
Garibaldi looks to throw the jab but Pop is out of range.
A head kick by Garibaldi misses
and Pop counters with a series of strikes. Garibaldi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pop takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Garibaldi darts in trying to clinch

and Pop decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Garibaldi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lolly Pop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pop is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Garibaldi's half guard.

Garibaldi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Garibaldi wants to get back to full guard.
Garibaldi taking some punishment here, with Pop in his half guard.
Pop passes into side control, despite Garibaldi's attempt to control the position.
Garibaldi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pop off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Garibaldi.
Garibaldi is landing with strikes from the back.
Garibaldi softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Garibaldi is looking for the choke from the back position but Pop is controlling his hands well.
Garibaldi controls the position.
I really don't envy Pop right now.
Garibaldi doesn't have the hooks in and Pop manages to turn into his guard.
Garibaldi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pop is trying to get back to full guard.
Pop is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pop trying to hold on to Garibaldi's head to control him but Garibaldi postures up.
Pop is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Garibaldi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Garibaldi throws a strike but Pop avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pop is on top in guard.
Garibaldi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Garibaldi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pop stopping the sweep attempt from Garibaldi.
Garibaldi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Garibaldi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pop trying to hold on to Garibaldi's head to control him but Garibaldi postures up.
Garibaldi working the head and body with strikes.
Pop is looking to get back to full guard here but Garibaldi has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pop is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Garibaldi cracks Pop with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Pop gets back to half guard.
Garibaldi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Pop trying to hold on to Garibaldi's head to control him but Garibaldi postures up.
Pop takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garibaldi prevents Pop from improving his position.
Garibaldi is looking to take a break and control but Pop is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Garibaldi clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Garibaldi tries to clinch there but Pop circles away.
Pop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Garibaldi lands a body shot.
Garibaldi throws a body punch but Pop moves out of range.
Garibaldi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pop swats away the attempt to clinch by Garibaldi.
Garibaldi is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garibaldi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pop counters with a single leg into guard. Garibaldi didn't expect that.
Pop stopping the sweep attempt from Garibaldi.
Garibaldi working a defensive guard here.
Garibaldi wants to get back to his feet but Pop is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garibaldi is on top in guard.
Garibaldi stands up over Pop, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pop tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garibaldi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Garibaldi throws a strike but Pop rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Garibaldi trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi wants to stand but Pop is controlling the position.
Pop preventing the sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Garibaldi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pop slips a jab from Garibaldi.
Garibaldi takes a swing at Pop's ribcage but misses.

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.
Pop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garibaldi throws a big shot that misses.
Pop circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garibaldi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garibaldi was well out of range. Poor timing from Pop.
Garibaldi throws out a loose jab but Pop uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garibaldi misses with a jab to the body

and Pop counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pop.
Garibaldi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Pop puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Lolly Pop will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Garibaldi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pop throws a wild body kick that Garibaldi sees coming a mile off.
Garibaldi misses with a takedown attempt
and Pop counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pop misses with a takedown attempt
and Garibaldi counters with a two punch combo.
A head kick by Garibaldi misses

and Pop counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Garibaldi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pop throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Garibaldi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garibaldi wants to get back to his feet.
Garibaldi wants to improve his position but Pop is controlling well.
Garibaldi is trying to control but can't.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Garibaldi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Garibaldi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Garibaldi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pop paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garibaldi looks to land a left hand but Pop moved out of range nicely.
Garibaldi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garibaldi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garibaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Pop, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Garibaldi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Garibaldi misses the body punch
and Pop connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pop shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garibaldi but Garibaldi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Michael Garibaldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lolly Pop.
Pop ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garibaldi. Pop does a little dance to reset his feet.

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.
Pop slips a straight right by Garibaldi.
Garibaldi throws a right hand that Pop ducks under and follows up with a left that Pop also avoids with ease.
Garibaldi wants to clinch.
Garibaldi is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pop shoots in and drives through. Garibaldi sprawls well.
Pop keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Garibaldi.
I think Garibaldi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 47:48
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 48:47
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Garibaldi!
Michael Garibaldi retains his middleweight title!