PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Franco Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Pouncy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Franco Gomez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gomez
vs
Pouncy

172 cm
20
151 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

178 cm
27
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franco Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Pouncy!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pouncy doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gomez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pouncy's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pouncy pulls Gomez in close to prevent any damage.
Pouncy throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Pouncy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gomez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gomez preventing the sweep.
Gomez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gomez preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pouncy has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gomez has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouncy manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gomez is trying to maintain the position but Pouncy is very close to passing his half guard.
Gomez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pouncy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pouncy's back!
Pouncy rolls, trying to escape but Gomez keeps control of the position.
Pouncy staying busy and making it hard for Gomez to control.

Gomez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Pouncy has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gomez looking to hold on to the position here but Pouncy rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Pouncy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gomez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouncy 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.
Pouncy is adopting a defensive guard.
Gomez wants to control from the top but Pouncy keeps moving.
Pouncy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Pouncy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pouncy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pouncy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pouncy pulls Gomez in to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Gomez with that takedown attempt.
Pouncy shoots in and drives through. Gomez sprawls well.

Gomez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pouncy is holding on to half guard well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pouncy can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gomez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gomez lands a nice short elbow.
Gomez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pouncy is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pouncy is trying to get back to full guard.
Gomez 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.

Franco Gomez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gomez with a lazy takedown attempt

so Pouncy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pouncy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gomez's guard.
Pouncy 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.
Pouncy wants to stand but Gomez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pouncy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marcus Pouncy has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gomez is on top in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pouncy holds on and takes a little breather.
Pouncy wants to sweep here but Gomez controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez trying to control but Pouncy is working from the bottom.

Pouncy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gomez has picked Pouncy up and slammed him! Pouncy can't keep hold of the triangle and Gomez manages to pass to side control!
Pouncy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gomez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pouncy is trying to buck Gomez off.
Pouncy is trying to control Gomez's posture but Gomez avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouncy is looking to reverse the position.
Pouncy is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gomez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Pouncy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gomez presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Gomez looking to finish Pouncy with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pouncy!
Pouncy wants to hold on but Gomez pushes him away.

Gomez looking for a guillotine from mount but Pouncy is having none of it.
Pouncy tries to reverse the position but Gomez maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez avoids the attempt from Pouncy to control.
Pouncy is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gomez manages to capitalize on a mistake by Pouncy to take his back!
A lull in the action here.
Gomez avoiding Pouncy 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pouncy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gomez avoiding Pouncy 's attempts to control his hands.
Pouncy has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gomez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pouncy trying to control the hands but Gomez won't let him.
Pouncy is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Pouncy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gomez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pouncy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gomez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pouncy somewhat.
Gomez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pouncy sprawls well. Pouncy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gomez gets slowly back to his feet.
Gomez fails with the takedown
and Pouncy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gomez thinking.
Gomez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pouncy pinned against the cage. Pouncy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franco Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pouncy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gomez wants to improve his position but instead Pouncy has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pouncy seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pouncy stands up and beckons Gomez to join him on the feet.
Gomez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Pouncy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pouncy wants to pass to mount but Gomez is defending the position.
Pouncy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Marcus Pouncy wasn't active enough on the ground.
Pouncy looks for a takedown but Gomez sprawls well.
Marcus Pouncy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gomez gets caught napping as Pouncy dives in and scores a takedown. Gomez manages to retain guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pouncy 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pouncy is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gomez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gomez has escaped and now he's on top!
Pouncy pulls Gomez in to control the position.
Gomez wanted to stand there but Pouncy had control of the position.
Pouncy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gomez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pouncy wants to control the position but Gomez says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pouncy is looking to improve his position.
Gomez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pouncy wants to improve his position but Gomez is controlling well.
Gomez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pouncy is controlling Gomez's trapped leg to prevent Gomez from advancing to side control.
Pouncy gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Pouncy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pouncy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Pouncy!