PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Welcome to the Jungle. Tarik Johnson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Daniel Pope's chin.

Pope
vs
Johnson

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tarik Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Pope swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Pope feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Johnsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pope tries to land a front kick but Johnson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nice takedown defense from Pope. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Pope thows a body shot but no joy.
Pope takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pope lands a nice looking body kick.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pope but Pope pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pope jabs at Johnson's body.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pope catches Johnson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Johnson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Pope circles away.
Pope swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Pope which made him look bad.
Daniel Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.
Pope lands a right hook to the body.
Pope throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pope looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pope throws a good cross that connects.
Pope with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pope moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pope cracks Johnson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pope dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.
Pope working hard to break the clinch.
Pope blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pope connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pope swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pope throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Pope misses with a wild body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope cracks Johnson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Daniel Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnson's hands.
Pope lands with a hook. Johnson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Daniel Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A head kick misses from Pope.
Pope lunges at Johnson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Johnson's hand.
Pope lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into range.
Pope throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice shot by Pope.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Pope.
Johnson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pope wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pope wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pope wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson controlling the position.
Pope would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Johnson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pope knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
It looks like Johnson might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Tarik Johnson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Pope.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Pope sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pope misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Pope dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pope misses with a double jab.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pope counters with a right hand to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pope.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pope counters with a big head kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
enabling Pope to counter with a crisp jab.
Daniel Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.
Pope misses with a double jab.
Pope's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pope duly obliges.
Nice uppercut lands for Pope. That snapped Johnson's head back.
Both fighters circling a little - Pope finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Daniel Pope is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pope looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Pope avoids it well.
Johnson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Pope explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Pope lands a lovely overhand right.
Pope misses with a series of wild punches.
Pope missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Pope clobbers Johnson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pope lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pope connects with a right hand. Johnson shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with the body kick
letting Pope counter with a right hand.
Pope changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pope stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pope connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnson. Johnson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice uppercut there from Pope.
Pope connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Daniel Pope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pope lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Pope swinging wildly here.
Pope misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope with a nice cross.
Johnson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pope finds it's way round the side to connect with Johnson's head.
Pope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pope throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Pope pushes Johnson away with a front kick.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pope lands a jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pope.
Johnson has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pope.
Pope cracks Johnson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Pope scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Pope misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Johnson doesn't seem bothered though.
Pope jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Pope leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Pope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Pope lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pope connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnson's hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johnson's sensitive parts.
Pope paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Pope dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson walks into a straight right hand from Pope.
Pope stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Johnson has Pope up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pope fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Pope throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pope is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pope connects with a jab.
Pope dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Johnson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pope connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Johnson scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pope swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope lands a leg kick that knocks Johnson off balance momentarily.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pope pinned against the cage. Pope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A right-left combo lands from Pope.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Pope sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Daniel Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.
Pope jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pope's corner calls for a 1-2. Pope obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Pope. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pope with a nice cross.
Johnson dives in and grabs Pope's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pope pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Pope lands with a hook. Johnson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pope with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pope connects with a solid leg kick.
Pope lands with a good body shot.
Pope goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Pope counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope scores with a nice head shot.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pope quickly recovers to half guard.
Pope is trying to stand.

Johnson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Pope to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Pope swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Pope just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Pope circles away.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Pope throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Pope throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pope throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pope swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pope scores with a kick to the body.

Pope tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Pope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A nice combination there by Pope.
Daniel Pope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pope lands with a shot to the body.
Johnson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Pope throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Pope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tarik Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pope scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Pope showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pope, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Pope!
Daniel Pope thanked the fans post fight for their support.