PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ola Dan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cyrus Pope has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pope
vs
Dan

159 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cyrus 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, Ola Dan!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pope swivels and escapes.
Pope could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Dan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pope has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dan is working away from the top position though.
Pope manages to get to full guard.
Pope managing to control the position.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Dan from controlling successfully.
Dan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ola Dan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pope shoots in for a takedown but Dan shows good takedown defense.

Dan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pope is keeping the position for now.
Dan is stalling in the full guard.
Pope looking for a sweep. Not yet Pope, not yet.
Pope is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Pope might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Pope dives in and scores a takedown into Dan's guard.
Dan has his hands on Pope's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pope has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dan is proving hard to escape from.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pope decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pope defends it nicely.

Dan shoots in and gets a takedown into Pope's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dan 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.
Dan throwing strikes but missing.

Dan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cyrus Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ola Dan.
Dan looks winded!

Pope closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope is trying to break the clinch but Dan has him pressed against the cage.
Dan fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Pope manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pope has control of Dan's left arm, preventing Dan from doing any damage.
Dan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pope is keeping the position for now.
Dan won't allow Pope to sweep him here.
Dan trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope pulls Dan in close to his closed guard and prevents Dan from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ola Dan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pope bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Pope stands up.
Pope shoots in but no luck this time.
Pope shoots in but Dan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pope shoots in for a double leg but Dan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyrus Pope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope dives in for a single leg takedown but Dan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope jumps guard but Dan stands there with Pope around his waist. Pope gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Pope successfully pulls guard.
Dan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pope swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pope pulls Dan in close to his closed guard and prevents Dan from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dan stopping the sweep attempt from Pope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Dan from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pope has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Cyrus Pope has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dan gets a double leg takedown into Pope's guard.
Dan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Dan from controlling successfully.
Pope is controlling Dan's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ola Dan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Pope pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Dan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Dan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pope's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope trying his best to control but Dan has mounted him.
Dan tries to control but Pope wriggling away.
Dan punching from mount but Pope doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pope keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dan controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ola Dan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cyrus Pope's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Dan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dan swivels and escapes.
Ola Dan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pope counters with a body kick that stops Dan in his tracks momentarily.
Pope fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pope pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pope dives in for a single leg takedown but Dan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyrus Pope. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pope's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dan tries to clinch there but Pope circles away.
Dan misses the shot to the body.
Dan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pope avoids it really well and circles away.
Dan has a takedown stuffed.
Pope dives in and grabs Dan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dan pushes down on Pope's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pope avoids a kick to the body.

Pope moves into the clinch successfully.

Pope jumps guard.
Pope is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ola Dan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pope is adopting a defensive guard.
Pope is trying to keep Dan in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Cyrus Pope wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Dan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dan controls Pope momentarily but Pope frees himself.
Pope is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pope.
Dan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Dan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Pope slaps away a takedown attempt from Dan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dan fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope darts in looking for a takedown but Dan gets double underhooks and turns Pope into the cage.
Dan takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pope jumps guard but Dan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dan blocks a head kick by Pope.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pope tries to avoid it but Dan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pope to the ground. Pope escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pope.
Cyrus Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ola Dan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Pope is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cyrus Pope showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dan 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ola Dan!