PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnson Pace (ranked 7087 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luka Pope Jr (ranked 5945 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Johnson Pace has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Johnson Pace seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Pace
vs
Pope Jr

214 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnson Pace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luka Pope Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pace clinches up against the cage.
A short right from Pace.
Pope Jr scores with a nice hook to the head.

Pope Jr jumps into guard, dragging Pace to the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Pace landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pace content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pace scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pace working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pope Jr's head.
Pace postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pace works over Pope Jr with some ground and pound from guard.
Pope Jr should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Pace would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pace throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pace throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pope Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pace wants to get up but he can't break Pope Jr's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pope Jr throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pace cracks Pope Jr with a solid left hand.
Pace with a flurry of punches that miss.

Pace stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Pope Jr shoots and misses
and Pace counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pope Jr shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pace defends it nicely.
It looked like Pace wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
No joy there for Pope Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pace is looking to counter the offense by Pope Jr and move into the clinch.

Pope Jr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pace jumps guard and drags Pope Jr to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace 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.
Pope Jr won't allow Pace to get back to his feet.
Pace looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Pace looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pope Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pope Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pace wants to stand up but Pope Jr is controlling him.
Pace will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pace pulls Pope Jr in to control the position.
Pope Jr wants to stand but Pace has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pace looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pace keeping moving, preventing Pope Jr from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pace continues to stall.

Pace pushes Pope Jr off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Pope Jr clinches with his opponent.
Pope Jr letting Pace take a breather here.
Pace is trying to pull guard but Pope Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pace jumps guard.
Pace wants to stand but Pope Jr is controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pope Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Pace is retaining full guard.
Pace wants to stand up but Pope Jr is controlling him.
Pace pulls Pope Jr in to control the position.

Pace pushes Pope Jr off and scrambles back to his feet.

Pope Jr clinches.
Pope Jr scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pope Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Pace dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pope Jr shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pace is trying to defend but Pope Jr finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pope Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pace keeps working.
Pace is holding on to half guard well.
Pope Jr is pressing down on Pace's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pace is holding on for now.
Pace controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Pope Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pace is doing well to control the position and prevent Pope Jr from advancing to side control.
Pace wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace is pressing down on Pope Jr's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pope Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Pace.
Pace wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pope Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Pace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pace throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Pace bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pope Jr's guard.

Pace missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Pope Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pace gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pace works over Pope Jr with some ground and pound from guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pope Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pace postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pace distracts Pope Jr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pope Jr is breathing heavily.
Pace distracts Pope Jr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace tries to stand but Pope Jr is controlling from the bottom.

Pace stands up from Pope Jr's guard - Pace perhaps looking for a knockout.

Pope Jr 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.
Pace pulls Pope Jr in close to prevent any damage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Pope Jr has eaten all the pies!

Pace is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Pope Jr presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pope Jr smiles and moves away.

Pace has taken the fight to the clinch.

Pope Jr breaks the clinch.
Pope Jr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pace moves into the clinch.

Pace lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Pope Jr is defending against the submission attempts here by Pace.

Pace maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Pope Jr could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Pace has cracked it and Pope Jr is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Pace!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Johnson Pace!