PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aonghus Mormaer (ranked 358 p4p, 418 weight class) and Mikhail Popkov (ranked 54 p4p, 63 weight class). Aonghus Mormaer is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mormaer
vs
Popkov

190 cm
28
189
13 - 8 - 1

200 cm
25
195
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Aonghus Mormaer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikhail Popkov!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popkov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mormaer.
Mormaer has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Infamous Duranto Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Popkov slips under a jab.
Mormaer throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Mikhail Popkov has been cut.
Mormaer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Popkov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A telegraphed right hand from Mormaer misses the target.
Mormaer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Popkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mormaer scores with a leg kick.
Popkov moves out of range of the body kick from Mormaer.
A big right from Popkov misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov wants to slow Mormaer down by chopping away at his legs.
Popkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Popkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mormaer throws a lazy head kick
enabling Popkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Popkov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Mormaer staying out of range there.
Mormaer tries to clinch up
and Popkov counters with a stiff right hand.
Popkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mormaer throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mormaer connects with an inside leg kick.
Mormaer dodges the punch combination from Popkov.
Mormaer moves out of range of the strikes.
Mormaer feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mormaer bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popkov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mormaer counters with a nice body kick.
Popkov scores with a hook.

Mormaer clinches up with Popkov and pushes him back against the cage.
Popkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mormaer taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mormaer with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mormaer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Popkov backwards.

Mormaer gets control of Popkov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mormaer will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Mormaer looking for a guillotine here but Popkov defends easily.

Mormaer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Popkov has picked Mormaer up and slammed him! Mormaer can't keep hold of the triangle and Popkov manages to pass to side control!
Mormaer tries to bench press Popkov off him but Popkov keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mormaer struggling a bit here.
Mormaer is trying to work for a sweep but Popkov has mounted him!
Mormaer working to try and regain half guard.

Popkov stands up from mount. Strange move.
Popkov misses with an uppercut.
Mormaer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mormaer darts in trying to clinch
and Popkov counters with a nice leg kick.
Mormaer wants to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aonghus Mormaer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Popkov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Mormaer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mormaer throws a sloppy head kick and Popkov moves out of range easily.
Popkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Mormaer.
Popkov throws an overhand right that lands on Mormaer's shoulder, as Mormaer tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mormaer clinches up with Popkov and pushes him back against the cage.

Popkov breaks the clinch.
Popkov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mormaer connects with a leg kick.
Mormaer slips under a jab.
Mormaer looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Popkov checks the leg kick.
Mikhail Popkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popkov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mormaer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Popkov tries a low kick but Mormaer avoids it.
Mormaer feints and then cracks Popkov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Popkov down.

Mormaer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Popkov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Popkov blocks an uppercut.
Popkov tries to break free but Mormaer pushes him back against the cage.
Popkov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mormaers head.
Mormaer looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mormaer tries to pull guard but Popkov won't allow it.
Popkov can't break the clinch.

Popkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popkov throws a big shot that misses.
Mormaer tried to counter with a leg kick but Popkov avoided it.
Popkov misses with a hook to the body
and Mormaer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mormaer scores with a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mormaer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mormaer throws out a powerful jab.
Popkov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Popkov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Popkov throws out a loose jab but Mormaer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mormaer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mormaer backing away here, and Popkov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mormaer knocks Popkov to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Popkov is rocked!

Mormaer tries for a kimura but Popkov is defending well.

Mormaer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Popkov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mormaer but great work by Popkov.
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!
Mormaer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mormaer tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Popkov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Mormaer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mormaer tries to lock up and control but Popkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popkov stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Popkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Popkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mormaer lands a head kick. Popkov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That has opened up Mikhail Popkov's cut even more.
Mormaer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Popkov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mormaer on the side of the head.
Mormaer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mormaer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aonghus Mormaer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Popkov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mormaer lands with a kick to the ribs.
Mormaer takes one to the side of the head.
Mormaer tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Popkov counters with a straight right hand.
Popkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popkov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Popkov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mormaer counters with a big head kick but Popkov shrugs it off.
Popkov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Mormaer.
Mormaer lands a front kick.
Popkov looks to land a left hand but Mormaer moved out of range nicely.
Mormaer thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov misses with a head kick.
Nice uppercut there from Popkov.
Mormaer is looking to clinch but Popkov is avoiding it.
A low kick from Mormaer misses
and Popkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Popkov lands with a cross.
Mormaer throws a leg kick which misses Popkov's front leg but catches the back leg as Popkov tries to avoid it.
Mormaer tries to clinch up but Popkov circles away and keeps his distance.

Mormaer connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Popkov to the floor! Mormaer dives in looking for the finish!
Popkov is still in real trouble! Can Mormaer finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mormaer has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mormaer swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Popkov is now in Mormaer's guard. A big mistake from Mormaer there, giving up the dominant position!

Mormaer has his foot on Popkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Popkov works his way back into a safe position though.
Popkov seems to have recovered his senses.

Mormaer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Popkov defends well.

Mormaer throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Popkov escapes and throws Mormaer's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mormaer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mormaer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Popkov is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mormaer looking for submissions off his back.

Popkov decides to stand and escape the position.
Mormaer throws a predictable looking body shot
and Popkov counters with a series of strikes. Mormaer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Popkov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mormaer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Popkov throws a looping overhand right but Mormaer ducks down to avoid it.
Popkov tries to land a leg kick but Mormaer saw it coming and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mormaer checks it well.
Mikhail Popkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mormaer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mormaer closes the distance looking to clinch
and Popkov counters with a straight right hand.
Aonghus Mormaer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Popkov misses with a body punch
and Mormaer counters with a head kick.

The cut above Mikhail Popkov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Popkov throws a body shot but no joy.
Mormaer slips under a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick from Popkov is predictable there
and Mormaer counters with a head kick. That will keep Popkov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mikhail Popkov.
I think Mormaer 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aonghus Mormaer!
Aonghus Mormaer took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.