PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Popkov (ranked 2602 p4p, 2407 weight class) and Jon Fred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Popkov
vs
Fred

200 cm
31
195
17 - 14 - 0

188 cm
29
194
2 - 0 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikhail Popkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Fred!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
A slow jab from Fred misses its intended target.
Fred swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fred walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Popkov stalks Fred and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fred's face. Fred staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Jon Fred has been cut.
A slow jab from Popkov misses its intended target.
Popkov thumps Fred with a low kick.
Popkov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Popkov lands with a nice combination. Fred backs away looking to recover.
Fred connects with a single shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fred has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fred there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've been told by Popkov's head coaches at IMMA Gym of Elite ASS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A big left from Popkov misses.
Donk. Popkov catches Fred right on the button with a cross.
Popkov dips to his left and cracks Fred with an uppercut!
Fred looks to land a right hand but Popkov moved out of range.
Popkov lands a jab to the head.
Fred is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Popkov throws a combination that misses
and Fred counters with a two punch combo.
Popkov throws out a powerful jab.
Popkov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Popkov connects with a right hand. Fred shakes it off.
Popkov is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Popkov misses with a looping right.
Fred changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Popkov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Popkov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fred misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fred throws a leg kick
and Popkov counters with a nice uppercut.
Popkov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fred.
Fred throws a poor cross that misses
and Popkov counters with a stiff right hand.
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!
Popkov works the jab nicely.
Popkov tests Fred's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fred swings for the body but Popkov moves out of range.
Fred on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fred just misses with a punch to the body.
Fred is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Popkov.
Mikhail Popkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fred moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Popkov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Mikhail Popkov has been cut.
Popkov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fred lands with an uppercut that bounces Popkov off the cage and back into range.
Popkov walks into a left hand.
Some wild striking there from Popkov.
Fred scores with a jab to the body.
Popkov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Fred. That did some damage!
Fred throws a jab but it's blocked by Popkov.
Fred throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fred drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fred throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Popkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Popkov lands a jab.
Popkov avoids the body shot from Fred.
Fred moves away from the strike by Popkov.
Popkov throws a leg kick
and Fred counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fred lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Popkov circles away quickly and effectively.
Fred throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fred works Popkov's body with a nice hook.
Popkov throws a nice looking combination but Fred bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fighters circling - Fred throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fred takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fred throws a lazy uppercut
and Popkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fred misses the shot to the body.
Popkov slips under a jab.
Popkov slips a jab from Fred.
Popkov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fred's head.
Popkov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fred on the side of the head.
Popkov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fred throws the left hand but Popkov avoids the punch easily.
Popkov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popkov throws a looping overhand right but Fred ducks down to avoid it.
Popkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fred.
Jab from Popkov.
Popkov scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov misses with a double jab.
Popkov connects with a solid leg kick.
Fred moves out of range of the leg kick from Popkov.
Fred looks to throw the jab but Popkov is out of range.
Popkov lands with a nice combination. Fred backs away looking to recover.
Fred takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Popkov misses with a wild combination.
Fred darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Popkov.
A nice leg kick from Popkov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fred has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Fred misses with a looping right.
It looked like Popkov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Popkov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Popkov throws a front kick aimed at Fred's knee but Fred avoids it well.
Fred scores with a body shot.
Fred misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Popkov dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popkov loads up on a big right hand but Fred slips the punch.
Sloppy strikes from Popkov. Those never looked like landing.
Popkov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Good shot there by Popkov.
Popkov misses the shot to the body.
Popkov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fred moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Popkov lands with a cross.
Popkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fred can do to turn this around?
Popkov moves away from the strike by Fred.
Fred on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Popkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fred throws out the jab.
Popkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fred.
Some wild striking there from Popkov.
Popkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mikhail Popkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fred avoids a kick to the body.
Fred swings away with a body shot that misses
and Popkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fred misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov throws a series of punches but Fred avoids them all with ease.
Popkov lands a jab to the nose.
Popkov throws a head kick that misses.
Popkov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Fred.
Popkov throws a right and a left that Fred avoids nicely.
Fred swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice defenses there by Popkov.
Fred misses with a hook.
Fred takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fred misses with a looping left.
Fred looks to land a left hand but Popkov moved out of range nicely.
Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Fred throws a body shot but no joy.
Popkov throws a looping overhand right but Fred ducks down to avoid it.
Fred misses with a wild body shot.
Fred waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Popkov.
Popkov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fred moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Popkov works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Fred misses the target.
Popkov slips a jab from Fred.
Popkov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fred throws a lazy uppercut
and Popkov counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice shot lands for Popkov.
Mikhail Popkov is winning the standup battle so far.
Fred thows a left - swing and a miss!
Popkov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fred misses with a straight left.
Fred takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Popkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fred feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Popkovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Popkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Popkov looks to land a combination but Fred avoids it well.
Popkov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fred throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Popkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fred throws a body shot but no joy.
Popkov throws a hook to the side of Fred's head but Fred sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Popkov finds it's target.
Popkov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A head kick misses from Popkov.
Popkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fred.
Popkov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Popkov throws a head kick but Fred moves out of range.
Popkov cracks Fred with an open hand slap.
Popkov misses with a low kick.
Popkov throws a head kick that misses.
Popkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fred.
Popkov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Fred cracks Popkov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fred misses with a looping left.
Popkov connects with a high kick.
A lazy left from Popkov finds it's target.
Fred is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Popkov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fred has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fred stalks Popkov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Popkov's face. Popkov staggers backwards, shaken.
Popkov scores with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fred misses with a looping left.
Fred pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fred avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popkov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fred connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fred swings widly with a right hand
and Popkov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Popkov moves away from the strike by Fred.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Fred might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Popkov has got the better of the exchanges.
Fred takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Popkov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fred digs a good hook to Popkov's body.
Popkov throws a solid leg kick but Fred takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Popkov.
Donk. Fred catches Popkov right on the button with a cross.
Nice defenses there by Popkov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Popkov dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Popkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Popkov connects with a body shot.
Popkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fred thows a left - swing and a miss!
Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Fred slips a straight right by Popkov.
Fred throws a hook but Popkov avoids it easily.
Popkov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Popkov lands an overhand right.
Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Fred throws a big shot that misses.
Fred chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Popkov can pounce on him.
Fred swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popkov with a nice calf kick.
Popkov ducks under a wild hook from Fred.
Popkov connects with a body shot.
Popkov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
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!
Fred slips a jab from Popkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov scores with a nice head shot.
Popkov throws a low kick, looking for Fred's leg but Fred calmly moves out of range.
Popkov lands with an uppercut that bounces Fred off the cage and back into range.
Popkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fred looks to throw the jab but Popkov is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Popkov.
Fred looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fred swings widly with a right hand
and Popkov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fred swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fred sizes up Popkov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Popkov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fred fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popkov manages to avoid it.
Fred throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fred's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Popkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Fred.
Good shot there by Fred.
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!
Fred throws an off balance right hand
enabling Popkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Jon Fred has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fred ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popkov moves away.
Popkov throwing a counter right hand but Fred manages to avoid it.
Popkov with a nice cross.
Fred throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fred swings for the body but Popkov moves out of range.
Fred looks to score with a jab to the body but Popkov is just out of range.
Popkov defending well as Fred loads up on a big left hand.
Popkov throws a series of punches but Fred avoids them all with ease.
Fred connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Popkov's hands.
Fred checks the leg kick nicely there.
Popkov throws a nice looking combination but Fred bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fred swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Popkov throws a hook but Fred blocks it.

Fred lands a big right hand that sends Popkov crashing to the mat! Fred stays standing though and waves Popkov back to his feet!

Popkov is rocked!
A slow jab from Fred misses its intended target.
Oh Popkov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fred throws a jab when Popkov was well out of range.
Popkov misses the shot to the body.
Fred cracks Popkov with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Popkov falls to his knees and Fred doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jon Fred!
Jon Fred seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.