PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikoli Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ash butch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Popov
vs
butch

190 cm
23
214 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

NATURAL BEAST

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikoli Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ash butch!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov tries to clinch but butch moves out of range.

butch moves into the clinch.

butch jumps guard.
Popov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for butch on the ground.
Popov stopping the sweep attempt from butch.
Popov tries to stand but butch is controlling from the bottom.

butch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

butch is working an open guard so Popov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
butch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Popov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Popov closes the distance but butch moves to the side

and butch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
butch stops Popov from getting back to his feet.
butch trying to control the action but Popov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
butch is pressing down on Popov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Popov is holding on for now.
Popov wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
butch is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
butch prevents Popov from improving his position.
Popov trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Popov misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

butch closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Popov did well to prevent butch getting side control.
butch stalling.
I looks like butch 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.
Popov is trying to stand.
butch is keen to just control but Popov is a slippery customer.
butch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
butch wants to control but Popov is keeping him busy.
butch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
butch closes the distance and clinches up with Popov, looking for a takedown. butch pushes Popov against the cage but Popov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - butch finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popov clinches up against the cage.
butch is working for takedown but Popov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nikoli Popov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ash butch.
butch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
butch looks gassed!
Popov misses with a knee to the head.
butch is trying to drag Popov to the mat but Popov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Popov tries a knee to the head but butch blocks it.
butch takes a knee right on the jaw!
Popov scores a nice knee to the body.
Popov lands an elbow just above butch 's eye.
Popov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Popov lands an uppercut.
Popov lands a knee to the head.
Popov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Popov tries a knee to the head but butch blocks it.
Popov looking to throw knees to the head but butch is blocking nicely.
Popov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from butch.
Popov tries a knee to the head but butch blocks it.
Popov tries a knee to the head but butch blocks it.

butch has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Popov regains guard immediately.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov keeping full guard, as butch tries to pass.
Popov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Popov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
butch's corner is telling him to maintain position.
butch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Popov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Popov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
butch tries to lock up and control but Popov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ash butch dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popov wants to clinch but butch slips to the side

and butch counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Popov's guard now.
butch won't allow Popov to sweep him here.
butch passes into half guard.

butch has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Popov defend it? butch steps over the head and cranks it - Popov is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for butch!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). ash butch!