PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Tetriakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikoli Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tetriakov comes to the cage accompanied by Arsonist's Prayer. Nikoli Popov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Tetriakov
vs
Popov

190 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

190 cm
23
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

NATURAL BEAST (New Product Out!!!!)

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Tetriakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikoli Popov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popov moves into the clinch successfully.
Popov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Popov tries a knee to the head but Tetriakov blocks it.
Popov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tetriakov blocks it with crossed arms.
Popov tries a knee to the head but Tetriakov blocks it.
Popov is pressed up against the cage. Tetriakov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Popov down to the mat. Popov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Popov tries to clinch up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tetriakov.

Popov rushes Tetriakov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tetriakov wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Tetriakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popov misses with a knee strike.
Popov misses with a knee to the head.

Tetriakov is trying to trip Popov. He has hold of a leg but Popov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tetriakov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Tetriakov advances to half guard.
Popov wants to get back to his feet.
Popov wants to control but Tetriakov is keeping busy.
Popov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tetriakov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Popov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tetriakov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tetriakov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Popov defends it well.
Tetriakov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Tetriakov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Popov is just riding it out for now. Tetriakov eventually gives up the hold.
Tetriakov is breathing heavily.
Popov is looking to escape.

Popov pushes Tetriakov off and gets back to his feet.

Popov closes the distance and clinches.
Popov throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Popov misses with a knee strike.
Tetriakov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Popov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Popov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tetriakov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Popov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but Tetriakov blocks with his arms.
Popov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tetriakov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tetriakov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Popov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Popov looking to throw knees to the head but Tetriakov is blocking nicely.

Tetriakov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Popov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Tetriakov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Popov is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Tetriakov is looking for a rear naked choke here but Popov reverses the position brilliantly into Tetriakov's guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tetriakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popov preventing the sweep.

Tetriakov looking for subs off his back but Popov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Tetriakov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Popov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tetriakov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Popov.
Tetriakov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Popov wants to stand up but Tetriakov has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Tetriakov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Popov is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tetriakov is trying to get an arm triangle but Popov is defending well.

Tetriakov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Popov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Tetriakov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Popov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tetriakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Popov.
Tetriakov shoots in and drives through. Popov sprawls well.

Tetriakov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Popov to the mat! Popov manages to get full guard.

Tetriakov has gone for a leg lock! Popov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tetriakov's guard.
Popov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Popov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boris Tetriakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tetriakov looking for a guillotine here but Popov defends easily.
Tetriakov keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.

Tetriakov is looking for a triangle here but Popov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tetriakov dodges the ground and pound from Popov.

Popov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tetriakov to his feet.
Popov digs a good body shot into Tetriakov's ribs.
Nikoli Popov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Popov is looking to clinch but Tetriakov is avoiding it.
Popov lands a high kick!

Popov closes the distance and clinches.
Popov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tetriakov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Popov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Popov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Popov misses with a knee strike.
Popov looking to throw knees to the head but Tetriakov is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries a knee to the head but Tetriakov blocks it.
Popov tries a knee to the head but Tetriakov blocks it.
Tetriakov is working for takedown but Popov is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Tetriakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popov is pushing Tetriakov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tetriakov can't get the takedown.
Popov looking to throw knees to the head but Tetriakov is blocking nicely.
Popov trying to land knees to the body.
Popov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tetriakov's face.
Tetriakov wants a takedown but no success here.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tetriakov 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 gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tetriakov.
Tetriakov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Popov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tetriakov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tetriakov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Popov as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tetriakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Popov.

Popov clinches up with Tetriakov and pushes him back against the cage.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Tetriakov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tetriakov manages to end up in side control.

Tetriakov tries for a kimura but Popov is defending well.
Popov struggling a bit here.
Tetriakov is putting a hurting on Popov here, landing some big shots from side control.

Tetriakov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Popov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tetriakov's guard! Nice work there by Popov!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikoli Popov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Popov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Popov tries to clinch up but Tetriakov circles away and keeps his distance.
Tetriakov keeps the fight on the outside.

Popov moves into the clinch.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tetriakov has Popov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Popov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but Tetriakov blocks with his arms.
Popov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Popov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tetriakov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Popov tries to roll over but Tetriakov keeps him under control.
Popov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tetriakov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tetriakov is working for a kimura but Popov is defending it quite comfortably.

Tetriakov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tetriakov is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Popov has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Popov manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Popov moves into the clinch.
Popov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Popov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tetriakov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Popov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tetriakov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Tetriakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Tetriakov or perhaps it was just good defense by Popov which made him look bad.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tetriakov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov doesn't manage to clinch there - Tetriakov circles away.
Tetriakov shoots in for a double leg but Popov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Boris Tetriakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tetriakov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popov tries to clinch but Tetriakov moves out of range.
Popov tries to clinch but Tetriakov is having none of it.
Popov is looking to clinch.
Tetriakov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Popov's waist but Popov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tetriakov off to one side.
Boris Tetriakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Popov closes the distance and clinches.
Popov crunches a lovely knee into Tetriakov's ribcage.
A knee to the head by Popov.
Popov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tetriakov's face.
Popov misses with a knee to the head.
Tetriakov goes for a takedown attempt but Popov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tetriakov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tetriakov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popov avoids it really well and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Popov moves in looking to clinch but Tetriakov pushes him off.
Horrible takedown by Tetriakov or perhaps it was just good defense by Popov which made him look bad.
Popov doesn't manage to clinch there - Tetriakov circles away.
Popov stuffs the takedown attempt from Tetriakov. Tetriakov gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikoli Popov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Popov 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Boris Tetriakov!

The fight ends as a draw!