PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barksdale
vs
Popov

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Valhalla War Gear
Sinners Fight Wear

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Avon Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Popov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov fails to land with a series of punches.
Barksdale throws a combination. Popov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Barksdale.

Barksdale shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barksdale showed some decent athleticism there.
Popov is trying to get back to full guard.
Popov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barksdale.
Barksdale in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Popov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Barksdale drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Popov dives on top into guard.
Popov wants to stand but Barksdale is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov content to stall in guard here.
Barksdale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Popov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Popov stops Barksdale from standing up.
Popov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Popov trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popov looking to pass the guard.
Barksdale trying to keep a closed guard but Popov is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Popov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Popov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barksdale counters with a nice body shot.
Barksdale displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Popov tries to bum rush Barksdale with a series of wild strikes but Barksdale uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Popov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barksdale counters with a two punch combo.
Popov looks gassed!
A combination from Popov does no damage.
Barksdale throws a series of strikes that have Popov backpedaling.

Popov is rocked!
Barksdale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Popov is still on wobbly legs! Can Barksdale finish him?
Igor Popov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barksdale misses with a double jab.
Barksdale fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barksdale misses with a double jab.
Barksdale shoots in but no luck this time.
Barksdale throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Barksdale does no damage.
Barksdale tries to bum rush Popov with a series of wild strikes but Popov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barksdale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Barksdale.

Barksdale closes the distance looking for a takedown. Barksdale picks Popov up and slams him brutally to the floor. Popov is out! He's out cold! Wow, you don't see a finish like that every day!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Avon Barksdale!