PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shachlo Popyachtsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Popyachtsa's choice of entrance music: Upyachka Dance. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Shachlo Popyachtsa enters the cage!

Manhoef
vs
Popyachtsa

175 cm
29
200 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

190 cm
30
202 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Melvin Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shachlo Popyachtsa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef fakes the leg kick and cracks Popyachtsa in the body.
Manhoef tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Popyachtsa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Popyachtsa takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
Manhoef throws a nice looking combination but Popyachtsa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manhoef misses with a low kick.
Manhoef chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Manhoef feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Popyachtsa's calf.
Popyachtsa swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Manhoef is looking to slow Popyachtsa down with leg kicks.
Manhoef throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Shachlo Popyachtsa has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef throws a low kick, looking for Popyachtsa's leg but Popyachtsa calmly moves out of range.
Popyachtsa has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Manhoef misses with a lunging right hand
and Manhoef takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Manhoef turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Popyachtsa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popyachtsa throws a hook but Manhoef avoids it easily.
Manhoef avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Popyachtsa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Manhoef fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Manhoef looks for the body kick but Popyachtsa saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Popyachtsa wants to clinch.
Manhoef throws a low kick but Popyachtsa avoids it.
Popyachtsa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Manhoef with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Manhoef feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Popyachtsa's calf.
Popyachtsa moves out of range of the leg kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popyachtsa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manhoef tests Popyachtsa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Popyachtsa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a sloppy head kick and Popyachtsa moves out of range easily.
Popyachtsa misses with a looping left.
A big right from Manhoef misses.
Popyachtsa takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
Popyachtsa wants to clinch up but Manhoef keeps it at a distance.
Manhoef misses with a left hand
letting Popyachtsa counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Manhoef throws a wild body kick that Popyachtsa sees coming a mile off.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manhoef attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Popyachtsa checks a leg kick.
Popyachtsa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Manhoef's head.
A shot to the body from Manhoef misses
and Popyachtsa counters with a right hand to the body.
Manhoef throws a predictable looking body shot
and Popyachtsa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice uppercut there from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa throws a hook to the side of Manhoef's head but Manhoef sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Popyachtsa misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shachlo Popyachtsa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Popyachtsa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popyachtsa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef throws an off balance right hand
enabling Popyachtsa to counter with a crisp jab.
Manhoef throws an overhand right that lands on Popyachtsa's shoulder, as Popyachtsa tries to avoid the shot.
Manhoef takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Manhoef misses with a head kick.
Popyachtsa scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Manhoef on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Manhoef swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Popyachtsa to counter with a crisp jab.
Manhoef is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Popyachtsa's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Popyachtsa takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popyachtsa throws a jab but it's blocked by Manhoef.
Popyachtsa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses.
Manhoef with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Popyachtsa checks it.
Popyachtsa misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Manhoef scores with a hook.
Popyachtsa takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Manhoef.
Popyachtsa checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa closes the distance but Manhoef moves to the side
and Manhoef counters with an outside leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Manhoef.
Manhoef feints and then cracks Popyachtsa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Popyachtsa down.
Popyachtsa jabs Manhoef to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Popyachtsa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manhoef counters with a leg kick.
Manhoef looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Manhoef blocks a jab.
Manhoef thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Manhoef is looking to slow Popyachtsa down with leg kicks.
Popyachtsa is breathing heavily.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses.
Popyachtsa blocks a low kick nicely.
Manhoef pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Popyachtsa checks a leg kick nicely.
Manhoef attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Popyachtsa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef motions for Popyachtsa to come forward. Manhoef throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef tries to land a front kick but Popyachtsa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Popyachtsa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Popyachtsa closes the distance but Manhoef moves to the side
and Manhoef counters with a big head kick but Popyachtsa shrugs it off.
Manhoef tries a head kick but it misses.
Manhoef thumps Popyachtsa with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popyachtsa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Manhoef looks to land a body kick but Popyachtsa moved away.
Popyachtsa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Manhoef counters with a body kick that stops Popyachtsa in his tracks momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Melvin Manhoef will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Manhoef swats away the attempt to clinch by Popyachtsa.
Manhoef throws out a leg kick but Popyachtsa moves out of range and Manhoef only half commits.
Manhoef misses with a hook to the body
and Popyachtsa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manhoef connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Popyachtsa momentarily.
Manhoef connects with a good right hand that stumbles Popyachtsa. Popyachtsa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Manhoef misses with a kick to the body.
Shachlo Popyachtsa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manhoef is looking to score with low kicks.
A big right from Popyachtsa misses.
Popyachtsa moves away from the strike by Manhoef.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popyachtsa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manhoef swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manhoef bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Popyachtsa's head.
Popyachtsa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manhoef tries to work over Popyachtsa's front leg with a kick but Popyachtsa checks it.
Manhoef throws a head kick but Popyachtsa moves out of range.
Manhoef will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Manhoef jabs at Popyachtsa's body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Manhoef - that will leave a mark!
Popyachtsa tries to clinch there but Manhoef circles away.
Manhoef throws a lazy head kick
and Popyachtsa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef connects with an inside leg kick.
Manhoef moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Popyachtsa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Manhoef lands a nice leg kick that just misses Popyachtsa's sensitive parts.
Popyachtsa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popyachtsa moves out of range of the body kick from Manhoef.
Popyachtsa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Manhoef throws a low kick but it's checked well by Popyachtsa.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Manhoef, right into the meat.
Manhoef lands with a kick to the ribs.
Popyachtsa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef misses with an uppercut.
Manhoef throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Popyachtsa's head.
Popyachtsa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Manhoef manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Popyachtsa walks into a left hand.
Popyachtsa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Popyachtsa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Manhoef throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa misses the shot to the body.
Popyachtsa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Manhoef.

That's four 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.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Manhoef.
Manhoef ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Manhoef tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Popyachtsa moved away.
Popyachtsa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Popyachtsa throws a body punch but Manhoef moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Manhoef misses.
Popyachtsa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manhoef moves away.
Manhoef misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popyachtsa wants to clinch
and Manhoef counters with an outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melvin Manhoef showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manhoef has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melvin Manhoef!