PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Popov
vs
Diaz

192 cm
21
184 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexander Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derek Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.

Popov instigates a clinch.
Diaz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Diaz is pressed up against the cage. Popov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Diaz down to the mat. Diaz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Popov.
A head kick misses from Popov.
Popov wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Diaz misses with a low kick.
Diaz misses with a double jab
and Popov counters with a three punch combo that has Diaz backing up. Diaz nods at Popov to acknowledge the strikes.
Popov dodges the punch combination from Diaz.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Diaz trying to control here.
Popov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Popov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diaz on the ground.
Popov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Popov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Popov tries to pass to full mount but Diaz defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Alexander Popov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Diaz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Popov wants to clinch.
Diaz looks to land a combination but Popov avoids it well.
Popov swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.

Popov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz struggling a bit here.
Popov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Diaz's shoulder. That is not cool.

Popov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Diaz to his feet.
Popov misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.

Popov clinches with his opponent.
Diaz wants to break free but Popov has control.

Popov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz tries to bum rush Popov with a series of wild strikes but Popov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diaz slips a jab from Popov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz throws a right hand that Popov ducks under and follows up with a left that Popov also avoids with ease.
Popov throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Popov fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Popov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Diaz is looking to clinch.
Diaz throws a right hand that Popov ducks under and follows up with a left that Popov also avoids with ease.
Popov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Popov lands a big head kick that sends Diaz tumbling to the mat! Popov takes a step backwards and waves Diaz back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Diaz is rocked!

Popov has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Popov finish him?
Diaz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Popov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Popov has him pressed against the cage.
Popov landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Popov manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Popov clinches with his opponent.
Diaz seems to have recovered his senses.

Popov breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Popov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Diaz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Popov manages to break the clinch.
Popov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Popov counters with a head kick that drops Diaz to the mat! Diaz scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Popov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz takes a swing at Popov's ribcage but misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Popov.
Popov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Diaz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Diaz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Donk. Diaz catches Popov right on the button with a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz throws a leg kick but Popov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popov.
Popov slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Alexander Popov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Popov. Those never looked like landing.
Diaz throws a right hand that Popov ducks under and follows up with a left that Popov also avoids with ease.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Diaz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Popov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Popov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Popov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Popov! Diaz is out on his feet! Popov rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Diaz is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Diaz is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:07 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Popov!