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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Val Engine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stanislav Popovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!
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| 187 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0 |
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168 cm
20
134 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Val Engine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stanislav Popovich!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Engine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popovich tries to clinch up.
Popovich is looking to clinch.
Engine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Popovich defends it nicely.
Popovich tries to clinch up.
Popovich throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Engine fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Val Engine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popovich slaps away a takedown attempt from Engine, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Popovich tries to clinch there but Engine circles away.
Engine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Popovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Engine shoots in and drives through. Popovich sprawls well.
Popovich pushes Engine up against the cage in a clinch.
Engine is working for takedown but Popovich is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Engine is trying to drag Popovich to the mat but Popovich just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Engine is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Engine goes for a takedown in the clinch but Popovich prevents it.
Popovich prevents the takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich throws an elbow that misses.
Engine wants to take the fight to the mat but Popovich manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Engine really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Popovich looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Engine avoids a wild elbow strike from Popovich.
Popovich lands a hook to the side of the head.
Engine is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Popovich gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Popovich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Engine tries for a takedown but Popovich sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Engine dodges the punch combination from Popovich.
Engine shoots in for a takedown but Popovich shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Popovich scores with a four punch combination!
It looks like Val Engine has been cut.
Popovich works over Engine's head and body with a nice combination.
Engine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popovich avoids it really well and circles away.
Popovich tries to clinch but Engine is having none of it.
Popovich throws a right and a left that both miss.
Engine doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Engine takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Popovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Engine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Engine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popovich avoids it really well and circles away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Engine throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Popovich tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Engine is in Popovich's guard.
Engine is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Popovich escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Engine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Engine forces his way into half guard.
Engine is trying to work for a kimura but Popovich is defending well.
Popovich is trying to control but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Engine is looking for a kimura but Popovich is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Engine to get the leverage.
Engine is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Popovich defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Stanislav Popovich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Val Engine's cut.
That's time! Engine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
A jab from Popovich does it's job there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Engine is defended easily by Popovich.
Engine shoots in for a takedown but Popovich shows good takedown defense.
Engine swats away the attempt to clinch by Popovich.
Engine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Popovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Val Engine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Engine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Popovich counters with a series of strikes. Engine will be more careful next time no doubt.
Engine has a takedown stuffed.
Popovich tries to clinch but Engine moves out of range.
Popovich moves in looking to clinch but Engine pushes him off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Engine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popovich has managed to clinch.
Popovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Engine swats away the attempt to clinch by Popovich.
Popovich fails with an attempt to clinch.
Popovich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Popovich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Engine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Engine keeps the fight on the outside.
Popovich is looking to clinch but Engine is avoiding it.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.
Stanislav Popovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Popovich catches Engine with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Engine swats away the attempt to clinch by Popovich.
Popovich misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Engine closes the distance and clinches up with Popovich, looking for a takedown. Engine pushes Popovich against the cage but Popovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Popovich gets caught napping as Engine dives in and scores a takedown. Popovich manages to retain guard.
Popovich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Engine drops back looking for a leg! Popovich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Popovich manages to kick Engine off! Engine jumps back into Popovich's guard.
Engine drops back looking for a leg! Popovich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Popovich manages to kick Engine off! Engine jumps back into Popovich's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popovich trying to keep a closed guard but Engine is proving a slippery customer.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich is adopting a defensive guard.
Popovich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Engine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popovich is keeping the position for now.
Engine drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Engine jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Popovich trying to keep a closed guard but Engine is proving a slippery customer.
Engine will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Popovich keeping full guard, as Engine tries to pass.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Engine is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Engine looking to pass the guard.
Engine drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Engine jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Engine drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Popovich dives on top into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popovich stands and steps away. Engine gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Stanislav Popovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Val Engine's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Popovich fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popovich wants to clinch.
Popovich throws a right and a left that both miss.
Popovich tries to clinch up.
Engine will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Engine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Popovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Val Engine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popovich throws a series of punches but Engine moves out of range.
Engine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Popovich circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Val Engine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Engine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popovich avoids it really well and circles away.
Engine scores a takedown into full mount!
Engine has control of Popovich's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Popovich regains control of the situation pretty easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovich tries to lock up and control but Engine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Engine is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Popovich can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Engine looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Popovich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Val Engine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Engine looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Engine.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Engine prevents Popovich from getting the reversal.
Popovich wants to hold on but Engine pushes him away.
Engine is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Popovich has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Popovich tries to hold on but Engine pushes him away.
Popovich tries to improve his position but instead Engine has taken his back!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Engine is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Popovich has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Engine is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Popovich defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Popovich manages to reverse the position and now he's in Engine's guard. Nice work there by Popovich.
Engine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Popovich is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Engine has his feet on Popovich's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Popovich misses with a double jab.
Popovich throws a right hand that Engine ducks under and follows up with a left that Engine also avoids with ease.
Stanislav Popovich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Engine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No joy there for Popovich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Engine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popovich throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popovich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Engine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popovich misses with a two punch combination.
Engine shoots for a takedown but Popovich saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Val Engine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stanislav Popovich is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Popovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Val Engine.
I think Popovich 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanislav Popovich!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
56% |
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