PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shachlo Popyachtsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mek Ju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popyachtsa comes to the cage accompanied by Upyachka Dance. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Popyachtsa
vs
Ju

190 cm
35
202 lbs
30 - 22 - 0

183 cm
30
190 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shachlo Popyachtsa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mek Ju!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ju thows a body shot but no joy.
Popyachtsa misses with a body shot.
Popyachtsa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ju misses with a low kick.
Popyachtsa fails to land with a series of punches.
Popyachtsa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ju.
Popyachtsa tries to bum rush Ju with a series of wild strikes but Ju uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ju tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Popyachtsa was well out of range. Poor timing from Ju.
Popyachtsa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popyachtsa misses with a double jab
and Ju counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Ju drives through and clinches with Popyachtsa against the cage.
Ju creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Popyachtsa's defenses.

It looks like Shachlo Popyachtsa has been cut.
Popyachtsa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ju lands a hook that snaps the head of Popyachtsa backwards.
Popyachtsa managing to block the knees to the body from Ju.
Popyachtsa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Popyachtsa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Popyachtsa is stalling here.
Popyachtsa misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ju obliges.
Popyachtsa managing to block the knees to the body from Ju.
Popyachtsa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ju lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Popyachtsa lands a left hand.
Popyachtsa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ju's elbow.
Popyachtsa lands a left hand.
Ju pushes Popyachtsa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Popyachtsa fails to land.
Popyachtsa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ju's elbow.
Popyachtsa is trying to stall.
Maybe Popyachtsa would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Ju creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Popyachtsa's defenses.
Ju tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Popyachtsa avoids it.
Popyachtsa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
Ju's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ju works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ju prevents a body shot from Popyachtsa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ju landing knees to the body.
Popyachtsa blocks an elbow strike.

Popyachtsa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ju gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ju tries a body shot but Popyachtsa blocks it.
Popyachtsa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Popyachtsa tries to throw a body punch but Ju avoids it by throwing Popyachtsa back against the cage.
Ju missing with knees to the body.
Popyachtsa lands a left hand.
Popyachtsa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Popyachtsa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ju backwards.
Popyachtsa misses with a punch on the inside.
Popyachtsa misses with some punches.
Ju throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Popyachtsa blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popyachtsa.
Ju is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Popyachtsa is defending well for now.
A short right from Popyachtsa on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Popyachtsa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ju pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Popyachtsa blocks the elbow strike.
Ju misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Popyachtsa has a couple of punches blocked by Ju.
Ju prevents a body shot from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa is struggling to control the position.
Nice body punch from Ju.
Ju using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Popyachtsa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Popyachtsa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A body shot lands from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa misses with a hook from the clinch.

Popyachtsa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popyachtsa throws a hook but Ju avoids it easily.
Popyachtsa moves in looking to clinch but Ju pushes him off.
Popyachtsa fails to land with a series of punches.
Popyachtsa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popyachtsa is looking to clinch but Ju is avoiding it.
Ju scores with a three punch combo!
Ju connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ju uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Popyachtsa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa lands a jab to Ju's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice uppercut lands for Popyachtsa. That snapped Ju's head back.
Popyachtsa throws a nice looking combination but Ju bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popyachtsa throws an overhand right that lands on Ju's shoulder, as Ju tries to avoid the shot.
Popyachtsa shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ju eats them both and turns towards Popyachtsa to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Popyachtsa clinches up against the cage.
Popyachtsa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ju digs a right hand underneath Popyachtsa's ribcage. Popyachtsa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Popyachtsa is breathing heavily.
Popyachtsa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ju lands a left hand that snaps the head of Popyachtsa backwards.
Popyachtsa throws a punch but it's blocked by Ju.
Ju landing knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Popyachtsa.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ju looking to throw knees to the head but Popyachtsa is blocking nicely.
Popyachtsa pressing his opponent against the cage.

Popyachtsa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shachlo Popyachtsa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Popyachtsa ducks under a wild hook from Ju.
Popyachtsa tries to clinch up but Ju circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Popyachtsa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ju throws a shot from downtown. Popyachtsa moves away and avoids it.
Ju misses with a body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Ju as he connects with a hook.
Popyachtsa tries to clinch up.
Shachlo Popyachtsa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ju throws a leg kick but Popyachtsa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ju is looking to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ju. Popyachtsa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Popyachtsa moves out of range as Ju strikes.

Popyachtsa clinches up with Ju and pushes him back against the cage.
Ju struggles to land a body shot inside as Popyachtsa controls his hands.
Popyachtsa looking to slow down the pace here.
Shachlo Popyachtsa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ju putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Popyachtsa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Popyachtsa avoiding damage as Ju throws knees to the body.
Popyachtsa lands an uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ju blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ju tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ju lands a nice knee to the body.
Popyachtsa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ju goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popyachtsa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ju lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Popyachtsa scores with a shoulder strike.
Popyachtsa has a couple of punches blocked by Ju.
Popyachtsa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ju missing with knees to the body.
Popyachtsa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ju lands a body shot.
Ju lands a left hand that snaps the head of Popyachtsa backwards.
Popyachtsa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Popyachtsa breaks the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Popyachtsa checks a leg kick.
Ju just misses with a punch to the body.
Ju lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ju jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ju is looking to clinch.
Mek Ju seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ju sizes up Popyachtsa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ju avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ju throws a right and a left that Popyachtsa avoids nicely.
Popyachtsa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Popyachtsa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ju swings for the body but Popyachtsa moves out of range.
Ju lands a high kick!
Popyachtsa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ju manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Popyachtsa tries to clinch but Ju is having none of it.
Popyachtsa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Popyachtsa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popyachtsa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ju under the eye.

Ju gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ju lands a good knee to the midsection. Popyachtsa won't want to take too many of those.
Popyachtsa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ju landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa managing to block the knees to the body from Ju.
Ju tries to land knees in the clinch but Popyachtsa avoids the damage to the body.
Ju working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Ju.
Popyachtsa throws a punch but it's blocked by Ju.
Popyachtsa can't break the clinch.
Ju lands with a right to the head.
Nice body punch from Ju.
Ju landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ju tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short body shot lands from Ju as the two fighters clinch.
Ju lands a nice uppercut.
Popyachtsa misses with the head strike.
Ju tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ju working Popyachtsa over with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ju crunches a lovely knee into Popyachtsa's ribcage.
Ju lands a right hand that snaps the head of Popyachtsa backwards.
Ju using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Popyachtsa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice body punch from Ju - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ju throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ju unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A body shot lands from Ju.
Ju tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa has had enough of the clinch but Ju keeps him there for the moment.
Ju scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ju lands a hook that snaps the head of Popyachtsa backwards.
Ju looking to throw knees to the head but Popyachtsa is blocking nicely.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ju obliges.
Ju works on Popyachtsa's body with a couple of short punches.
Ju lands a nice elbow.
Popyachtsa misses with a punch to the body.
Ju scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ju unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Popyachtsa takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Ju.
Ju scores a nice knee to the body.
Ju lands a good knee to the midsection. Popyachtsa won't want to take too many of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mek Ju showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ju connects with a single shot there.
Ju scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Shachlo Popyachtsa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ju avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popyachtsa throws a hook but Ju avoids it easily.
Popyachtsa moves to clinch but Ju breaks away
and Ju counters with a solid body kick.
Ju uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Popyachtsa.
Ju lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Popyachtsa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popyachtsa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Popyachtsa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Popyachtsa misses with a shot to the body
and Ju counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes from Ju. Those never looked like landing.
Ju dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Popyachtsa. That did some damage!

Ju moves into the clinch.
Popyachtsa misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popyachtsa is looking to control Ju's arms but Ju gets an underhook and turns him. Now Popyachtsa has his back to the cage.
Ju tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ju blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Ju scores with a nice short uppercut.
Popyachtsa blocks an elbow strike from Ju.
Popyachtsa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ju's elbow.
Popyachtsa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ju misses with a knee strike.
Ju throws an elbow but it misses.
Popyachtsa is trying to maintain a safe position but Ju gets an underhook and turns Popyachtsa into the cage.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
Ju blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popyachtsa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ju keeps control of Popyachtsa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ju lands a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Ju scores with a nice short uppercut.

Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut is getting worse.
Ju lands with a light punch inside.
Ju using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Popyachtsa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Popyachtsa tries to work over Ju's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ju.
A hook to the body from Ju.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ju tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ju misses with a hook from the clinch.
Popyachtsa has had enough of the clinch but Ju keeps him there for the moment.
A nice left hand lands by Popyachtsa.
Still in the clinch, Popyachtsa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ju with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ju.
Ju tries to land a knee to the head but Popyachtsa blocks with his arms.
Popyachtsa struggles to land a body shot inside as Ju controls his hands.
Ju blocks an uppercut.
Ju pushes off an throws an elbow but Popyachtsa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Popyachtsa misses with a body punch.
Popyachtsa tries to work over Ju's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popyachtsa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ju pushes Popyachtsa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ju prevents a body shot from Popyachtsa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ju scores with a hook to the body.
Popyachtsa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Popyachtsa pushes Ju back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Popyachtsa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jus head.
Popyachtsa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ju tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popyachtsa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Popyachtsa fails to land.
Ju scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice elbow from Ju.
Ju with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Popyachtsa wants to stall.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ju.
Popyachtsa is trying to maintain a safe position but Ju gets an underhook and turns Popyachtsa into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Popyachtsa fails to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good body shot from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa tries a body shot but Ju blocks it.
Ju lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ju lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
Ju can't find room to land a body shot as Popyachtsa controls the action.
Popyachtsa scores with a nice hook to the head.

Popyachtsa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popyachtsa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ju wants to clinch.
Popyachtsa throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Popyachtsa throws a nice looking combination but Ju bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab lands there for Popyachtsa.

Popyachtsa darts in and clinches Ju up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Mek Ju just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ju throws a looping overhand right but Popyachtsa ducks down to avoid it.
Popyachtsa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popyachtsa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ju cracks a nice hook into Popyachtsa's ribs.
Popyachtsa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ju checks a low kick from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa throws a body punch but Ju moves out of range.
Popyachtsa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Popyachtsa looks to land a combination but Ju avoids it well.
A punch combination from Popyachtsa misses.
Popyachtsa misses with a combination
and Ju makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ju misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Popyachtsa has managed to clinch.
Popyachtsa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Popyachtsa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popyachtsa working aggressively here.
Popyachtsa is trying to stall.
Popyachtsa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ju's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Popyachtsa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ju tries to land knees in the clinch but Popyachtsa avoids the damage to the body.
Ju with a knee to the head.
Popyachtsa blocking some punches.
Ju prevents a body shot from Popyachtsa.
Popyachtsa avoids a wild elbow strike from Ju.
Popyachtsa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Popyachtsa misses with a punch to the body.
Ju lands an elbow that stopped Popyachtsa in his tracks for a moment.
Ju tries to throw a body punch but Popyachtsa avoids it by throwing Ju back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Ju.
Ju scores a nice knee to the body.
Popyachtsa working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa working aggressively here.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
Ju tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ju tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
Popyachtsa takes a shot to the head.
Popyachtsa tries to stall but Ju uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Popyachtsa throws a head punch that misses.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Popyachtsa.
Nice elbow from Ju.
Ju with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ju creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ju takes a shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ju.

Jeez, Shachlo Popyachtsa's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Ju misses with a knee to the head.
Ju is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Popyachtsa is defending well for now.
Popyachtsa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popyachtsa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ju tries a knee to the head but Popyachtsa blocks it.
Popyachtsa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ju gets through Popyachtsa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ju blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ju.
Ju with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Popyachtsa managing to block the knees to the body from Ju.
Ju trying to land knees to the body.
Popyachtsa digs a right hand into Ju's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ju's gas tank.
Popyachtsa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popyachtsa slowing the pace effectively.
Popyachtsa misses with a body punch.
Ju lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popyachtsa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Ju is rocked!
Popyachtsa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ju is still on wobbly legs! Can Popyachtsa finish him?
Popyachtsa creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Ju with a big uppercut! Ju tries to clinch up but Popyachtsa pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Ju to the mat! Ju covers up and Popyachtsa unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Shachlo Popyachtsa!
Shachlo Popyachtsa retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Shachlo Popyachtsa, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.