PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jaromir Jag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alyosha Popovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alyosha Popovich will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Jag
vs
Popovich

165 cm
31
130 lbs
22 - 31 - 2

225 cm
25
130 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 22 - 31 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jaromir Jag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alyosha Popovich!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popovich misses with a two punch combination.
Jag darts in trying to clinch
and Popovich counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jag is looking to clinch.
Jag misses with a head kick.
Popovich lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Jaromir Jag has been cut.
Popovich fails to land with a series of punches.
Popovich throws a nice looking combination but Jag bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popovich misses with the combination.
Jag tries to bum rush Popovich with a series of wild strikes but Popovich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Popovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch but Popovich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jag throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Popovich throws a right hand that Jag ducks under and follows up with a left that Jag also avoids with ease.
Popovich connects with a body shot that sends Jag's belly button to the back.
Popovich throws a right hand that Jag ducks under and follows up with a left that Jag also avoids with ease.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jag darts in trying to clinch
and Popovich counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jag avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jag tries to clinch up but Popovich circles away and keeps his distance.
Jag tries to clinch up but Popovich circles away and keeps his distance.

Jag has managed to clinch.
Popovich tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jag just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jag throws a knee to the head but misses.
Popovich tries to break free but Jag pushes him back against the cage.
Jag trying to control the position but instead, Popovich has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jag into the cage.
Popovich is trying to break free.
Popovich is trying to force a seperation but Jag has the dominant position.
Jag misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Popovich.
Popovich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich is trying to push Jag away but Jag has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jag keeps control of Popovich as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Popovich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Popovich looks to land a combination but Jag avoids it well.
Popovich lands a really nice looking cross but Jag seems unphased.
Jag tries to clinch but Popovich is having none of it.
Popovich fails to land with a series of punches.
Jag tries to clinch but Popovich is having none of it.
Sloppy strikes from Popovich. Those never looked like landing.
Jag misses with a two punch combination.
Popovich is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Popovich fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jag, pushing him back against the cage.
Popovich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jag tries to land knees in the clinch but Popovich avoids the damage to the body.
Popovich is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Popovich pulls Jag into guard.

Jag gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Popovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Popovich looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jag wants to clinch up but Popovich keeps it at a distance.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.
Jag tries to clinch but Popovich moves out of range.
Jag throws a head kick but Popovich moves out of range.
Jag is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Popovich misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Jag.
Popovich swats away the attempt to clinch by Jag.
Popovich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jag tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Popovich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jag throws a jab when Popovich was well out of range.
Jag tries to clinch but Popovich is having none of it.
Jag wants to clinch.
Jag tries to clinch up but Popovich circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Popovich.
Popovich looks to land a combination but Jag avoids it well.
Popovich fails to land with a series of punches.
A big right from Popovich misses.
Popovich throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Popovich swats away the attempt to clinch by Jag.
Popovich looks to land a combination but Jag avoids it well.
Popovich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jag wants to clinch.
Jag tries to clinch but Popovich moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jag tries to clinch up but Popovich circles away and keeps his distance.
Jag tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alyosha Popovich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jaromir Jag's cut.
That's time! Jag's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Some wild striking there from Popovich.
Alyosha Popovich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popovich misses with the combination.
Popovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Jag tries to clinch there but Popovich circles away.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch but Popovich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popovich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch up but Popovich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jag slips under a jab from Popovich.
Jag is looking to clinch.
Jag tries to clinch up.
Jag doesn't manage to clinch there - Popovich circles away.
Popovich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jag walks into a left hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jag looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jag wants to clinch up but Popovich keeps it at a distance.
Popovich looks to land a combination but Jag avoids it well.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popovich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jag tries to clinch up.
Jag slips a jab and a cross from Popovich.
Popovich jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch but Popovich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jag forces Popovich back against the cage and clinches.
Popovich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jag stalling in the clinch but Popovich improves position.
Popovich is trying to break the clinch but Jag has him pressed against the cage.
Jag tries to throw a body punch but Popovich avoids it by throwing Jag back against the cage.
Jag misses with a knee to the head.
Jag tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Popovich avoids it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jag doesn't manage to clinch there - Popovich circles away.
Popovich swinging wildly here.
Jag fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jag looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popovich throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch up but Popovich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jag misses with a head kick.
Popovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Popovich is breathing heavily.
Popovich cracks Jag with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popovich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Jag.
A head kick misses from Jag.
Jag dodges the punch combination from Popovich.
Jag fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Popovich scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jag tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jag scoring well with a low kick there.
Popovich misses with the combination.
Jag throws a head kick but Popovich moves out of range.
Jag moves in looking to clinch but Popovich pushes him off.
Popovich has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jag wants to clinch up but Popovich keeps it at a distance.
Jag slips a jab and a cross from Popovich.
Popovich takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Jag dodges the punch combination from Popovich.
Nice defenses there by Jag.
Popovich takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jag misses with an uppercut. Popovich saw that one coming.
Jag pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jag tries to clinch up but Popovich circles away and keeps his distance.
Jag dodges the punch combination from Popovich.
A head kick misses from Jag.
Popovich tries to bum rush Jag with a series of wild strikes but Jag uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jag moves in looking to clinch but Popovich pushes him off.
Jag wants to clinch.
A jab from Jag misses.
Jag showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popovich.
Popovich throws a nice looking combination but Jag bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alyosha Popovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jag moves into the clinch.
Jag missing with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jag missing with knees to the body.

Jag breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaromir Jag dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jaromir Jag's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Popovich keeps the fight on the outside.
Popovich throws a lazy right hand but Jag sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jag wants to clinch up but Popovich keeps it at a distance.
Popovich misses with a two punch combination.
Jag takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Popovich throws a series of punches but Jag moves out of range.
Jag tries to close the distance and clinch but Popovich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Popovich moves into range and clinches up with Jag.
Jag is looking to break free of the clinch but Popovich has double underhooks.
Popovich is trying to pull guard but Jag has him pressed against the cage.
Jag tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Popovich avoids it.
Jag can't break the clinch.
Come on Jag - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Popovich can't break the clinch.
Jag is trying to maintain a safe position but Popovich gets an underhook and turns Jag into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovich avoiding damage as Jag throws knees to the body.
Popovich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Popovich tries to break free but Jag pushes him back against the cage.
Popovich taking a breather.
Jag misses with an elbow over the top.
Come on Jag - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Popovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Popovich blocks an elbow strike from Jag.
Jag has Popovich pressed against the cage, preventing Popovich from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Popovich is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Popovich is trying to force a seperation but Jag has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich is trying to force a seperation but Jag has the dominant position.
Jag wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Popovich has him pressed against the cage.
Popovich managing to block the knees to the body from Jag.
Popovich is trying to break the clinch but Jag is controlling him.
Jag keeps control of Popovich as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jag has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jag.
Popovich tries to break free but Jag pushes him back against the cage.
Popovich working hard to break the clinch.
Popovich wants to break free but Jag has control.
Popovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Popovich tries to break free but Jag pushes him back against the cage.
Popovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Popovich is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jag to keep the fight standing.
Jaromir Jag has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jag struggles to land a body shot inside as Popovich controls his hands.
Popovich stalling the fight.
Popovich misses with a punch on the inside.
Popovich is trying to push Jag away but Jag has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Popovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popovich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Popovich dodges an elbow strike from Jag.
Jag wants to get back to striking at distance but Popovich won't allow it.
Popovich is trying to break the clinch but Jag is controlling him.
Popovich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Popovich tries to break the clinch but Jag is controlling the position.
Popovich wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jag has him pressed against the cage.
Popovich wants to get back to striking at distance but Jag won't allow it.
Jag unloads a knee to the mid-section. Popovich lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jag tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Popovich avoids it.
Popovich tries to circle away but Jag has him pinned against the cage.
Jag missing with knees to the body.
Popovich wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jag has him pressed against the cage.
Popovich blocks an elbow strike from Jag.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jag has Popovich pressed against the cage, preventing Popovich from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Popovich wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jag working hard to break the clinch.
Popovich tries to break free but Jag pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popovich tries to break the clinch but Jag is controlling the position.
Popovich is trying to push Jag away but Jag has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jag tries to circle away but Popovich has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alyosha Popovich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alyosha Popovich!
Alyosha Popovich bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.