PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vitali Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popov comes to the cage accompanied by Tupac - Last Muthafucka Breathin'. This should be a great matchup!

Popov
vs
Orlov

172 cm
23
152 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitali Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Orlov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov closes the distance and clinches up with Orlov, looking for a takedown. Popov pushes Orlov against the cage but Orlov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Orlov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Orlov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Popov.
Orlov lands a front kick.
Orlov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Orlov is looking to slow Popov down with leg kicks.
Popov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Popov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Orlov.
A slapping leg kick lands for Orlov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Popov throws a lazy uppercut
and Orlov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Orlov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Popov.
Popov avoids the head kick by Orlov.
Orlov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Popov scores with a nice head shot.
A jab from Popov misses.
A jab from Orlov misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov works Orlov's body with a nice hook.
Popov shoots for a double leg takedown but Orlov sprawls well. He's pushed Popov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitali Popov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orlov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A cross from Orlov lands.
Popov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Orlov manages to avoid it.
Orlov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alexander Orlov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Popov tries to move into range but Orlov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Orlov. That's going to slow Popov down.
Orlov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Popov.
Popov shoots in but Orlov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Orlov.
Popov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Orlov throws a hook to the side of Popov's head but Popov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Popov misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov slaps away a takedown attempt from Popov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Popov blocks a jab.
Orlov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Popov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Orlov. Popov shrugs it off though.
Popov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Orlov defends it nicely.
Popov closes the distance and clinches up with Orlov, looking for a takedown. Popov pushes Orlov against the cage but Orlov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Popov is breathing heavily.
Orlov stuffs the takedown.
Orlov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Orlov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Popov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Orlov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Popov's head.
Orlov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Popov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Orlov connects with a right hand. Popov shakes it off.
Popov closes the distance and clinches up with Orlov, looking for a takedown. Popov pushes Orlov against the cage but Orlov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Popov tries for a takedown but Orlov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Popov misses the body punch
and Popov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab from Orlov misses.
Orlov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Popov shoots in for a takedown but Orlov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Popov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Orlov swivels and escapes.
Jab by Orlov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Orlov. Orlov obviously looking to wear him down.
Orlov misses with an uppercut.
Popov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Popov misses with a lunging right hand
and Orlov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Popov thinking.
Orlov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov misses with a straight right.
Vitali Popov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popov tries for a takedown but Orlov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Orlov misses its intended target.
Orlov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Orlov wants it to stay on the feet.
Orlov misses with a body shot.
Orlov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Orlov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Popov had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Popov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Orlov throws a nice head kick!
Orlov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Popov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Popov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Orlov's half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Orlov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Orlov keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Orlov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Popov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Orlov connects with a solid leg kick.
Popov throws a sloppy head kick and Orlov moves out of range easily.
Orlov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Popov's sensitive parts.
Nice straight punches there by Popov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Popov.
Orlov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Popov.
Orlov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Orlov misses the jab.

Popov shoots in and gets a takedown into Orlov's guard.
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!
Orlov has control of Popov's left arm, preventing Popov from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orlov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popov throws a big right hand that misses.
Popov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov wants to stand up but Popov is controlling him.
Popov is looking to advance position but Orlov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Orlov wants to control the pace but Popov is squirming around nicely.
Orlov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Popov tries to control Orlov's body but Orlov pushes him off. Popov squirms to his side and now Orlov has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Orlov controlling the positon.
Popov can't escape the position.
Orlov tries to get the hooks in deep but Popov pushed the leg off.
Orlov controlling the position well here. Popov rolled but Orlov kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Popov trying to control the action but Orlov just sinks the hooks in.
You can see the frustration on Popov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
I would not like to be Popov right now.
You can see the frustration on Popov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Orlov doesn't have the hooks in and Popov manages to turn into his guard.
Popov throws a big right hand that misses.
Alexander Orlov has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alexander Orlov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Popov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Orlov in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Popov. That did some damage!
Orlov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Popov was well out of range. Poor timing from Orlov.
Orlov connects with a jab.
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!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Popov is defended easily by Orlov.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Orlov, right into the meat.
Popov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Popov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Popov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Orlov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Orlov lands a nice shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Orlov.
Orlov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Popov's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Orlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Popov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Orlov. That one must have hurt.
Popov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Orlov feints and then cracks Popov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Popov down.
Popov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Orlov pinned against the cage. Orlov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Popov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Orlov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Popov scrambles back to his feet.
A jab from Orlov does it's job there.
Popov throws a leg kick
and Orlov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Popov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Orlov's waist but Orlov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Popov off to one side.
Orlov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Orlov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Orlov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popov closes the distance and clinches up with Orlov, looking for a takedown. Popov pushes Orlov against the cage but Orlov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitali Popov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Orlov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov misses with a takedown attempt - Orlov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Orlov lands a high kick!
Orlov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Orlov cracks Popov with a good jab.
Popov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Popov misses with a straight left.
That kick from Orlov tenderised Popov's leg. Popov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Popov slips a straight right by Orlov.
Alexander Orlov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Orlov pushes Popov away with a front kick.
Horrible takedown by Popov or perhaps it was just good defense by Orlov which made him look bad.
Orlov throws a nice head kick!
Orlov lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Popov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Orlov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Orlov.
Popov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Orlov. Orlov obviously looking to wear him down.
Orlov throws a body punch but Popov moves out of range.
Orlov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Orlov scores with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Popov misses its intended target.
Orlov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Orlov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Popov takes a step back to recover.
Orlov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Orlov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Popov.
The fighters circling - Popov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No luck for Popov with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Orlov.
Orlov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Popov takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Orlov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Orlov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Orlov scores with a head kick. Popov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Orlov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Popov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Orlov lands with a kick to the ribs.
Popov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Orlov swivels and escapes.
Orlov fakes the leg kick and cracks Popov in the body.
Orlov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Popov. That did some damage!
Orlov throws a leg kick which misses Popov's front leg but catches the back leg as Popov tries to avoid it.
Orlov sizes up Popov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Popov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Popov motions for Orlov to come forward. Popov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Orlov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Orlov ducks under a wild hook from Popov.
Orlov looks to land a left hand but Popov moved out of range nicely.
Jab from Orlov.
Popov throws a hook but Orlov avoids it easily.
Orlov digs a good hook to Popov's body.
Orlov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Orlov lands a head kick!
Orlov misses with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Orlov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Orlov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Orlov!
During a confident post fight interview, Alexander Orlov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.