PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Cobb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popov has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cobb
vs
Popov

220 cm
20
279 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

178 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurt Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomas Popov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popov drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cobb keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.
Popov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cobb has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Popov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cobb is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Popov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cobb is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tomas Popov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cobb wants to clinch

and Popov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Popov has hold of one of Cobb's legs. Cobb is fighting the takedown attempt but Popov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Popov looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb is adopting a defensive guard.
Cobb wants to stand and escape but Popov is having none of it.
Cobb is controlling Popov's posture.
Cobb tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Popov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

We're going to have a standup here because Kurt Cobb wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Popov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Popov trying to mount his opponent but Cobb defends it.
Popov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov is trying to control the action in half guard but Cobb is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cobb blocking the ground and pound attempt from Popov.
Popov prevents Cobb from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tomas Popov.
Cobb dives in for a single leg takedown but Popov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cobb is trying to drag Popov to the mat but Popov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Popov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cobb prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popov is trying to trip Cobb. He has hold of a leg but Cobb is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Popov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cobb trying to keep a closed guard but Popov is proving a slippery customer.

Cobb is looking for a triangle but Popov pushes his legs off easily.
Cobb not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Popov won't allow Cobb to sweep him here.
Popov chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Popov throwing strikes but missing.
Popov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cobb keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tomas Popov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Popov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cobb tries to avoid it but Popov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cobb to the ground. Cobb escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Popov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Popov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cobb manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Popov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Popov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cobb fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cobb doesn't manage to clinch there - Popov circles away.
Cobb fails to land the takedown.

Popov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cobb quickly recovers to half guard.
Popov stops Cobb from getting back to his feet.
Popov lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popov is working for an americana but Cobb has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Popov was thinking about the submission.
Popov looking to sit in guard and control but Cobb gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Popov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cobb can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cobb stands up from Popov's guard - Cobb perhaps looking for a knockout.

Cobb gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cobb will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb looking to hit a scissor sweep but Popov is one step ahead there.

Cobb throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Popov trying to control but Cobb is working from the bottom.
Cobb trying to keep a closed guard but Popov is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popov stands and steps away. Cobb gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cobb misses with the combination.
Kurt Cobb seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Popov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cobb keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.
Popov preventing the sweep.
Popov trying to control but Cobb is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tomas Popov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Popov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Popov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cobb fails with the takedown.
Cobb misses with a takedown attempt

and Popov counters with a single leg into guard. Cobb didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Cobb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cobb has control of Popov's left arm, preventing Popov from doing any damage.
Cobb keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Popov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Popov as Cobb shoots in.
Cobb doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Popov counters with a takedown into side control.

Popov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Popov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Popov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Popov looks up at the clock and then as Cobb takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Popov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cobb tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Popov slows the pace down.
Popov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cobb. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popov is thwarting Cobb's attempts to control the position.
Popov trying to control the pace.
Popov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cobb is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Popov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Popov's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Popov rolls, trying to escape but Cobb keeps control of the position.
Cobb trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Popov showing good submission defense here.
Cobb controlling well, preventing Popov from escaping the position.
Cobb not allowing Popov to control his hands.
Popov tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov wants to control his opponent's hands but Cobb gets his hands free.
Cobb controlling well, preventing Popov from escaping the position.
Tomas Popov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A lull in the action here.
Popov just trying to survive but Cobb is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Popov tries to escape the position.
Popov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Cobb working for the choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cobb is looking for the choke from the back position but Popov is controlling his hands well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomas Popov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Popov 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomas Popov!
A victorious Tomas Popov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.