PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Blake Bender has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bender
vs
Popov

184 cm
20
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
27
222 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Powerful

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Popov!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bender slips a jab from Popov.
Popov looks for a takedown but Bender sprawls well.
Bender lands with an uppercut that bounces Popov off the cage and back into range.
Bender digs a good hook to Popov's body.
Bender lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bender cracks Popov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bender throws a leg kick which misses Popov's front leg but catches the back leg as Popov tries to avoid it.
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!
Bender's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bender duly obliges.
Bender getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Popov is rocked!
Popov slips under a jab.
Popov is still on wobbly legs! Can Bender finish him?
Bender misses with a left hand

and Popov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Popov.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popov stops Bender from standing up.
Popov preventing the sweep.
Popov tries to free his leg and advance position but Bender is retaining full guard.
Bender trying to control the position here.

Popov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bender looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bender looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bender!
Bender lands a few punches from side control.
Bender tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bender controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Popov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Popov seems to have recovered his senses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Popov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Popov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bender is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popov seems to be working for a kimura but Bender defends the submission attempt.
Bender regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bender is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Popov passes Bender's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bender is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Popov is looking for a kimura here.
Bender knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Popov on the ground.

Popov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bender is just riding it out for now. Popov eventually gives up the hold.
Popov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bender does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Popov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bender keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Bender dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bender tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Popov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Popov.
A short left from Popov.
A right handed body shot lands from Bender.
Bender lands a shoulder strike.
Bender lands an uppercut.
Popov goes for a takedown attempt but Bender pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popov goes for a double leg but Bender avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bender continues to drive forward.
Good body shot from Bender.
Bender lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Bender.
Bender creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Popov's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Popov drops to his knees and Bender pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Blake Bender!