PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Rugalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Russian National Anthem. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Popov
vs
Rugalov

178 cm
26
265 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

183 cm
26
230 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomas Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Rugalov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugalov looks for a takedown but Popov sprawls well.
Popov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Rugalov feints and as Popov raises his hands in defense, Rugalov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rugalov postures up in Popov's guard and throws a big left but Popov blocks it.
Popov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rugalov on the ground.
Popov wants to stand and escape but Rugalov is having none of it.
Rugalov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Popov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Popov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rugalov controls the pace.
Rugalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Popov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rugalov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugalov is in close to Popov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rugalov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rugalov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rugalov advances to half guard.
Rugalov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Popov tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Rugalov manages to move to mount!
Popov trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov looking to finish with strikes here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rugalov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Popov is looking to escape.
Rugalov scoring with strikes but Popov is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rugalov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rugalov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rugalov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rugalov scoring with strikes but Popov is staying in there.
Rugalov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Popov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Popov tries to get out of the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rugalov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popov is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov looking to control but Popov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rugalov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rugalov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Popov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rugalov landing shots from mount.
Popov is breathing heavily.
Rugalov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rugalov with the ground and pound from mount.
Rugalov prevents Popov from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Rugalov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Popov stuffs the takedown attempt from Rugalov. Rugalov gets slowly back to his feet.
Popov swinging wildly here.
Rugalov darts in looking for a takedown but Popov gets double underhooks and turns Rugalov into the cage.

Rugalov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rugalov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rugalov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Popov's head.
Ivan Rugalov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rugalov tries to free his leg and advance position but Popov is retaining full guard.
Rugalov is looking to work some ground and pound but Popov has wrist control.
Rugalov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugalov trying to control the position from guard on top but Popov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rugalov throwing strikes from guard but Popov blocks nicely.
Rugalov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rugalov is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ivan Rugalov.

Rugalov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Popov is trying to defend but Rugalov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Popov keeps working.
Rugalov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rugalov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Popov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov lands with a punch from half guard.
Rugalov thows a huge punch but Popov dodges it nicely.
Rugalov thows a huge punch but Popov dodges it nicely.
Popov has hold of Rugalov's hands but Rugalov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rugalov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rugalov is keen to just control but Popov is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Popov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rugalov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rugalov trying to pass the guard but Popov defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popov is looking for a sweep. Rugalov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Rugalov wasn't active enough on the ground.

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

Ivan Rugalov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rugalov tries to clinch but Popov moves out of range.
Rugalov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rugalov has a takedown stuffed.
Rugalov shoots in for a double leg but Popov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Rugalov. No joy for Popov on that attempt.

Popov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rugalov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Popov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugalov wants to control from the top but Popov keeps moving.
Rugalov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Rugalov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A punch combination from Popov misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov fails with a takedown attempt.
Tomas Popov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Rugalov.
Popov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Popov wants it to stay on the feet.
Rugalov shoots in for a takedown but Popov shows good takedown defense.
Rugalov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Popov's waist but Popov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rugalov off to one side.

Rugalov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rugalov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popov is trying to control Rugalov's posture but Rugalov avoids it.
Popov regains half guard there - taking advantage of Rugalov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tomas Popov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rugalov trying to control the action but Popov is working from the bottom.
Rugalov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rugalov is looking to pass Popov's guard but actually Popov recovers to full guard.
Rugalov lands a couple of digs.
Rugalov throws an elbow that misses. Popov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rugalov's guard. Nice move by Popov!
Rugalov has Popov pulled in close to control his posture.
Ivan Rugalov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Popov with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Rugalov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rugalov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Rugalov!