PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Van Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimitar Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Dimitar Popov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gray
vs
Popov

175 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Van Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dimitar Popov!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gray feints and as Popov raises his hands in defense, Gray changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gray has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gray is looking to work some ground and pound but Popov has wrist control.

Popov working for submissions but it's allowed Gray to get to half guard.

Popov looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Gray pushes past his half guard into mount!
Popov wants to hold on but Gray pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Gray.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray avoids the attempt from Popov to control.
Gray controlling his opponent.
Popov wants to control but Gray is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Popov is looking to escape.
Popov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Popov is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov wants to hold on but Gray pushes him away.
Popov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gray is landing with some decent strikes but Popov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gray controlling the pace for now.
Popov taking shots to the head.
Gray controlling his opponent.
Popov wants to control but Gray is having none of 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!
Gray sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov is trying desperately to improve position.
Gray in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gray avoids the attempt from Popov to control.
Popov is working to get back to half guard.
Gray with a couple of short strikes.
Popov wants to hold on but Gray pushes him away.
Gray lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Popov hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The referee warns Popov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Popov is trying desperately to improve position.
Gray scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Popov?
Popov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gray looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Popov tries to lock up and control but Gray gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gray haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gray with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Gray dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gray drives through with a takedown into Popov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Van Gray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Popov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gray passes into half guard.

Popov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Popov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Popov trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Gray scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray landing strikes from the mount and Popov is in trouble!
Gray avoids the attempt from Popov to control.
Popov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Popov actively working from the bottom here.
Gray trying to control from half guard but Popov is working away.

Popov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popov looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Gray pushes past his half guard into mount!
Popov is breathing heavily.
Gray trying to control but Popov is having none of it.
Gray tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries to reverse the position but Gray maintains control.
Popov tries to hold on but Gray pushes him away.
Gray trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popov tries to hold on but Gray pushes him away.
Popov gets back to half guard.

Popov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gray wants to control but Popov is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Van Gray wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gray cracks Popov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Popov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gray did well to prevent Popov getting side control.
Popov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gray controls his leg.
Popov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Popov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gray tries to get to full guard but Popov has control of the leg.
Gray keeping hold of Popov's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Van Gray will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Popov darts in and clinches Gray up against the cage.
Gray missing with knees to the body.

Popov pulls guard effortlessly.

Popov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Popov keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.

Gray decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Popov, up you get!

Popov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gray to the ground. Popov is now in Gray's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray wants to sweep but no luck.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.
Popov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Popov from controlling successfully.
Gray 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.
Gray has control of Popov's left arm, preventing Popov from doing any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dimitar Popov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Popov slips a jab from Gray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray scores with a punch to the head.
Nice shot lands for Gray.

Gray tries to sprawl but Popov drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Popov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gray is just riding it out for now. Popov eventually gives up the hold.
Popov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gray!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Popov goes for an armbar but Gray turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gray.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray is stalling in the full guard.
Gray wants to control from the top but Popov keeps moving.
Gray is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Gray avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gray showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gray with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dimitar Popov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gray has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Gray!