PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Winfred Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Poporov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Winfred Cohen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cohen
vs
Poporov

194 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

168 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Winfred Cohen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Demian Poporov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poporov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Poporov trying to control the position but Cohen is working away.
Poporov controls the position.
Poporov wants to stand but Cohen is controlling his arm.
Cohen dodges the ground and pound from Poporov.
Cohen is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cohen is pushing Poporov's head away, looking to escape. Poporov manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cohen is trying to control Poporov's posture but Poporov avoids it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Poporov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poporov gets a takedown into half guard.
Poporov is controlling the pace.
Poporov is just content to waste time from the top position. Cohen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Poporov looking to sit in guard and control but Cohen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poporov has his hands on Cohen's head, controlling the position.

Poporov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cohen gets to his feet - Poporov follows without any prompting.

Poporov closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen stalling.
Cohen lands with a light punch inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Poporov successfully pulls guard.
Poporov is trying to hold Cohen in close to prevent damage but Cohen has managed to pass into half guard.
Poporov tries to get to full guard but Cohen has control of the leg.
Poporov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cohen.
Cohen stops Poporov from getting back to his feet.
Poporov trying to control but Cohen postures up.
Cohen tries to stand and escape but Poporov is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Cohen seems content to control.
Poporov is not content to let Cohen control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cohen throws a right and a left that Poporov avoids nicely.
Poporov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Poporov gets a clinch.

Poporov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cohen has Poporov up against the cage in a clinch.
Cohen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cohen tries to stall but Poporov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Poporov 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.

Cohen gets caught flat footed, as Poporov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Poporov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cohen is keeping the position for now.
Demian Poporov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Poporov from controlling successfully.
Poporov looking to sit in guard and control but Cohen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cohen wants to control from the top but Poporov keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poporov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poporov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Poporov wants to improve his position but instead Cohen has moved into half guard.
Poporov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Poporov.
Poporov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Poporov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cohen has passed into half guard!
Cohen controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Poporov tries to kick Cohen off in order to stand up. Cohen Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Poporov wants to control but Cohen postures up.
Cohen is chipping away with strikes.
Poporov is looking to reverse the position.
Poporov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen taking a breather here.
Poporov tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Poporov is just holding on here. Cohen manages to take his back.

Cohen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Cohen controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is punishing Poporov with strikes - can he finish him?!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cohen controlling the position well here. Poporov rolled but Cohen kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Cohen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winfred Cohen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cohen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Poporov moves into the clinch.
Cohen holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Cohen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Poporov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cohen to the mat. Cohen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Poporov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Poporov is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poporov throwing strikes from guard but Cohen blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cohen is on top in guard.

Cohen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Poporov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cohen uses it to pass to side control.
Cohen controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Poporov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Poporov bucks up and tries to throw Cohen off but instead Cohen has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cohen is looking for the choke from the back position but Poporov is controlling his hands well.
Poporov is really stuck here.

Cohen is working for a rear naked choke. Poporov is not defending it well and Cohen has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Poporov refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Poporov's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Winfred Cohen!