PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Flexen (ranked 5933 p4p, 566 weight class) and Alexi Popov (ranked 7576 p4p, 637 weight class). Flexen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Break Stuff-Limp Bizkit. Popov has chosen March of the fire ants as his entrance music. Chris Flexen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Flexen
vs
Popov

185 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Pit Bull Development
Bank of noobs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Chris Flexen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexi Popov!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Flexen back to the cage. Popov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Left hook, right uppercut from Popov.
Flexen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Flexen looks for a takedown but Popov sprawls well.
Popov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Flexen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Flexen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Popov sprawls well. Popov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Flexen gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Flexen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flexen just misses with a punch to the body.
Popov is looking for the big counter here.
Popov scores with a shot to the body.
Flexen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Popov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flexen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flexen darts in and clinches Popov up against the cage.
Popov wants to break free but Flexen has control.
Flexen tries to score a body lock takedown but Popov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Popov is trying to break the clinch but Flexen is controlling him.

Popov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Popov looks winded!
Popov avoids the head kick by Flexen.
Flexen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Popov was well out of range. Poor timing from Flexen.
Popov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Flexen back to the cage. Popov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Flexen shoots in for a double leg but Popov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Popov rushes Flexen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Popov has Flexen pushed against the cage.
Flexen fails to pull guard.
Popov leaning against his opponent.
Popov is trying to break free.
Flexen tries to score a body lock takedown but Popov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Popov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Flexen prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Flexen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Popov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Popov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov is trying to break free.
Flexen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Flexen goes for a takedown attempt but Popov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Flexen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Flexen pushes Popov up against the cage in a clinch.
Popov can't break the clinch.
Flexen 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.
A short right from Popov.
A right hand to the body from Popov.
Popov is trying to push Flexen away but Flexen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Popov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Flexen smiles and moves away.
Flexen tries for a takedown but Popov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Popov. No joy for Flexen on that attempt.
Popov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Flexen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Popov swivels and escapes.

Flexen instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Popov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Flexen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Popov stalling against the cage.
Flexen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Flexen jumps guard but Popov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Flexen managing to block the knees to the body from Popov.
Popov taking a breather.
Popov tries to score a body lock takedown but Flexen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Flexen shoots in but no luck this time.
Flexen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Popov has Flexen up against the cage in a clinch.

Flexen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Popov uses from the top position.

Flexen looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Popov is defending well. Flexen quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Popov has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Flexen celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chris Flexen!
An intense looking Chris Flexen took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Was there any doubt...'.