PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Even Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikoli Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Steven
vs
Popov

185 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Comedy Fight Club Clothing (new prices!!!)

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Even Steven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikoli Popov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steven shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Popov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Popov wants to clinch.
Steven will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steven shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steven moves out of range as Popov throws a body kick.
Nice body kick there by Popov.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Steven is breathing heavily.
Popov wants to clinch.
Popov tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steven keeps the fight on the outside.
Popov doesn't manage to clinch there - Steven circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov is looking to clinch.
Popov misses with a head kick.
Popov tries to clinch but Steven is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Popov moves in looking to clinch but Steven pushes him off.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Popov.
Popov tries to clinch there but Steven circles away.
Popov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Popov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steven tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Popov wants to clinch.
Steven circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popov tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popov connects with a solid leg kick.
Popov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popov is looking to clinch but Steven is avoiding it.
Popov moves in looking to clinch but Steven pushes him off.
Popov is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov is looking to clinch but Steven is avoiding it.
Popov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popov tries to clinch but Steven is having none of it.
Popov misses with a low kick.
Popov wants to clinch up but Steven keeps it at a distance.
Steven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some bone on bone action there as Steven checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Steven circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch but Steven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popov tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Steven shoots in and drives through. Popov sprawls well.
Nikoli Popov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch but Steven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Popov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steven.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikoli Popov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Popov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Popov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popov connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Popov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steven takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Popov doesn't manage to clinch there - Steven circles away.
Popov tries to clinch there but Steven circles away.
Steven stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Popov.
Popov looks to throw the jab but Steven is out of range.
Popov tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Popov throws a leg kick but Steven checks it.
Popov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Even Steven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Popov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Popov wants to clinch.
Popov tries to clinch up but Steven circles away and keeps his distance.
Nikoli Popov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steven swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikoli Popov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Popov 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikoli Popov!