PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Jackson (ranked 4195 p4p, 5522 weight class) and Mikhail Popkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jackson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Your gonna pay. This should be a great matchup!

Jackson
vs
Popkov

190 cm
23
185
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Freddy Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikhail Popkov!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Popkov to the mat! Popkov manages to get full guard.
Jackson lands a couple of digs.
Jackson is stalling in the full guard.
Popkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jackson.
Jackson landing some decent shots from guard.
Popkov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jackson controls the pace.
Jackson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Popkov wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.
Jackson controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Jackson stops Popkov from standing up.
Jackson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson prevents Popkov from getting back to his feet.
Jackson is working Popkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jackson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jackson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Jackson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jackson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Popkov is keeping the position.
Popkov is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Popkov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Jackson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jackson showed some decent athleticism there.
Popkov pushes Jackson off looking to stand but Jackson dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popkov is trying to stand.
Well, if Jackson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Popkov lands a nice shot that snaps Jackson's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popkov connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Popkov does it's job there.
Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Popkov tries to sprawl but Jackson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Popkov pushes Jackson off looking to stand but Jackson dives back in and keeps control.
Popkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Popkov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jackson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jackson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Jackson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Jackson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Jackson working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Popkov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Jackson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Popkov's face.
Jackson controlling from the full mount.
Jackson lands a big shot there that rocks Popkov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Jackson controlling from mount.
Popkov is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Popkov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Jackson landing punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Jackson 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.

Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson moves forwards but Popkov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Popkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Popkov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jackson's head.

Jackson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Popkov on his heels. He'll look to pass Popkov's guard now, I'm sure.
Popkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jackson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jackson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Popkov for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popkov wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jackson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jackson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Popkov wants to stand and escape but Jackson is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Popkov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Popkov lands a jab to the nose.

Jackson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jackson takes a little break here. Popkov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Popkov to see if he's OK.
Popkov wants to get back to his feet but Jackson drags him back down.
Popkov seems a little lost for a moment, as Jackson dominates the positioning.
Popkov wants to get back to his feet but Jackson drags him back down.
Jackson scoring with punches from side control.
Popkov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Popkov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popkov tries to escape but Jackson is in control.
Popkov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Popkov is pushing Jackson's head away, looking to escape. Jackson manages to hold on to the position though.
Jackson just content to control the position.
Jackson advances nicely into full mount.
Jackson looking to control and managing it successfully.

Jackson has hold of Popkov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Popkov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jackson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Jackson controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Jackson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jackson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Popkov can do to turn this around?
Jackson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Popkov is trying to stand.
Jackson working the ground and pound effectively.
Popkov is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Jackson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
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!
Jackson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Popkov is in a horrible position here. Jackson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Jackson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jackson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Popkov lands a jab to the head.
A jab from Popkov finds it's way through Jackson's defenses.

Jackson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Popkov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jackson advances position into side control!
Popkov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jackson is controlling him well.
Jackson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Popkov seems a little lost for a moment, as Jackson dominates the positioning.
Jackson grinds an elbow into Popkov's temple.
Popkov bucks up and tries to throw Jackson off but instead Jackson has got his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson biding his time, controlling Popkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Further stalling from Jackson.
Popkov is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Jackson working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Popkov is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Jackson has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Popkov taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Freddy Jackson!
During a confident post fight interview, Freddy Jackson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.