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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Garcia (ranked 509 p4p, 440 weight class) and Mikhail Popkov (ranked 75 p4p, 67 weight class). Garcia comes to the cage accompanied by S.G. Sinnicks - St Patrick Battalion. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 180 cm
28
185
20 - 7 - 1 |
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200 cm
23
195
8 - 2 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mickey Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikhail Popkov!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popkov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Garcia.
Popkov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
It looks like Mikhail Popkov has been cut.
Mickey Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popkov dodges the punch combination from Garcia.
Popkov throws a shot from downtown. Garcia moves away and avoids it.
Garcia throws out a powerful jab.
Garcia is looking to clinch.
It seemed like Popkov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Popkov catches Garcia with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Garcia lands a body shot.
A nice combination there by Popkov.
It looks like Mickey Garcia has been cut.
Garcia lands a nice hook to Popkov's body. Popkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
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!
Garcia takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Garcia bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Popkov's head backwards.
Garcia tries to clinch but Popkov is having none of it.
Garcia cracks Popkov with an open hand slap.
Popkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Popkov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popkov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Garcia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Popkov, pushing him back against the cage.
Garcia throws a punch but it's blocked by Popkov.
Popkov throws a head punch that misses.
Popkov is trying to break free.
Garcia tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Popkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garcia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garcia missing with a left hand there. Popkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popkov.
Popkov swings for the body but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Garcia throws a right hand that Popkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Popkov also avoids with ease.
Garcia clinches.
Garcia pulls guard successfully.
Garcia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Popkov is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Garcia 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.
Popkov stands up from Garcia's guard - Popkov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Garcia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Popkov throws out the jab.
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!
Popkov jabs Garcia to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Garcia throws a big shot that misses.
Popkov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Garcia. Garcia circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Popkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab from Garcia.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popkov looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.
Jab by Popkov.
Popkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Garcia throws out the jab.
Garcia misses with a body shot.
Garcia thuds a left hand into Popkov's body.
Garcia looks to land a left hand but Popkov moved out of range nicely.
Garcia doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
No joy there for Garcia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Popkov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Garcia throws out a loose jab but Popkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popkov is looking for the big counter here.
Garcia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Garcia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice body punch from Popkov.
Garcia works Popkov's body with a nice hook.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popkov cracks Garcia with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Popkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popkov lands with an uppercut that bounces Garcia off the cage and back into range.
Popkov throws a shot from downtown. Garcia moves away and avoids it.
Popkov looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.
Garcia blocks a jab.
Garcia tries to clinch but Popkov is having none of it.
Garcia sizes up Popkov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Garcia lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Popkov at a distance.
Popkov moves out of range as Garcia strikes.
Popkov looks to land a left hand but Garcia moved out of range nicely.
Popkov cracks Garcia with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garcia throws a looping overhand right but Popkov ducks down to avoid it.
Popkov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Garcia stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Mikhail Popkov will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!
Popkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Popkov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Popkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Garcia is just out of range.
Popkov ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.
Garcia defending well as Popkov loads up on a big left hand.
Popkov misses with a body shot.
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popkov manages to avoid it.
Garcia swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Popkov counter with a right hand.
Garcia scores with the left hand. Popkov knows he should have avoided that one.
Popkov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Garcia takes a swing at Popkov's ribcage but misses.
Garcia on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popkov manages to avoid it.
Popkov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Popkov connects with the punch.
Garcia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Popkov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Popkov defending well as Garcia loads up on a big left hand.
Garcia has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Popkov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Garcia misses with a lunging right hand
and Popkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Popkov throws a hook to the side of Garcia's head but Garcia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mikhail Popkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popkov gets tackled into the cage by Garcia. Garcia maintains the clinch.
Popkov tries to break free but Garcia pushes him back against the cage.
Popkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garcia moves away.
Popkov drops his hands momentarily and Garcia takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Garcia misses with a right hand
and Popkov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcia throws a big shot that misses.
Popkov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Garcia throws a lazy right hand but Popkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Popkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Popkov drops Garcia with a beautiful combination! Garcia stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Popkov is looking for the KO!
Garcia is rocked!
Garcia leaves his chin hanging out and Popkov seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Garcia crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mikhail Popkov!
A relieved looking Mikhail Popkov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Mickey Garcia had this to say: 'Can't believe the commission let me fight with Hep C...'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
69% |
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