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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Popkov (ranked 526 p4p, 357 weight class) and Isaac Vernon (ranked 80 p4p, 55 weight class). Mikhail Popkov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 200 cm
26
195
14 - 8 - 0 |
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180 cm
29
195
17 - 11 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikhail Popkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaac Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vernon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Popkov.
Vernon looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Popkov misses with a straight left.
Vernon changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vernon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Popkov throws out the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vernon! But no joy.
Vernon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Popkov is fending him off so far but Vernon persists. Nope, Popkov circles away and we're back to standing.
Popkov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Zero Tolerance in the buildup to the fight.
Vernon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Popkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vernon.
Popkov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Vernon throws out a loose jab but Popkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popkov tries to land a leg kick but Vernon saw it coming and moves away.
Popkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vernon throws out the jab.
Popkov lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Popkov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Vernon misses with a left hand
and Popkov counters with a straight right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vernon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popkov moves away.
Popkov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Vernon misses the jab.
Vernon looks to throw the jab but Popkov is out of range.
Popkov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mikhail Popkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vernon misses with a leg kick.
It appears Popkov was looking to counter with a kick there.
Vernon thows a leg kick but Popkov checks it
and Popkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vernon moves into the clinch.
Popkov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Popkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popkov avoids the body shot from Vernon.
Vernon throws a hook but Popkov blocks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vernon.
An attempted straight right counter from Popkov misses the target.
A jab from Vernon does it's job there.
Popkov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Popkov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vernon punishes Popkov's body with a nice straight punch.
Popkov lands a jab to the head.
Popkov throws a sloppy head kick and Vernon moves out of range easily.
Vernon swings away with a body shot that misses
and Popkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popkov staying out of range there.
Popkov moves out of range of the leg kick from Vernon.
The fighters circling - Vernon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon looks to land a left hand but Popkov moved out of range nicely.
Popkov throwing a counter right hand but Vernon manages to avoid it.
Vernon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Popkov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Popkov ducks under a wild hook from Vernon.
Vernon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Popkov.
Vernon throws a shot to the body.
Vernon connects with a body shot that sends Popkov's belly button to the back.
Popkov slips a straight right by Vernon.
Vernon throws out a loose jab but Popkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popkov avoids the body shot from Vernon.
Vernon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vernon misses with a jab to the body
and Popkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vernon smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Popkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vernon misses with a straight right.
Vernon throws a combination that misses
and Popkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vernon misses with a straight left.
Popkov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Vernon throws out a powerful jab.
Vernon is looking to land body kicks.
Vernon staying out of range there.
Vernon swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Popkov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Popkov throws a looping overhand right but Vernon ducks down to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Isaac Vernon will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Vernon jabs at Popkov's body.
Popkov looks to throw the jab but Vernon is out of range.
Popkov misses with an uppercut.
Vernon misses with a hook to the body
and Popkov counters with a straight right hand.
Vernon lands a jab.
Vernon just misses with a punch to the body.
Vernon lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Vernon just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vernon throws a lazy right hand but Popkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Popkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popkov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vernon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Popkov.
Popkov throwing a counter right hand but Vernon manages to avoid it.
Vernon throws an off balance right hand
and Popkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vernon throws out the jab.
Popkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vernon.
Popkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Vernon misses with a straight right.
Popkov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vernon to score with a decent uppercut.
Popkov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Vernon misses the jab.
A quick step to the side and Popkov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popkov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popkov misses with a shot to the body
and Vernon counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vernon trying to control from half guard but Popkov is working away.
Vernon content to control rather than advance.
Popkov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vernon.
Vernon is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vernon is trying to control. Popkov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vernon is pressing down on Popkov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Popkov is holding on for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon passes to side control.
Vernon tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vernon has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Popkov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vernon moves into full mount!
Vernon trying to control but Popkov is having none of it.
Popkov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vernon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
You get the feeling that Popkov really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Vernon tries to control but Popkov wriggling away.
Vernon thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vernon content just to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Isaac Vernon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Popkov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vernon can pounce on him.
Vernon throws an off balance right hand
and Popkov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Vernon really felt that one!
Vernon misses with an uppercut.
Vernon throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Vernon lands a nice looking body shot.
Popkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vernon.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vernon misses with a low kick as Popkov jumps back.
Popkov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Vernon throws a sloppy body shot
and Popkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vernon misses with a right hand
and Popkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vernon manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Popkov on his heels. He'll look to pass Popkov's guard now, I'm sure.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon trying to control but Popkov is working from the bottom.
Isaac Vernon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vernon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vernon with the ground and pound but Popkov uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Vernon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vernon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vernon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Popkov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vernon is controlling him.
Vernon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vernon tries to free his leg and advance position but Popkov is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vernon trying to control but Popkov is working from the bottom.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vernon fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Popkov.
Vernon throws a right and a left that Popkov avoids nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popkov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Popkov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vernon throws a big shot that misses.
Popkov throws a right hand that misses
and Vernon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Popkov throws a jab when Vernon was well out of range.
Isaac Vernon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vernon misses with a looping left.
Popkov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vernon. Vernon obviously looking to wear him down.
Popkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Popkov lands a really nice looking cross but Vernon seems unphased.
Popkov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Popkov moves out of range of the body kick from Vernon.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov slips a jab from Vernon.
Mikhail Popkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some bone on bone action there as Popkov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
It looked like Popkov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Isaac Vernon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popkov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice jab there from Popkov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vernon. Popkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Popkov.
Popkov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Popkov throws the left hand but Vernon avoids the punch easily.
Vernon misses the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Popkov misses the target.
Popkov throws a jab when Vernon was well out of range.
Vernon is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Popkov with a body shot.
And that's the end of the fight!
Isaac Vernon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vernon 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isaac Vernon!
An out of breath Isaac Vernon thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
43% |
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