PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 355 p4p, 619 weight class) and Mikhail Popkov (ranked 57 p4p, 92 weight class). Mikhail Popkov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Menezes
vs
Popkov

180 cm
38
190
30 - 18 - 0

200 cm
24
195
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Conquer

Voodoo Nutrition
PWNAGE Elite - $25 Tees

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 30 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Menezes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikhail Popkov!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menezes bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Popkov's head.
Menezes lands a jab to the head.
Menezes throws a body punch but Popkov moves out of range.
Popkov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Menezes lands a nice hook to Popkov's body. Popkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Menezes misses with a jab to the body
and Popkov counters with a nice body shot.
Menezes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Menezes misses with a body shot.
Menezes just misses with a punch to the body.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popkov throws a shot to the body.
Menezes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popkov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menezes throws a big shot that misses.
Popkov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Popkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Menezes.
Popkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Popkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Menezes goes for a double leg but Popkov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Popkov continues to drive forward.
A shot in the inside from Popkov.

Menezes pulls guard effortlessly.

Menezes has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Popkov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Menezes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Menezes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Popkov is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Menezes has given up his back here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes wants to escape the position.
Menezes trying to control the position but Popkov manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is really stuck here.
Menezes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Menezes breaks Popkov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Menezes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Popkov's guard.
Menezes is looking to advance position but Popkov won't allow it.

Popkov is defending against the submission attempts here by Menezes.
Menezes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes wants to take a breather but Popkov is having none of it.
Menezes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Menezes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Menezes tries to pass to full mount but Popkov defends it.
Popkov wants to get back to his feet.
Popkov is not content to let Menezes control the position.

Menezes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Menezes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Popkov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Menezes trying to control the action but Popkov is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Popkov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good standup being displayed there by Menezes as he connects with a hook.
Menezes misses with a takedown attempt - Popkov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arthur Menezes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Menezes swings widly with a right hand
and Popkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Popkov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Menezes digs a good body shot into Popkov's ribs.
Menezes tries for a takedown but Popkov circles away easily
and Popkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Menezes fails with the takedown.
Popkov has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Mikhail Popkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Menezes fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popkov throws an overhand right that lands on Menezes's shoulder, as Menezes tries to avoid the shot.
Menezes misses with a body shot.
Menezes just misses with a punch to the body.
It seemed like Popkov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Popkov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Menezes's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Menezes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Popkov swivels and escapes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Menezes. Popkov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Menezes closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menezes jumps guard.

Popkov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Menezes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Menezes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Menezes is looking to wear down Popkov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Menezes scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Menezes misses.
Popkov lands with a shot to the body.
Menezes misses with a looping left.
Menezes misses with a series of wild punches.
Menezes walks into a straight right hand from Popkov.
Menezes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popkov manages to avoid it.
Popkov throws out a counter right but Menezes avoids it with no problem.
Menezes looks to throw the jab but Popkov is out of range.
A big left from Popkov misses.
Popkov cracks Menezes with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Menezes misses with a combination
and Popkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Menezes circles away quickly and effectively.

Menezes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Popkov sprawls well initially but Menezes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Menezes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Menezes is trying to work for a kimura but Popkov is defending well.

Menezes seems to be working for a kimura but Popkov defends the submission attempt.
Popkov is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is looking to advance position but Popkov won't allow it.
Popkov tries to kick Menezes off but Menezes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Menezes is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Popkov as he works his way to full guard.

Menezes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Popkov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Menezes has Popkov in his guard.

Menezes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Popkov defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov wanted to stand there but Menezes had control of the position.
Menezes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Popkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Menezes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Popkov has managed to get both his arms back between Menezes's legs - danger averted.
Menezes working a defensive guard but Popkov manages to pass into side control anyway.
Menezes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Popkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Popkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Menezes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

A combination from Popkov does no damage.
Menezes lands with a straight right. Popkov didn't see that one coming.
Popkov digs a good hook to Menezes's body.
Menezes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Menezes looks to score with a jab to the body but Popkov is just out of range.
Popkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Menezes misses with a body punch
and Popkov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Oooooh!!! Popkov has knocked Menezes down with a huge combo! Popkov steps away and waves a wobbly Menezes back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Menezes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popkov throws out a counter right but Menezes avoids it with no problem.
Nice takedown defense from Popkov. No joy for Menezes on that attempt.

Menezes moves into the clinch successfully.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Popkov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Popkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Popkov wants to break free but Menezes has control.
Menezes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popkov misses with a body punch.

Menezes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Popkov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Popkov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Popkov wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Popkov lands a left and a right that send Menezes crashing to the mat, dazed. Popkov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Menezes is rocked!
Menezes has his takedown stuffed
and Popkov counters with a massive hook, right on the button! He's out cold! Damn, that was naaaaaasty! Hopefully he'll be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 3, 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.