PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Branislav Popov (ranked 2799 p4p, 2826 weight class) and Ognjen Kovacevic (ranked 317 p4p, 321 weight class). Popov comes to the cage accompanied by Petrov - Bane. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kovacevic's choice of entrance music: Clapping your sister cheeks at 3 am. Ognjen Kovacevic told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Popov
vs
Kovacevic

182 cm
22
180
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
170
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Branislav Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ognjen Kovacevic!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kovacevic lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Popov at a distance.
Kovacevic just misses with a punch to the body.
Popov tries to clinch but Kovacevic is having none of it.
Popov tries to clinch there but Kovacevic circles away.
Popov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A lazy left from Kovacevic finds it's target.
Popov wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Popov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kovacevic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacevic throws a good cross that connects.
Kovacevic thuds a left hand into Popov's body.

Kovacevic gets tackled into the cage by Popov. Popov maintains the clinch.
Kovacevic has had enough of the clinch but Popov keeps him there for the moment.
Kovacevic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kovacevic throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kovacevic is trying to break the clinch but Popov is controlling him.
Kovacevic has had enough of the clinch but Popov keeps him there for the moment.

Kovacevic breaks the clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kovacevic. Popov shrugs it off though.
Popov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kovacevic ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Popov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jab from Kovacevic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Popov looks to clinch
and Kovacevic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kovacevic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Popov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kovacevic.
Popov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kovacevic counters with a nice body shot.
We've been told by Popov's head coaches at Punchin N\' Chockin that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Popov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kovacevic finds it's way round the side to connect with Popov's head.
Kovacevic thuds his right hand into Popov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovacevic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kovacevic thuds a left hand into Popov's body.
Popov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kovacevic connects with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kovacevic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popov moves away.
Popov tries to clinch up.
Popov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kovacevic moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kovacevic looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kovacevic.
Kovacevic connects with a nice looking jab.
Good shot there by Kovacevic.
Kovacevic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Popov counters with a nice body kick.
Popov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kovacevic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovacevic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov moves in looking to clinch but Kovacevic pushes him off.
Popov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ognjen Kovacevic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovacevic swats away the attempt to clinch by Popov.
Popov drops his hands momentarily and Kovacevic takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kovacevic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A jab from Kovacevic finds it's way through Popov's defenses.
Popov is looking to clinch but Kovacevic is avoiding it.
Kovacevic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kovacevic is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ognjen Kovacevic 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.

Kovacevic digs a good hook to Popov's body.
Popov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice uppercut there from Kovacevic.
Kovacevic with a jab.
Popov wants to clinch
and Kovacevic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Kovacevic.
Popov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Popov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice cross by Kovacevic.
Popov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kovacevic circles away.

Popov moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovacevic has had enough of the clinch but Popov keeps him there for the moment.
Kovacevic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacevic tries to work over Popov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kovacevic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Popov has him pressed against the cage.

Kovacevic breaks the clinch.
A shot to the body from Kovacevic misses
and Popov counters with a one-two to the body.
Popov darts in trying to clinch
and Kovacevic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Popov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Popov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kovacevic lands a glancing blow to the side of Popov's head.
Kovacevic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Some bone on bone action there as Popov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
A decent looking cross lands there for Kovacevic.
Popov is looking to clinch.
Popov wants to clinch
enabling Kovacevic to counter with a crisp jab.
Popov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Popov takes one on the button.
Popov tries to clinch up but Kovacevic circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheers as Kovacevic lands an impressive looking overhand right. Popov doesn't seem phased though.
Popov tries to clinch there but Kovacevic circles away.
Kovacevic with a jab.
Kovacevic lands the left hand.
Branislav Popov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kovacevic looks to land a combination. Popov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kovacevic motions for Popov to come forward. Kovacevic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
As Kovacevic looks to move away, Popov throws a big counter combo but Kovacevic just gets out of the way.
Kovacevic stuns Popov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kovacevic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kovacevic moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Popov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kovacevic lands with a straight right. Popov didn't see that one coming.
Kovacevic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Popov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kovacevic thuds a left hand into Popov's body.
Kovacevic punishes Popov's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kovacevic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovacevic with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popov is looking to clinch but Kovacevic is avoiding it.
Popov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kovacevic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kovacevic lands a body shot.
Kovacevic lands a nice shot that snaps Popov's head back.
Kovacevic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popov tries to move into range but Kovacevic moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Popov avoids a kick to the body.
Kovacevic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Popov 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.
Kovacevic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ognjen Kovacevic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kovacevic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kovacevic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kovacevic connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Popov takes one on the button.
Kovacevic with a nice calf kick.
Popov avoids the body shot from Kovacevic.
Kovacevic lands with a cross.
Kovacevic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacevic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kovacevic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kovacevic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovacevic jabs Popov right on the nose. Popov blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kovacevic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popov tries to clinch there but Kovacevic circles away.
Popov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kovacevic in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kovacevic digs a good hook to Popov's body.
Popov tries to clinch there but Kovacevic circles away.
Popov wants to clinch.
Jab, jab by Kovacevic - just one landing.
Popov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kovacevic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Popov scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic scores with a push kick.
Kovacevic jabs Popov right on the nose. Popov blinks but takes it well.
Popov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kovacevic throws a shot to the body.
Kovacevic lands a nice looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovacevic lunges at Popov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Popov's hand.
Popov tries to clinch but Kovacevic is having none of it.
Popov wants to clinch.
Popov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic thuds a left hand into Popov's body.
Kovacevic stuns Popov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Branislav Popov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kovacevic connects with a nice looking jab.
Popov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kovacevic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovacevic cracks Popov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kovacevic scoring well with a low kick there.
An inside leg kick lands from Kovacevic.
Jab from Kovacevic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacevic scores with a body shot.
Popov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovacevic uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Popov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Popov is rocked!
Kovacevic throws out a powerful jab.
Oh Popov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kovacevic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Popov seems to have got his legs back now.
Popov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Popov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice shot by Kovacevic.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ognjen Kovacevic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kovacevic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 24:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 24:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ognjen Kovacevic!
Post fight, Ognjen Kovacevic took to the microphone: 'I big banged this guy, now its time to get drunk on discord!!! LEEEEETS GOOOOOOOOOOO HOO YEAHH'.