PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Khalil Zidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Zidane might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Tool - Jimmy. Popov has chosen Only the Young as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Alexander Popov enters the cage!

Zidane
vs
Popov

178 cm
19
143 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

222 cm
19
144 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Khalil Zidane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Popov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov lands a slapping body shot.
Zidane throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popov.
Zidane looks to land a left hand but Popov moved out of range nicely.
Popov looks to score with a jab to the body but Zidane is just out of range.
Popov ducks under a wild hook from Zidane.

Popov has closed the distance and engaged Zidane in a clinch.
Popov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zidane blocks an uppercut.
Zidane will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Popov up against the cage.
Popov tries to break the clinch but Zidane is controlling the position.
Popov misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popov is trying to break the clinch but Zidane is controlling him.
Popov has Zidane pressed against the cage, preventing Zidane from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Popov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Popov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Popov throws a big shot that misses.
Popov misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidane throws a leg kick which misses Popov's front leg but catches the back leg as Popov tries to avoid it.
Popov moves forwards but Zidane connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Popov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Popov ducks under a wild hook from Zidane.
Popov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zidane misses the shot to the body.
Zidane misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Popov misses the target.
Zidane lunges at Popov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Popov's hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zidane.
A telegraphed right hand from Zidane misses the target.
Popov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good exchange - Zidane coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zidane attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zidane just misses with a punch to the body.
Zidane thows a body shot but no joy.
Popov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zidane throws a big shot that misses.
Zidane gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Popov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Khalil Zidane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zidane moves away.
Popov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Popov slips under a jab from Zidane.
Popov swings for the body but Zidane moves out of range.
Zidane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Popov.
Popov misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidane misses with a straight right.
Zidane throws a lazy right hand but Popov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zidane will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zidane closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zidane throws a sloppy body shot
and Popov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zidane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Popov.
A punch lands to the side of Popov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Popov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Popov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Popov scores with a jab to the head.
Popov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Zidane.
Zidane misses with a hook to the body
and Zidane takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zidane takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zidane misses with a looping left.

Popov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Zidane breaks from the clinch.
Zidane misses with an uppercut. Popov saw that one coming.
Zidane throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zidane fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Popov checks it well.
Zidane misses the jab.
Zidane takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Popov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zidane.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Popov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zidane throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zidane swings away with a body shot that misses
and Popov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zidane counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zidane throws a big shot that misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Zidane. That snapped Popov's head back.
Popov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zidane wants to slow Popov down by chopping away at his legs.
Popov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zidane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popov moves away.
Zidane throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good exchange - Popov coming out on top.
Zidane connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zidane.
Zidane gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zidane shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zidane.
Popov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zidane moves out of range of the strikes.
Zidane lands a slapping body shot.
Zidane moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from Zidane misses.
Popov scores with a hook.
Zidane thuds his shin into the meat of Popov's side.
Zidane throws a jab but it's blocked by Popov.
Popov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zidane.
A slow jab from Zidane misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zidane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Popov.
Popov moves out of range of the strikes.
Zidane bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Popov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zidane throws out the jab.
Zidane lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zidane slips a jab from Popov.
Zidane throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zidane throws a nice outside leg kick.
Popov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zidane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zidane attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov tries to close the distance and clinch but Zidane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zidane dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Popov. That did some damage!
Popov throws the left hand but Zidane avoids the punch easily.
Popov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Popov is breathing heavily.
Popov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zidane motions for Popov to come forward. Zidane throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zidane lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zidane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zidane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zidane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popov.
Zidane lands a body shot.
Zidane lands a nice shot that snaps Popov's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zidane missing with a left hand there. Popov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zidane looks to land a right hand but Popov moved out of range.
Popov throws a hook to the side of Zidane's head but Zidane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zidane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Popov moves out of range of the body kick from Zidane.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zidane.
Zidane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zidane throws the left hand but Popov avoids the punch easily.
Zidane wants to slow Popov down by chopping away at his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Zidane counters with a stiff right hand.
Zidane misses with an uppercut. Popov saw that one coming.
Popov moves in looking to clinch but Zidane pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalil Zidane dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Zidane looks to throw the jab but Popov is out of range.
Zidane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popov.
Zidane throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zidane loads up on a big right hand but Popov slips the punch.
Zidane swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Popov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popov's corner calls for a 1-2. Popov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zidane throws a low kick, looking for Popov's leg but Popov calmly moves out of range.
Zidane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zidane swings for the body but Popov moves out of range.
Zidane tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Popov is able to avoid easily.
Zidane swings for the body but Popov moves out of range.
Zidane avoids the body shot from Popov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Popov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zidane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popov manages to avoid it.
Danga de danga de dang - Zidane scores with a four punch combination!
Popov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Popov is rocked!
Popov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zidane swinging wildly here.
Zidane lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zidane throws a predictable looking body shot
and Popov counters with a nice uppercut.
Zidane slips under a jab from Popov.
Zidane throws a predictable looking body shot
and Popov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zidane digs a good body shot into Popov's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zidane keeps the fight on the outside.
Donk. Popov catches Zidane right on the button with a cross.
Zidane throws a solid leg kick but Popov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zidane.
Popov swings for the body but Zidane moves out of range.
Zidane throws a combination that misses

and Popov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Popov can't find room to land a body shot as Zidane controls the action.
Popov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Popov wants to break free but Zidane has control.

Zidane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Popov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Popov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zidane.
Zidane will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A shot to the body from Zidane misses
and Popov counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidane throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zidane wants to land a leg kick but Popov is out of range.
Popov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Popov misses with a double jab.
Zidane throws a low kick but it's checked well by Popov.
Popov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zidane throws out the jab.
Zidane misses with a body kick.
Zidane throws a jab but it's blocked by Popov.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A shot to the liver by Popov. Beautiful body shot.
Zidane pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zidane keeps Popov at a distance using the push kick.
Khalil Zidane is winning the standup battle so far.
Zidane moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zidane connects with a solid leg kick.
Zidane scores with a jab to the head.
Popov slips under a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zidane.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov slips a jab from Zidane.
Zidane scoring well with a low kick there.
Zidane throws out a loose jab but Popov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some bone on bone action there as Popov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A head kick misses from Popov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalil Zidane showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zidane has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalil Zidane!