PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ray Olob (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Popko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popko comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Heartz kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ray Olob looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Olob
vs
Popko

168 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Olob!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Popko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Olob darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Popko trying to control here.
Popko wants to get back to full guard.
Olob takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Olob wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Popko rushes Olob and presses him up against the cage.

Olob pulls guard effortlessly.
Popko is looking to stand up but Olob won't let him.
Olob is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Olob is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Popko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Olob is keeping the position for now.
Olob managing to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Popko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Popko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Olob is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Popko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Olob decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Popko's guard.
Popko is trying to hold Olob in close to prevent damage but Olob has managed to pass into half guard.
Olob seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Popko keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Olob controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popko gets full guard.
Olob is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ray Olob just wasn't active enough.

Popko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Olob, pushing him back against the cage.
Popko fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Olob has clasped his hands together around Popko's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Olob is breathing heavily.
Olob controls the position.
Popko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Popko trying to control from the bottom.
Olob content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olob seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Popko for as long as he can get away with.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Ray Olob wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Popko throws the left hand but Olob avoids the punch easily.
Popko throws a looping overhand right but Olob ducks down to avoid it.

Olob has Popko up against the cage in a clinch.
Popko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Olob gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ray Olob has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Popko.

Olob escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Olob drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Olob got a little sloppy there for a moment and Popko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Olob has managed to get both his arms back between Popko's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Olob dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A punch combination from Popko misses.

Popko moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Olob works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Olob stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Popko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Popko is trying to control the position but Olob postures up.

Popko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Olob looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popko working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olob seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ray Olob overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Olob shoots in and gets a takedown into Popko's guard.

Popko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Olob passes into half guard.
Olob content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Olob wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Popko shoots and misses

and Olob counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Popko looking to control.
Olob content to stall in guard here.
Popko trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olob's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Ray Olob wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Popko swinging wildly here.

Olob drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Olob taking a breather here.
Popko struggling a bit here.
Popko is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olob throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Olob happy to just control the position for now.
Popko tries to bench press Olob off him but Olob keeps the position.
Olob slows the pace down.
Popko is trying to control Olob's posture but Olob avoids it.
Popko is trying to escape the position but Olob is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Olob dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Popko misses with a takedown

and Olob counters with a single leg into guard. Popko didn't expect that.
Popko being controlled here, momentarily.
Popko looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Ray Olob wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Popko has his takedown stuffed

and Olob counters with a nice double leg into side control. Popko won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olob slows the pace down.
Olob's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Olob trying to control the action but Popko is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Olob wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Popko clinches.
Olob taking a breather.
Popko is trying to break the clinch but Olob is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popko swings wildly with an uppercut but Olob uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Olob has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Popko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Popko trying to control but not successfully.
Olob struggling to keep hold of the position.
Popko trying to control the hands but Olob won't let him.

Olob is persistently looking for the submission but Popko is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popko is trying to break free.
Olob trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Popko doesn't escape.
Popko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Olob is not going to allow Popko to sit and survive in this position.
Olob controlling the position well here. Popko rolled but Olob kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Olob doesn't have the hooks in and Popko manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Popko forces his way into half guard.
Olob is looking for a sweep. Popko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ivan Popko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Popko wants to control but Olob is keeping him busy.
Olob trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popko tries to stand and escape but Olob is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Olob showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Olob, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Olob!