PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Peligrino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popov has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music. Tomas Popov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Peligrino
vs
Popov

194 cm
25
273 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Peligrino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomas Popov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov fails to land with a series of punches.
Peligrino tries for a takedown but Popov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Popov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Peligrino's 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Peligrino wants to stand up but Popov is controlling him.

Peligrino pushes Popov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Popov shoots in looking for a takedown. Peligrino tries to sprawl out of it but Popov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Peligrino manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Peligrino enables Popov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Peligrino manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Peligrino could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Peligrino wants to stand but Popov is controlling the position.
Popov is looking to work some ground and pound but Peligrino has wrist control.
Peligrino wants to stand up but Popov is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peligrino trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Popov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tomas Popov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Popov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Peligrino sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Popov somewhat.
Popov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Peligrino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Peligrino defends it nicely.
Alex Peligrino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomas Popov.
Popov slaps away a takedown attempt from Peligrino, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Peligrino shoots in and gets a takedown into Popov's guard.
Peligrino landing with the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Popov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Peligrino.
Peligrino lands a couple of elbows.
Peligrino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Popov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Peligrino throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peligrino chips away with some ground and pound.
Peligrino scoring with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Peligrino throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Peligrino postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Peligrino scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Peligrino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Peligrino dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Peligrino gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Popov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Popov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Peligrino defends it nicely.
Alex Peligrino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Peligrino defends well and Popov ends up having to push Peligrino into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Peligrino has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Peligrino is trying to break free.
Peligrino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Peligrino wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Peligrino displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Popov.
Alex Peligrino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomas Popov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Popov has Peligrino pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Peligrino manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Peligrino is trying to break the clinch but Popov has him pressed against the cage.
Peligrino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Peligrino has been working on his balance at , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Popov.

Popov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Popov trying to control the position but Peligrino is working away.
Peligrino is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov is looking to take a break and control but Peligrino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Peligrino wants to get back to his feet but Popov drags him back down.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Peligrino prevents Popov from moving into mount.
Peligrino is trying to buck Popov off.
Alex Peligrino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peligrino is not content to let Popov control the position.
Popov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Popov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peligrino keeps working.
Peligrino is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Peligrino to see if he's OK.
Peligrino is pushing Popov's head away, looking to escape. Popov manages to hold on to the position though.
Peligrino parries the strikes from Popov easily there. Popov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Peligrino to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Peligrino is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Popov is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tomas Popov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Popov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Peligrino throws a hook but Popov blocks it.
Popov misses with a few strikes there.
Popov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Peligrino.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Peligrino defends it nicely.
Peligrino stuffs the takedown attempt from Popov. Popov gets slowly back to his feet.
Alex Peligrino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomas Popov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Peligrino circles away quickly and effectively.

Peligrino closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Peligrino lands in his opponent's guard.
Peligrino wants to control from the top but Popov keeps moving.
Peligrino has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Popov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Peligrino.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peligrino makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Popov wants to stand but Peligrino is controlling the position.
Peligrino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Popov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Peligrino is controlling him.
Peligrino working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Popov's head.
Popov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Peligrino throws a big right hand that misses.
Peligrino postures up and lands a big shot to Popov's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Peligrino connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peligrino postures up and lands a big shot to Popov's brow.
Peligrino content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Popov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Peligrino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Peligrino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Peligrino working some strikes from top position.
Peligrino is working Popov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Peligrino cracks Popov with a solid left hand.
Peligrino with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Peligrino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Popov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Peligrino lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Popov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Peligrino. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peligrino stands up over Popov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Peligrino in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Popov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Peligrino stands up over Popov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Peligrino is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Peligrino connects with a couple of short punches.
Peligrino working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Peligrino with a nice head shot there.
Peligrino trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Peligrino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Peligrino loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Peligrino showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Peligrino 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Peligrino!