PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Burak Mihalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Russian National Anthem. Tomas Popov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mihalev
vs
Popov

195 cm
24
256 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

178 cm
26
265 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Burak Mihalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomas Popov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Popov!
Popov tries to clinch but Mihalev is having none of it.
Popov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Popov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mihalev but Mihalev pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Mihalev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Popov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mihalev is in Popov's guard.
Mihalev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mihalev wants to control from the top but Popov keeps moving.
Mihalev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Mihalev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mihalev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Our spies down at at Iron Fist Training inform us that Popov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihalev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Mihalev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mihalev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mihalev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Popov is proving hard to escape from.
Mihalev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Popov is controlling Mihalev's posture.
We've been hearing good reports from Mihalev's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev trying to control but Popov is working from the bottom.
Mihalev throws a big elbow that misses.
Mihalev scoring with punches to the head and body.

Mihalev drops back looking for a leg! Popov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Popov manages to kick Mihalev off! Mihalev jumps back into Popov's guard.
Mihalev sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov wants to stand but Mihalev is controlling the position.
Mihalev throwing strikes from guard but Popov blocks nicely.
Mihalev 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 keeping moving, preventing Mihalev from controlling successfully.
Mihalev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov keeping moving, preventing Mihalev from controlling successfully.
Mihalev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

We're going to have a standup here because Burak Mihalev wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mihalev blocks a head kick by Popov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mihalev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popov avoids it really well and circles away.

Popov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mihalev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mihalev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Popov swinging wildly here.

Popov drives through and clinches with Mihalev against the cage.

Mihalev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popov throws a right and a left that both miss.

Mihalev drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihalev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popov wants to control from the top but Mihalev keeps moving.
Mihalev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Popov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mihalev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mihalev striking off his back but it's not causing Popov any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev controls Popov momentarily but Popov frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Burak Mihalev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Popov just misses with a punch to the body.
Popov misses with a few strikes there.
Popov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Popov throws a head kick that misses.
Popov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mihalev tries to avoid it but Popov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mihalev to the ground. Mihalev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Popov. Those never looked like landing.
Nice sprawl there from Popov as Mihalev shoots in.
Mihalev dodges the punch combination from Popov.

Mihalev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Popov to the ground. Mihalev is now in Popov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev throws a big elbow that misses.
Burak Mihalev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mihalev 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.
Mihalev distracts Popov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mihalev trying to control but Popov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mihalev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mihalev postures up in Popov's guard and throws a big left but Popov blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mihalev wants to control from the top but Popov keeps moving.
Mihalev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mihalev trying to control but Popov is working from the bottom.
Mihalev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mihalev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popov.
Popov tries to bum rush Mihalev with a series of wild strikes but Mihalev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mihalev shoots in for a takedown but Popov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Popov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Popov throws a head kick that misses.
Popov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Popov misses with a series of wild punches.
Popov fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Popov. No joy for Mihalev on that attempt.
Popov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mihalev.
Mihalev lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Tomas Popov has been cut.
Mihalev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burak Mihalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov throws a combination that misses

and Mihalev counters with a shoot takedown. Popov fights it but they end up in guard.
Popov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popov keeping moving, preventing Mihalev from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mihalev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mihalev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mihalev throws a big elbow that misses.
Mihalev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mihalev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mihalev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mihalev trying to control the position from guard on top but Popov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burak Mihalev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mihalev content to stall in guard here.
Tomas Popov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Burak Mihalev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Popov throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A nice combination there by Popov.
Tomas Popov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popov looks to score with a jab to the body but Mihalev is just out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mihalev.
Mihalev advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mihalev controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burak Mihalev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mihalev, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burak Mihalev!
A relieved looking Burak Mihalev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
39%

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