PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buddy Lyles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Popkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popkov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Somethin' Bad. The key to victory for Buddy Lyles has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lyles
vs
Popkov

201 cm
26
296 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

199 cm
20
264 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Worldwide Nutrition (160q)
GREEN!160

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Buddy Lyles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mikhail Popkov!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popkov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
As Popkov looks to move away, Lyles throws a big counter combo bu Popkov just gets out of the way.
No joy there for Lyles, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Popkov slips under a jab from Lyles.
Popkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Popkov scores with a head kick. Lyles tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lyles has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Popkov finds it's way round the side to connect with Lyles's head.
Popkov scores with a head kick.
Lyles blocks a jab.
Lyles half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Popkov misses with a hook

and Lyles counters with a single leg into guard. Popkov didn't expect that.
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!
Lyles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lyles accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lyles postures up in Popkov's guard and throws a big left but Popkov blocks it.
Lyles throws an elbow that misses. Popkov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lyles's guard. Nice move by Popkov!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lyles not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lyles keeping full guard, as Popkov tries to pass.
Popkov content to stall in guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lyles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popkov misses with an uppercut
and Lyles counters with a series of strikes. Popkov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice shot by Popkov.
Popkov throws a shot from downtown. Lyles moves away and avoids it.
Lyles shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Popkov pinned against the cage. Popkov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Popkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Jab from Lyles.

It looks like Mikhail Popkov has been cut.
Popkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Popkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mikhail Popkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popkov is looking to land body kicks.
Popkov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Popkov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popkov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Popkov throws out a loose jab but Lyles uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lyles takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Popkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lyles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Popkov.
Popkov scores with the left hand. Lyles knows he should have avoided that one.
An inside leg kick lands from Popkov.
Lyles looks to land a combination but Popkov avoids it well.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Popkov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Popkov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Popkov misses with a body kick.

Popkov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lyles looking to pass the guard.
Lyles with a nice head shot there.
Lyles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Popkov is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lyles is pulling down on Popkov's head. It's preventing any offense from Popkov, at least for the moment.
Popkov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lyles pulls Popkov in close to prevent any damage.
Popkov preventing the sweep.
Lyles is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Popkov looks to land a left hand but Lyles moved out of range nicely.
Lyles feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyles closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lyles moves away from the strike by Popkov.
Popkov throws a leg kick which misses Lyles's front leg but catches the back leg as Lyles tries to avoid it.
Popkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lyles.
Popkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Popkov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Popkov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popkov connects with a solid leg kick.
Popkov is looking to land body kicks.
Popkov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lyles manages to avoid it.
Lyles smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Popkov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lyles checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Popkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Popkov misses with a body kick.
Lyles looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Popkov 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.
Lyles moves out of range as Popkov throws a body kick.
Popkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popkov throws a body kick that misses.
Popkov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Buddy Lyles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good work by Lyles as he checks the leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lyles tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Popkov swivels and escapes.
Popkov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Lyles checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
An attempted straight right counter from Lyles misses the target.
Popkov tries to score with a low kick but Lyles moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Popkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Popkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Popkov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Popkov scores with a jab to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Popkov.
Popkov looks to land a body kick but Lyles moved away.
Popkov throws a lazy head kick
and Lyles counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Popkov as Lyles shoots in.
Popkov throws a wild body kick that Lyles sees coming a mile off.
Lyles displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Popkov throws out the jab.
Popkov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lyles at a distance.
Popkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popkov works Lyles's body with a nice hook.
Popkov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Popkov loads up on a big right hand but Lyles slips the punch.
Popkov throws a jab when Lyles was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lyles cracks Popkov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lyles throws a right and a left that Popkov avoids nicely.
Popkov thows a leg kick but Lyles checks it
and Lyles counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Popkov looks to land a body kick but Lyles moved away.
Popkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Popkov cracks a nice hook into Lyles's ribs.
Popkov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Popkov connects with a body shot that sends Lyles's belly button to the back.
Danga de danga de dang - Popkov scores with a four punch combination!
Lyles fails with the takedown.
Popkov tries a quick counter leg kick but Lyles is wise to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popkov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Popkov there as he acknowledges the shot.

That has opened up Mikhail Popkov's cut even more.
Popkov lands a slapping body shot.
Popkov throws a body punch but Lyles moves out of range.
Popkov throws a sloppy head kick and Lyles moves out of range easily.
Lyles feinted with a counter takedown.
Lyles rushes Popkov with punches - Popkov moves straight backwards instead of circling and gets clipped by the second strike... and the third... and the fourth! Oh, Popkov goes down! Lyles follows up with more strikes and the ref steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Buddy Lyles!
A victorious Buddy Lyles thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.