PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Humberto Bowers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stepan Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Bowers
vs
Popov

161 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

195 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Humberto Bowers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stepan Popov!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov misses with a takedown

and Bowers counters with a shoot takedown. Popov fights it but they end up in guard.
Popov is looking to sweep but instead, Bowers has passed into half guard.
Popov is trying to control but Bowers passes into side control!
Bowers lands a few punches from side control.
Popov gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popov trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Popov controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov tries to hold on but Bowers postures up.
Popov is desperately trying to improve his position but Bowers has a good base and remains in mount.

Bowers goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Popov is on top in guard.
Bowers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popov wants to pass the guard but Bowers is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bowers looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bowers looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bowers!

Popov tries to improve position but can't.
Popov sneaks back into half guard.

Bowers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowers lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Popov moves into full guard.
Popov is looking to stand up but Bowers isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Popov pulls Bowers in close to his closed guard and prevents Bowers from doing any damage or advancing position.
Popov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Popov wants to hit a switch here but Bowers passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Popov there!
Popov working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Bowers dominated that round.
That's time! Bowers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Popov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bowers on his heels. He'll look to pass Bowers's guard now, I'm sure.
Popov throws a strike but Bowers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Popov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Bowers stacks Popov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Bowers!
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.
Popov sneaks back into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popov is looking to improve his position.
Bowers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bowers really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov wants to improve his position but Bowers is controlling well.
Popov trying to hold on to Bowers's head to control him but Bowers postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popov is controlling Bowers's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Popov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Stepan Popov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bowers clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bowers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bowers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Popov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bowers shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Humberto Bowers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bowers avoids it really well and circles away.
Popov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bowers circles away.
Bowers wants to clinch up but Popov keeps it at a distance.

Popov shoots in and bounces Bowers off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Popov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bowers is keeping the position for now.

Bowers uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bowers checks a leg kick.
Bowers closes the distance and clinches up with Popov, looking for a takedown. Bowers pushes Popov against the cage but Popov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bowers avoids the head kick by Popov.
Bowers tries to counter by clinching up but Popov breaks away and moves out of range.

Popov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bowers's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bowers wants to get back to his feet.
Bowers tries to get to full guard but Popov has control of the leg.
Bowers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bowers is refusing to be controlled, as Popov sits in half guard.
Bowers is trying to stand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stepan Popov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bowers shoots for a takedown but Popov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Popov dives in and grabs Bowers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bowers pushes down on Popov's head and hops out.

Popov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Popov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bowers down.
Popov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bowers!
Popov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Popov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bowers's face.
Popov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bowers taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowers is squirming around, avoiding Popov's attempts to control the action.
Popov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Popov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
You get the feeling that Bowers really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Popov jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bowers is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bowers and Popov has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Bowers gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowers taking some punishment here, with Popov in his half guard.
Bowers pushes Popov off looking to stand but Popov dives back in and keeps control.
Popov is stalling here. Bowers is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Popov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bowers has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Popov can't do much from the bottom here.
Popov is looking to reverse the position.

Bowers decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popov clinches up against the cage.
Popov jumps guard but Bowers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Popov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bowers clinches with his opponent.
Bowers is trying to break the clinch but Popov has him pressed against the cage.
Popov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bowers avoids it.
Popov is trying to pull guard but Bowers has him pressed against the cage.
Humberto Bowers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stepan Popov.
Popov is trying to force a seperation but Bowers has the dominant position.
Bowers lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowers lands a left hand that snaps the head of Popov backwards.
Bowers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Popov is looking for a takedown.
Bowers working aggressively here.
Popov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bowers's efforts to push away.
Bowers lands a hook to the side of the head.
Popov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bowers has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bowers creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Popov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stepan Popov.
I think Popov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Stepan Popov!