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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finko Naikkorine (ranked 6858 p4p, 467 weight class) and Petar Popajic (ranked 6663 p4p, 465 weight class). Naikkorine comes to the cage accompanied by Mexico - The Dead Daisies. Popajic comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Slavija kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 175 cm
24
148 lbs
7 - 8 - 0 |
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175 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin |
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BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin |
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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
7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finko Naikkorine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Petar Popajic!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Naikkorine 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Naikkorine fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've been hearing reports that Naikkorine has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Naikkorine darts in looking for a takedown but Popajic gets double underhooks and turns Naikkorine into the cage.
Popajic lands with a nice body punch.
Naikkorine changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popajic tries to avoid it but Naikkorine manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popajic to the ground. Popajic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finko Naikkorine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naikkorine misses with a takedown attempt - Popajic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Popajic catches Naikkorine with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naikkorine dodges the punch combination from Popajic.
A little feinted left hand from Naikkorine on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Naikkorine takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Naikkorine looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Popajic lands a jab to Naikkorine's midsection.
Popajic scores with a body shot.
Naikkorine on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Popajic digs a good body shot into Naikkorine's ribs.
Popajic scores with a jab to the jaw.
Naikkorine tries for a takedown but Popajic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popajic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Naikkorine backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popajic jabs Naikkorine to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Popajic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Popajic wants it to stay on the feet.
Popajic lands a jab to the nose.
Naikkorine closes the distance and clinches up with Popajic, looking for a takedown. Naikkorine pushes Popajic against the cage but Popajic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Popajic is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Naikkorine with a body shot.
Popajic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Popajic jabs at Naikkorine's body.
Naikkorine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popajic avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Petar Popajic dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
A jab lands there for Popajic.
Popajic connects with a body shot that sends Naikkorine's belly button to the back.
Naikkorine doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Popajic lands a body shot.
Popajic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popajic lands a right hook to the body.
Naikkorine looking to score a takedown here. Popajic is defending well but Naikkorine drives through and ends up in Popajic's guard.
Naikkorine not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Naikkorine'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.
Popajic seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've been informed that Popajic has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Popajic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Naikkorine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Naikkorine has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Popajic is proving hard to escape from.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Naikkorine tries for a takedown but Popajic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Popajic releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Popajic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Naikkorine drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Popajic is trying to improve his position.
Naikkorine tries for a kimura but Popajic is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Petar Popajic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Naikkorine misses with a takedown attempt
and Popajic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popajic throws a shot to the body.
Naikkorine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Popajic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Popajic.
Popajic leaves Naikkorine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finko Naikkorine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naikkorine misses with a takedown attempt - Popajic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Naikkorine takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Popajic is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Naikkorine rather than just go for the knockout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Naikkorine takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Naikkorine changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popajic tries to avoid it but Naikkorine manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popajic to the ground. Popajic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Naikkorine tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Popajic defends well and Naikkorine ends up having to push Popajic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Naikkorine with a poor takedown
and Popajic counters with a stiff right hand.
Popajic scores with a decent looking hook.
Popajic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice straight punches there by Popajic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Popajic.
Popajic connects with a body shot.
Petar Popajic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Naikkorine moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naikkorine doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Popajic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Naikkorine takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Petar Popajic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Naikkorine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Popajic.
Popajic stalks Naikkorine and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Naikkorine's face. Naikkorine staggers backwards, shaken.
Finko Naikkorine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Naikkorine fails with the takedown
and Popajic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Popajic thuds a left hand into Naikkorine's body.
Popajic lands a nice shot to the body.
And that's the end of the fight!
Petar Popajic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Popajic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 25:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petar Popajic!
A relieved looking Petar Popajic thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
51% |
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