PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rhys McKee (ranked 4193 p4p, 4368 weight class) and Soda Popinski (ranked 407 p4p, 417 weight class). Soda Popinski told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

McKee
vs
Popinski

182 cm
18
209
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
208
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rhys McKee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Soda Popinski!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popinski misses with a looping left.
Nice defenses there by Popinski.
A little jabbing left from Popinski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McKee displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Popinski throws out the jab.
A little feinted left hand from McKee on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McKee throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Popinski avoids a punch combination nicely.
McKee ducks right into an uppercut from Popinski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKee with a hook.
McKee misses with a right hand
and Popinski counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McKee seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Popinski scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Rhys McKee has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKee throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Popinski looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Popinski looks to land a right hand but McKee moved out of range.
McKee misses with a few strikes there.
McKee swings for the body but Popinski moves out of range.
McKee cracks Popinski with a right hand to the side of the head.
McKee throws a looping overhand right but Popinski ducks down to avoid it.
McKee cracks Popinski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Popinski cracks McKee with an open hand slap.
Popinski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A shot to the body from Popinski misses
and McKee counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popinski throws a body punch but McKee moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popinski takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Popinski throws an off balance right hand
and McKee connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McKee lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Popinski circles away quickly and effectively.
McKee pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from McKee misses.
McKee moves away from the strike by Popinski.
McKee scores with a jab.
McKee connects with a single shot there.
Popinski uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Popinski closes the distance and pushes McKee back into the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popinski lands a hook that snaps the head of McKee backwards.
Popinski throws a punch but it's blocked by McKee.
Popinski tries to work over McKee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popinski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Popinski swings wildly with an uppercut but McKee uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popinski lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Popinski misses with a body punch.
Popinski lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McKee backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Popinski.
Popinski tries to work over McKee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popinski lands with a left to the head.
Popinski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Popinski is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Popinski throws a head punch that misses.
Popinski is leaning against McKee and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Popinski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot in the inside from Popinski.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Popinski working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McKee blocking some punches.
Popinski throws a punch but it's blocked by McKee.
Popinski digs a right hand underneath McKee's ribcage. McKee let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right handed body shot lands from Popinski.
Popinski lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Rhys McKee's cut is getting worse.
McKee is trying to break the clinch but Popinski has him pressed against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Popinski - that landed with a thud.
McKee looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Popinski lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Popinski lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McKee backwards.
Popinski lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Popinski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A body shot lands from Popinski.
Popinski looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Popinski connects with a big uppercut there that sends McKee tumbling to the ground! Popinski follows him down into his guard.

McKee is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McKee is looking to sweep but instead, Popinski has passed into half guard.
Oh McKee is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
McKee keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McKee seems to have got his legs back now.
McKee is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Popinski jumps into side control!
McKee gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Popinski throws some wild stikes that McKee manages to avoid easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Popinski punching from mount but McKee doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Popinski looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Rhys McKee's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Popinski looking to finish with strikes here!
Popinski misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Popinski postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked McKee badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Popinski around the waist but Popinski pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Popinski is the winner by TKO! Popinski jumps onto the ropes and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Soda Popinski!
A very excited looking Soda Popinski made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.