PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branko Popovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popovic has chosen Funeral March by Frederic Chopin as his entrance music. Branko Popovic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Evans
vs
Popovic

190 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

193 cm
23
220 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Divine - Drugs (158 products)
Templar Nutrition (St. Pete's Best)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chuck Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Branko Popovic!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Evans manages to avoid it.
Popovic scores with a nice head shot.
Popovic misses with a double jab.
Nice defenses there by Popovic.
Evans throws a jab but it's blocked by Popovic.
Evans dodges the punch combination from Popovic.
A swing and a miss from Popovic.
Evans slips a straight right by Popovic.
Popovic misses with a body shot.
Evans slips under a jab from Popovic.
A combination from Popovic does no damage.

Popovic throws a left that rocks Evans and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Popovic dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Evans regain composure!

It looks like Chuck Evans has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popovic misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Popovic working the ground and pound but Evans is defending the strikes.
Evans knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Popovic on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Evans takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Evans is trying to buck Popovic off.
Popovic postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Evans takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Evans wants to get back to his feet.
Popovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Popovic decides to stand up, so the ref orders Evans to his feet.
Popovic lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovic slips under a jab.
Popovic tries to bum rush Evans with a series of wild strikes but Evans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Evans avoids the head kick by Popovic.
Popovic misses the shot to the body.
A combination from Popovic does no damage.
Evans avoids the body shot from Popovic.
Popovic throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Popovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Evans sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Popovic.
Popovic wants to clinch.
Popovic lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Popovic finds it's way round the side to connect with Evans's head.
Popovic wants to clinch.
Popovic misses with a few strikes there.
Popovic misses with a double jab.
Popovic misses with a series of wild punches.
Evans uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Popovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a straight right.
Evans is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Evans avoids the body shot from Popovic.
Popovic misses with a head kick.
Popovic throws a looping overhand right but Evans ducks down to avoid it.
Popovic misses with a two punch combination.
Popovic misses with a few strikes there.
No joy there for Popovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Popovic looks gassed!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Popovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chuck Evans's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Popovic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Evans.
Popovic misses with a straight left.
The fighters circle momentarily. Popovic darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Popovic misses with a straight left.
Evans has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Evans tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Popovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Evans.
Evans avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popovic is looking to chop away at Evans's legs.
Popovic blocks a jab.
Nice shot by Popovic.
Evans lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Evans moves forwards but Popovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Popovic.
A looping hook to the body misses from Popovic. Evans does a little dance to reset his feet.
Popovic throws a one two combo.
Popovic is breathing heavily.
Popovic scores with a crisp jab that stopped Evans in his tracks.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Popovic.
Popovic throws a hook to the side of Evans's head but Evans sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Popovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Evans throws out the jab.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Popovic.
Popovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Evans.
Branko Popovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popovic throws a hook but Evans avoids it easily.
Evans swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Popovic.
Branko Popovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans moves out of range of the strikes.
Evans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popovic throws a right and a left that Evans avoids nicely.
Popovic is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.
Popovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Popovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Evans connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Popovic momentarily.
Evans uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Popovic has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovic throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Popovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Popovic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Evans waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Popovic.
Popovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Evans takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Popovic thows a body shot but no joy.
Evans ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A lazy left from Popovic finds it's target.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovic throws a lazy right hand but Evans sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Popovic throws out a loose jab but Evans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popovic misses with a straight left.
Popovic tries to bum rush Evans with a series of wild strikes but Evans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popovic.
Popovic throws a hook but Evans blocks it.
Popovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Evans sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Evans keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Popovic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Popovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Evans.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Popovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chuck Evans's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Popovic throws a nice looking combination but Evans bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popovic misses with a two punch combination.
Popovic scores with a nice right hand.
Popovic tries to bum rush Evans with a series of wild strikes but Evans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popovic.
Evans avoids the body shot from Popovic.
Popovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Evans moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popovic throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Popovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popovic slips under a jab.
Evans is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Popovic misses with a body shot
and Evans counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Evans misses with an uppercut. Popovic saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Popovic moves out of range as Evans strikes.
Popovic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Popovic throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Evans to counter with a crisp jab.
Evans throws an overhand right that lands on Popovic's shoulder, as Popovic tries to avoid the shot.
Popovic misses with a double jab
and Evans counters with a stiff right hand.
Popovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Evans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popovic blocks a jab.
Popovic listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Popovic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Evans cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popovic throws a combination that misses
and Evans makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Branko Popovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Evans throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Popovic misses.
Popovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Popovic misses with a looping right.
Popovic takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Evans misses with a jab, cross combination.
Popovic misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Evans misses its intended target.
Popovic slips under a jab.
Evans on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Evans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Evans lands a really nice looking cross but Popovic seems unphased.
Evans lands a nice shot that snaps Popovic's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Popovic 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Popovic throws a left and a right that both miss
and Evans counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Evans throws a hook but Popovic blocks it.
Popovic on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A head kick by Popovic misses
and Evans counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Evans missing with a left hand there. Popovic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Popovic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Evans counters with a straight right hand.
Evans throws a big shot that misses.
Evans lands with an uppercut that bounces Popovic off the cage and back into rage.
Popovic throws a shot from downtown. Evans moves away and avoids it.
Popovic falls off balance throwing a combination
and Evans cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans misses with an uppercut.
Popovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Evans moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Popovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Evans takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Popovic misses with a double jab.
Chuck Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evans scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popovic misses the body punch
and Evans counters with a straight right hand.
Branko Popovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Popovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Popovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branko Popovic!