PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julius Adonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adonis's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Welcome to the Jungle . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Adonis
vs
Popov

203 cm
20
260 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Julius Adonis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Popov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Adonis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Popov is looking to reverse the position.

Adonis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Popov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Popov taking punishment in the form of punches.

It looks like Igor Popov has been cut.

Adonis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Popov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Popov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Adonis passes into side control.
Popov tries to improve position but can't.
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.
Popov can't do much from the bottom here.
Popov is not content to let Adonis control the position.

Adonis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Popov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Popov is trying to improve his position.
Popov looks gassed!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Adonis gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov trying to hold on to Adonis's head to control him but Adonis postures up.
Popov wants to improve his position but Adonis is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Popov wants to improve his position but Adonis is controlling well.
Popov is not content to let Adonis control the position.
Ground and pound from Adonis.
Popov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Popov trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Adonis seems to be working for a kimura but Popov defends the submission attempt.
Popov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Popov wants to sweep but no luck.
Adonis stands and throws Popov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Popov is looking to regain half guard here but Adonis keeps moving and retains side control.
Popov tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Adonis presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Adonis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Popov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Popov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Popov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Adonis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Adonis's back!
Will Popov go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Popov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Adonis is trying to break free.

Popov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Adonis defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Popov looking for the choke from the back.

Popov looking for the RNC.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Adonis tries to escape but Popov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Julius Adonis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Igor Popov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Popov with a poor takedown

and Adonis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Popov has an active guard here but Adonis has managed to pass into half guard.
Adonis passes to full mount!
Popov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Popov gets back to half guard.

Adonis decides to return to a standing position.
Popov tries for a takedown but Adonis circles away easily

and Adonis counters with a shoot takedown. Popov fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adonis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Popov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Popov working for a triangle but Adonis defends it easily.

Popov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Adonis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Popov trying to keep a closed guard but Adonis is proving a slippery customer.

Popov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Popov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adonis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Julius Adonis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Adonis scoring with some ground and pound.
Popov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Adonis controls the pace.
Adonis thows a big elbow that misses.
Popov has momentary wrist control but Adonis slips an elbow through the middle.
Adonis lands a couple of elbows.
Adonis works over Popov with some ground and pound from guard.
Adonis lands a couple of digs.
Adonis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adonis passes Popov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Popov is trying to get back to full guard.
Popov wants to get back to full guard but Adonis has passed into side control.
Adonis unloading with bombs!
Adonis cracks Popov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Adonis landing strikes, looking to finish!

Adonis is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Popov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Adonis landing shots from mount.
Adonis lands a big elbow.
Adonis trying to control but Popov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Adonis stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Adonis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Adonis is looking to clinch but Popov is avoiding it.
Adonis is looking to clinch but Popov is avoiding it.
Popov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Adonis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Popov's guard now.
Julius Adonis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Popov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Adonis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Popov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Adonis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Igor Popov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Adonis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Adonis takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Popov looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Popov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Popov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Adonis, who protects the arm well.
Adonis struggling a bit here.
Popov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Adonis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adonis gets full guard.
Adonis wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Popov won't allow Adonis to sweep him here.
Adonis is working hard here to advance position.

Adonis working for a triangle but Popov defends it easily.
Popov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Adonis is proving hard to escape from.
Adonis scores with a short punch from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Popov stands up from Adonis's guard - Popov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Igor Popov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popov misses with a takedown attempt - Adonis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Adonis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Popov counters with a shoot takedown. Adonis fights it but they end up in guard.
Popov preventing the sweep.
Popov wants to control from the top but Adonis keeps moving.
Adonis is trying to control the position but Popov postures up.
Adonis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Popov manages to get himself to full guard.
Adonis wants to control from the top but Popov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov wants to improve his position but instead Adonis has moved into half guard.
Adonis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Adonis passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Popov!
Adonis manages to capitalize on a mistake by Popov to take his back!
Adonis lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Adonis.
Adonis lands a shot to the head.

Popov is rocked!
Adonis lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Popov is still on wobbly legs! Can Adonis finish him?

Adonis is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Popov defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Adonis is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Popov knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Popov for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popov is trying to break free.
Popov seems to have recovered his senses.
Popov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Adonis's guard. Nice work there by Popov.
Popov advances to half guard.
Adonis is trying to get back to full guard.
Igor Popov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popov misses with a head shot. Adonis uses the momentum to regain guard.
Adonis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Julius Adonis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Adonis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Adonis!