PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaggy Submitter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branko Popovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaggy Submitter had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Submitter
vs
Popovic

200 cm
18
248 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

193 cm
20
207 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shaggy Submitter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Branko Popovic!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Submitter fails with a takedown attempt.
Popovic wants to clinch.
Branko Popovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Submitter shoots in but Popovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Popovic throws a right hand that Submitter ducks under and follows up with a left that Submitter also avoids with ease.
Popovic shoots in for a takedown but Submitter shows good takedown defense.
Popovic moves in looking to clinch but Submitter pushes him off.
Popovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Submitter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popovic lands a head shot.

Popovic tries to keep at a distance but Submitter has taken the fight into the clinch.
Popovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Submitter pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Popovic cracks Submitter with a nice body shot.
Submitter takes a shot to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Popovic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Submitter pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Shaggy Submitter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branko Popovic.
Submitter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Popovic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A hook to the body from Popovic.
Submitter is breathing heavily.
Popovic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Popovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Popovic stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Submitter avoids the damage to the body.
Popovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Submitter backwards.

Submitter jumps into guard, dragging Popovic to the mat.
Popovic wants to control from the top but Submitter keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Submitter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Popovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Submitter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Popovic wants to stand but Submitter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Popovic stands and steps away. Submitter gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Popovic clinches up with Submitter and pushes him back against the cage.
Submitter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Popovic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Popovic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Submitter counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Submitter.
Popovic digs a right hand underneath Submitter's ribcage. Submitter let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short left from Popovic.
Popovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Submitter has Popovic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Popovic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popovic.
Popovic tries to work over Submitter's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Submitter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Submitter breaks the clinch.
Popovic takes a swing at Submitter's ribcage but misses.
Popovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Submitter shoots for a double leg takedown but Popovic sprawls well. He's pushed Submitter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Submitter has a takedown stuffed.
Submitter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Popovic as he jumps to the side.
Submitter pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Popovic tries to clinch there but Submitter circles away.
Submitter tries to clinch up but Popovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Submitter keeps the fight on the outside.
Popovic lands a jab to Submitter's midsection.
No luck for Submitter with that takedown attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Submitter 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Popovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popovic closes the distance but Submitter moves to the side

and Submitter holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Popovic missing with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Submitter.
Popovic wants a takedown but no success here.
Submitter content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Submitter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Submitter closes the distance and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Popovic.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Popovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.

Submitter pulls guard successfully.
Submitter wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Submitter trying to strike off his back.

Submitter pushes Popovic off and gets back to his feet.
Popovic keeps the fight on the outside.
Popovic tries to clinch up
enabling Submitter to counter with a crisp jab.
A combination from Submitter does no damage.
Popovic blocks a head kick by Submitter.
Popovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Submitter.
Submitter has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Shaggy Submitter has been cut.
Popovic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Popovic gets the takedown into side control.
Popovic trying to control the position but Submitter is working away.
Submitter prevents Popovic from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Submitter explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popovic catches Submitter with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Popovic has managed to clinch.
Submitter keeps control of Popovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Popovic can't break the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Popovic.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Submitter tries for a takedown. No joy.

Submitter drags the fight down to the ground.
Submitter is trying to keep Popovic in close.

Popovic stands up from Submitter's guard - Popovic perhaps looking for a knockout.
Submitter tries to close the distance and clinch but Popovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Popovic.
Popovic tries to clinch up but Submitter circles away and keeps his distance.
Popovic misses with a takedown attempt

and Submitter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Popovic tries to get to full guard but Submitter has control of the leg.
Submitter is thwarting Popovic's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Branko Popovic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shaggy Submitter's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Popovic lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Popovic.

Submitter closes the distance and clinches.
Submitter wants a takedown.
Popovic blocks a body shot from Submitter.
Popovic lands a shot to the body.
Submitter lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Popovic lands a nice knee to the body.
Popovic cracks Submitter with a nice body shot.
Popovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Submitter has him pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Popovic.
Submitter drops down looking for an ankle pick but Popovic pulls his leg out and moves away.
Popovic wants to clinch
and Submitter counters with a nice kick to the body.
Submitter shoots for a double leg takedown but Popovic sprawls well. He's pushed Submitter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaggy Submitter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popovic lands a right hook to the body.
Submitter misses with a takedown attempt - Popovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Popovic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Submitter counters by moving into the clinch.
Popovic wants to break free but Submitter has control.
Popovic is breathing heavily.

Submitter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Submitter closes the distance and clinches.

Submitter jumps guard.
Popovic trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Submitter manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Popovic can't keep his opponent in guard - Submitter advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic tries to get to full guard but Submitter has control of the leg.
Submitter perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Popovic is positioning himself well to prevent Submitter advancing to mount.

Submitter decides to stand and escape the position.
Popovic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Submitter backs up against the cage.
Popovic tries to clinch up

and Submitter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Popovic is staying active underneath Submitter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Popovic is trying to maintain the position but Submitter is very close to passing his half guard.
Popovic wants to get back to his feet.
Popovic works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Submitter trying to control but Popovic is working from the bottom.
Popovic is trying to control the position but Submitter postures up.
Popovic has his hands on Submitter's head, controlling the position.
Popovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Popovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Popovic wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Submitter is now in half guard.
Popovic is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Submitter looks for a takedown but Popovic sprawls well.
Submitter takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovic tries to clinch

and Submitter counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Submitter.
Submitter prevents Popovic from breaking the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Popovic.
Popovic misses with a knee to the head.
Submitter tries to stall but Popovic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Popovic crunches a lovely knee into Submitter's ribcage.
Popovic lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Popovic looking for a takedown.

Submitter tightens his grip and picks Popovic up, before dumping him to the ground. Popovic manages to land in guard.
Submitter 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.
Submitter trying to control the position from guard on top but Popovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popovic is looking to stand back up but Submitter counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Popovic.
Popovic wants to get back to his feet but Submitter drags him back down.
Popovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Shaggy Submitter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Popovic is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jab, jab by Popovic - just one landing.
Popovic lands a with a good body shot.
Submitter circles away from the clinch attempt

and Submitter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popovic wants to control but Submitter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Submitter is taking a breather. Popovic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Submitter prevents Popovic from improving his position.
Submitter works his way into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popovic wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popovic is trying to improve his position.
Popovic tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Submitter presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaggy Submitter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shaggy Submitter's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Submitter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Submitter scores with a hook to the body.
Popovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Submitter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Popovic tries a body shot but Submitter blocks it.
Popovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Popovic misses with an elbow over the top.

Submitter manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Submitter is working an open guard so Popovic takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Submitter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Popovic's waist but Popovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Submitter off to one side.
Popovic throws a combination. Submitter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Submitter shoots for a double leg takedown but Popovic sprawls well. He's pushed Submitter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaggy Submitter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Submitter circles away from the clinch attempt
and Submitter counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Popovic is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Submitter tries to move into range but Popovic moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Submitter circles away from the clinch attempt

and Submitter counters by moving into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popovic lands an elbow inside that Submitter shrugs off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popovic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Popovic makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Popovic prevents the takedown attempt.
Popovic lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Submitter or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Submitter backwards.
Popovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Submitter.

Submitter jumps guard and drags Popovic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Submitter pulls Popovic in close to prevent any damage.
Popovic wants to control from the top but Submitter keeps moving.
Popovic is looking to stand up but Submitter won't let him.
Submitter keeping moving, preventing Popovic from controlling successfully.
Popovic looking to pass the guard.
Popovic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Submitter's guard.
Popovic is looking to advance position but Submitter has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Popovic is squirming around, avoiding Submitter's attempts to control the action.
Popovic tries to lock up and control but Submitter gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Submitter tries to control but Popovic wriggling away.
Submitter avoids the attempt from Popovic to control.
Popovic tries to control Submitter's body but Submitter pushes him off. Popovic squirms to his side and now Submitter has his back!
Submitter softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Submitter is looking for the choke from the back position but Popovic is controlling his hands well.
Popovic controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Submitter is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Popovic has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Popovic trying to control the hands but Submitter won't let him.
Submitter has the hooks in. Popovic is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Submitter doesn't have the hooks in and Popovic manages to turn into his guard.
Popovic postures up in Submitter's guard and throws a big left but Submitter blocks it.
Submitter keeping moving, preventing Popovic from controlling successfully.
Popovic is looking to work some ground and pound but Submitter has wrist control.

Popovic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Popovic throws and low kick but Submitter moves out of range easily.

Popovic clinches.
Popovic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Submitter gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Submitter pulls guard effortlessly.
Popovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Submitter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Submitter trying to keep a closed guard but Popovic is proving a slippery customer.

Popovic stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Submitter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Popovic as he jumps to the side.

Popovic pushes Submitter up against the cage in a clinch.
Submitter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Popovic lands a nice knee to the body.
Popovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Submitter prevents it.
Submitter prevents the takedown attempt.
Popovic stalling in the clinch.
Popovic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A right hand to the body from Popovic.
Popovic throws an elbow but it misses.
Popovic wants to break free but Submitter has control.
Popovic tries to pull guard but Submitter holds him up against the cage and eventually Popovic drops back down to his feet.
Submitter landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popovic misses with an elbow strike.
A hook to the body from Popovic.
Branko Popovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Popovic digs a right hand into Submitter's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Submitter's gas tank.
Popovic lands a shot to the body.
Popovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Submitter fights it off and pushes away nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Popovic misses with a low kick.
A punch combination from Popovic misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Branko Popovic.
I think Popovic 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

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