PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Branko Popovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julle Bulle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popovic comes to the ring accompanied by None. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Popovic
vs
Bulle

193 cm
29
192 lbs
20 - 15 - 1

199 cm
24
195 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Branko Popovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julle Bulle!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Bulle is just out of range.
Bulle missing with a left hand there. Popovic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bulle is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Popovic.

It looks like Julle Bulle has been cut.

Popovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Bulle is rocked!
Popovic throws a big right hand that misses.
Bulle is still in real trouble! Can Popovic finish him?
Popovic cracks Bulle with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Popovic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bulle, up you get!
Bulle seems to have recovered his senses.
Popovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bulle shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Popovic's guard.

Popovic pushes Bulle off and scrambles back to his feet.
Bulle 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 Bulle off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popovic connects with the punch.
Popovic moves into range and connects with a jab.
Popovic throws a predictable looking body shot

and Bulle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Popovic's guard.
Bulle wants to pass the guard but Popovic is keeping the position.
Bulle wants to control from the top but Popovic keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popovic has control of Bulle's left arm, preventing Bulle from doing any damage.

Branko Popovic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bulle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Popovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Branko Popovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julle Bulle.
Bulle scores with a kick to the midsection.
Popovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bulle throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovic tests Bulle's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Popovic darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bulle moves out of range as Popovic strikes.
Bulle is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Popovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bulle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bulle lands in his opponent's guard.
Bulle stopping the sweep attempt from Popovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovic controlling Bulle's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Popovic wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Julle Bulle's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bulle moves forwards but Popovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Popovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bulle moves away.

Popovic tries to sprawl but Bulle drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Popovic desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Bulle is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Popovic sizes up Bulle with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Popovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Popovic misses with a body shot.
Popovic throws a right and a left that Bulle avoids nicely.
Bulle ducks under a wild hook from Popovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a few strikes there.

Bulle shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Popovic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Popovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Popovic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bulle trying to control the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bulle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Popovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Julle Bulle was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Popovic throws a body punch but Bulle moves out of range.
Popovic scores with a three punch combo!
Bulle avoids the body shot from Popovic.
Popovic looks to land a combination but Bulle avoids it well.
Popovic swinging wildly here.
Popovic slips a jab from Bulle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulle throws a hook but Popovic avoids it easily.
Bulle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Popovic sprawls well. Popovic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bulle gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Popovic. No joy for Bulle on that attempt.
Popovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popovic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popovic slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Popovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Julle Bulle'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.

Bulle slips under a jab.
Popovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bulle is defended easily by Popovic.
Bulle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Popovic.
Bulle throws a shot from downtown. Popovic moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popovic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Popovic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bulle to score with a decent uppercut.
Popovic lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Branko Popovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bulle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popovic manages to avoid it.
Popovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Popovic moves away from the strike by Bulle.
Bulle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Popovic.
Popovic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Popovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bulle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Popovic but Popovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulle doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Popovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Branko Popovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julle Bulle.
Popovic takes a swing at Bulle's ribcage but misses.
Popovic throws a big shot that misses.
Bulle moves out of range of the strikes.
Popovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bulle was well out of range. Poor timing from Popovic.
Popovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bulle was well out of range. Poor timing from Popovic.
That kick from Bulle tenderised Popovic's leg. Popovic is trying to keep his angry face on.
Popovic lands a nice hook to Bulle's body. Bulle takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Bulle misses its intended target.

Popovic drops Bulle with a big left hand and mounts him. Bulle is in big trouble!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bulle takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Popovic's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Branko Popovic!