PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liu Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Popkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popkov has chosen Somethin' Bad as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kang
vs
Popkov

192 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

199 cm
18
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liu Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mikhail Popkov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popkov throws a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Popkov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kang wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Popkov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kang moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kang could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kang misses with a body shot
enabling Popkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Kang comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Popkov scores with a leg kick.
A punch combination from Kang misses.
Kang staying out of range there.
Popkov thumps Kang with a low kick.
Popkov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Popkov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popkov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Popkov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kang waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Popkov.
Popkov misses the shot to the body.
Popkov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov scores with a head kick. Kang tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A head kick misses from Kang.
Popkov tries a low kick but Kang avoids it.
Popkov avoids a kick to the body.
Kang looks to throw the jab but Popkov is out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kang misses with a looping right.
Kang checks a low kick from Popkov.
Popkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kang misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kang lands a body shot.
Kang connects with a body shot.
Kang avoids the head kick by Popkov.
Popkov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kang darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Mikhail Popkov has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A decent looking cross lands there for Popkov.
Kang looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Popkov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Popkov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kang is out of range.
Kang goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kang just misses with a punch to the body.
Kang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popkov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kang checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Popkov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kang stalks Popkov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Popkov's face. Popkov staggers backwards, shaken.
Popkov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Popkov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Popkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kang cracks a nice hook into Popkov's ribs.
Popkov looks winded!
Popkov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kang misses with a double jab.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Kang misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kang darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kang throws a body shot but no joy.
Kang bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kang throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kang throws a head kick that misses.
Popkov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kang missing with a left hand there. Popkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kang. Popkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Popkov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Popkov connects with a jab.
Kang is looking to wear down Popkov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kang slips a straight right by Popkov.
Popkov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kang checks it well.
Kang throws a leg kick but Popkov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Popkov lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popkov throws a leg kick but Kang sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A clash of legs there as Kang blocks the low kick.
Kang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popkov manages to avoid it.
Kang works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kang misses with a wild combination.
Popkov looks to land a right hand but Kang moved out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Popkov!
Kang misses with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Popkov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters circling - Popkov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice body punch from Popkov.
Popkov throws a jab when Kang was well out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popkov misses with a leg kick.
Popkov lands a body shot.
Kang misses with a wild body shot.
Popkov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
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 Liu Kang will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Popkov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Popkov misses with a straight right.
Liu Kang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kang with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kang lands a right hook to the body.
Popkov digs a good hook to Kang's body.
Popkov misses with a looping left.
Kang throws a sloppy head kick and Popkov moves out of range easily.
Popkov lands the left hand.
Kang jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Popkov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kang under the eye.
Kang misses with a body shot.
Kang keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Popkov.
A slapping leg kick lands for Popkov.
Popkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kang.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kang. Popkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kang misses with a wild body shot.
Popkov checks the leg kick nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kang blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang blocks a low kick nicely.
Popkov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kang checks it well.
A big left from Popkov misses.
Kang throws a body shot but no joy.
Kang comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kang pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kang looks to land a combination but Popkov avoids it well.
Popkov throws a shot to the body.
Popkov digs a good hook to Kang's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popkov throws a low kick, looking for Kang's leg but Kang calmly moves out of range.
Kang just misses with a punch to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Popkov there.
Popkov misses with a jab to the body
and Kang counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Popkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Popkov misses with an uppercut. Kang saw that one coming.
Kang takes one to the chin there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popkov misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kang throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Popkov lands with a straight right. Kang didn't see that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Kang 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Popkov swinging wildly here.
A right-left combo lands from Kang.
Popkov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kang misses with a shot to the body
and Popkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Popkov moves out of range as Kang strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Popkov throws a looping overhand right but Kang ducks down to avoid it.
Kang tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Popkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Kang.
Popkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Kang checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kang swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Popkov misses with a body kick.
Popkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kang.
Popkov throws a chopping leg kick but Kang manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kang lands with a right hand.
Mikhail Popkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kang moves forwards but Popkov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A solid body kick from Popkov.
Popkov motions for Kang to come forward. Popkov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Popkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kang.
Popkov throws the left hand but Kang avoids the punch easily.
Popkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Kang is just out of range.
Popkov connects with a body shot that sends Kang's belly button to the back.
Kang misses with a straight right.
Popkov blocks a head kick by Kang.
Popkov thows a leg kick but Kang checks it
and Kang counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Popkov thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang loads up on a big right hand but Popkov slips the punch.
Kang lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Popkov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kang gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kang getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Some bone on bone action there as Kang checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Popkov tries a head kick but it misses.
Popkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Popkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kang.
Kang moves out of range of the body kick.
Popkov scores with a nice head shot.
Kang fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Popkov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kang lands a nice hook to Popkov's body. Popkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Popkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Popkov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Popkov dodges the punch combination from Kang.
Popkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kang misses with a double jab
and Popkov counters with a thumping low kick.
Popkov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A punch lands to the side of Popkov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Popkov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Popkov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kang avoids the body shot from Popkov.
Kang throws a shot from downtown. Popkov moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kang checks a low kick from Popkov.
The fighters circling - Popkov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kang checks the leg kick nicely there.

Popkov lands a left and a right that send Kang crashing to the mat, dazed. Popkov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Kang is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popkov missing with a left hand there. Kang was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Oh Kang is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Popkov throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kang tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Popkov throws a leg kick that misses.
Kang seems to have got his legs back now.
Popkov misses with a hook. Kang ducked under it nicely.
Kang staying out of range there.
Popkov misses the shot to the body.
Kang throws a series of punches but Popkov moves out of range.
Popkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popkov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Popkov throws a right hand that misses
and Kang counters with a nice body shot.
Kang moves out of range of the body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Popkov misses the target.
Popkov connects with a crisp jab.
Popkov avoids the head kick by Kang.
Popkov tries to work over Kang's front leg with a kick but Kang checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kang throws a head kick that misses.
Popkov scores with a kick to the midsection.
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!
Popkov is really turning it up, unleashing another crisp combination which drops Kang like a ton of bricks! The referee dives in to stop the fight, saving Kang from another fist facial!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikhail Popkov!
A very excited looking Mikhail Popkov 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.