PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikoli Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Sears (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Popov
vs
Sears

190 cm
22
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikoli Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Simon Sears!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov wants to clinch.
Sears darts in trying to clinch

and Popov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Popov lands with a light punch inside.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but Sears blocks with his arms.
Popov misses with a knee strike.
Popov misses with a knee strike.
Popov connects with a knee to the head.
Popov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sears wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Popov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Popov connects with a knee to the head.
Popov scores a nice knee to the body.
Popov slows down the pace here.
Popov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Popov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Popov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Popov misses with a knee to the head.
Popov tries to land a knee to the head but Sears blocks with his arms.
Popov is breathing heavily.
Sears trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov scores with a knee to the head.
Sears scores with a shot to the side of Popov's head.
Sears tries to score a body lock takedown but Popov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Popov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sears throws an elbow that misses.
Sears tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Popov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sears changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Popov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nikoli Popov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Sears.
Popov wants to clinch but Sears slips to the side

and Sears counters with a shoot takedown. Popov fights it but they end up in guard.
Sears slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sears trying to control the action but Popov is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popov is looking for a sweep.
Popov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sears off and has taken his back!
Popov tries to keep control of the position but Sears is staying busy.
Sears wants to get back to his feet.
Popov throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Popov missing with strikes.
Popov struggling to land strikes to the head as Sears covers up.
Popov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sears on the ground.
Popov connects with a big shot to the side of Sears's head.
Popov is not going to allow Sears to sit and survive in this position.
Popov throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sears avoids the strikes from Popov.
Sears is keeping busy.
Sears is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Sears has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Popov.
Sears avoids the strikes from Popov.
Popov missing with punches from the back.
Popov throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikoli Popov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Popov closes the distance but Sears moves to the side
and Sears counters with a left to the body.
Sears looks for a takedown but Popov sprawls well.

Popov instigates a clinch.
Popov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Popov is struggling to control the position.
Popov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Popov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Sears is rocked!
Sears drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Popov lands a knee to the head.
Sears is still on wobbly legs! Can Popov finish him?
Popov lands a big knee to the head and Sears goes down! Popov pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikoli Popov!