PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Evgeny Popov (ranked 3518 p4p, 314 weight class) and Ktos Tam (ranked 3169 p4p, 284 weight class). Evgeny Popov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Popov
vs
Tam

175 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

155 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeny Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ktos Tam!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tam throws a sloppy head kick

and Popov counters with a single leg into guard. Tam didn't expect that.
Tam 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.
Tam tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Popov is in close to Tam's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Popov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tam is trying to keep Popov in close.
Popov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Popov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tam manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Popov has Tam in his guard.

Popov is pulling down on Tam's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tam trying to control the position from guard on top but Popov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Popov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tam passes into half guard.
Tam is looking to take a break and control but Popov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tam is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Tam has eaten all the pies!
Tam is just content to waste time from the top position. Popov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Popov seems keen to control Tam's posture.
Tam throws an elbow that misses. Popov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tam's guard. Nice move by Popov!

Tam wants to stand but Popov is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Popov lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tam is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Popov defends well.
Tam is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tam wants to stand but Popov is controlling the position.
Popov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Popov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Popov works over Tam with some ground and pound from guard.
Popov postures up.
Tam looking for a sweep. Not yet Tam, not yet.
Popov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Popov advances position into side control!
Tam trying to remain calm as Popov controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tam can't do much from the bottom here.

Popov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Popov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Popov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Tam taking punishment in the form of punches.

Popov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Popov working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tam is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Popov wants to control but Tam is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeny Popov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A chopping leg kick lands by Popov.
Tam swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Popov counters with a stiff right hand.

Popov clinches with his opponent.
Popov gets underhooks to prevent Tam's takedown attempt.

Popov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Tam is trying to keep an underhook but Popov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popov lands with a punch from half guard.

Popov is looking for a kimura but Tam is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Popov to get the leverage.
Popov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Popov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Popov lands a nice short elbow.

Tam is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Popov stops Tam from getting back to his feet.
Tam is still in real trouble! Can Popov finish him?
Tam is trying to get back to full guard.
Tam seems to have recovered his senses.
Tam wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Popov seems content to control.
Tam trying to hold on to Popov's head to control him but Popov postures up.
Popov is controlling the pace.

Popov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tam sees it coming and defends easily.

Popov is working for a submission of some sort.
Popov lands with a punch from half guard.
Tam trying to control but Popov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tam wants to improve his position but Popov is controlling well.
Popov moves into full mount! Tam won't be happy about that!
Tam throwing hammer fists to the chest of Popov. What's that going to do exactly?
Popov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Popov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tam on the ground.
Tam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Popov content just to control the position here.
Tam is trying to escape the mount.
Popov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tam hang on?
Popov controlling his opponent.
Tam is squirming around, avoiding Popov's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Popov looking to secure an arm triangle but Tam defends it well.

Popov working for a guillotine from mount but Tam is in no mood to give up.
Popov controlling his opponent.
Tam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Popov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tam can't escape the position.
Popov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tam can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tam tries to hold on but Popov pushes him away.
Popov lands a nice shot to the head.
Popov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Popov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tam's face.
Popov cracks Tam with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Evgeny Popov!