PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zoltan Lazar (ranked 1375 p4p, 3233 weight class) and Soda Popinski (ranked 179 p4p, 362 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lazar
vs
Popinski

189 cm
26
210
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
208
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zoltan Lazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Soda Popinski!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popinski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Popinski let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nice cross by Popinski.
Popinski fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lazar looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lazar definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Popinski comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Popinski.
Popinski dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Popinski ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zoltan Lazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lazar closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Popinski to the mat! Popinski manages to get full guard.
Lazar is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lazar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Popinski pulls Lazar in close to his closed guard and prevents Lazar from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Popinski is on top in guard.

Lazar is pulling down on Popinski's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazar is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Popinski is controlling him.
Lazar looking for a sweep. Not yet Lazar, not yet.

Lazar is looking for a triangle but Popinski pushes his legs off easily.
Popinski won't allow Lazar to sweep him here.
Popinski slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lazar trying to keep a closed guard but Popinski is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Popinski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lazar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Popinski has managed to get both his arms back between Lazar's legs - danger averted.
Lazar is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lazar controls Popinski momentarily but Popinski frees himself.

Lazar looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Popinski has picked Lazar up and slammed him! Lazar can't keep hold of the triangle and Popinski manages to pass to side control!
Lazar keeps Popinski under control for a moment.
Lazar is looking for a sweep.
Popinski looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazar sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lazar preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Popinski is controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lazar fails with a takedown attempt.
Popinski lands a nice shot to the body.
Popinski is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lazar rather than just go for the knockout.
Popinski lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lazar wants to clinch
enabling Popinski to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popinski waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Lazar. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Lazar to the canvas! Can he finish him!?

Lazar is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popinski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Oh Lazar is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lazar trying to control the position.
Lazar seems to have got his legs back now.
Popinski won't allow Lazar to sweep him here.
Popinski stays in close to Lazar's body and controls the position.

Lazar looking for a guillotine here but Popinski defends easily.
Popinski 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Popinski drops his shoulder and cracks Lazar with a huge uppercut! Lazar goes down! Can Popinski finish him?
Lazar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Popinski stands and throws Lazar's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Lazar's face as Popinski controls the position.
Popinski working away.
Lazar is trying to improve his position.
Popinski is staying tight to Lazar's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazar tries to bench press Popinski off him but Popinski keeps the position.
Popinski controlling the position from side mount.
Popinski works to advance to full mount. Lazar defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Lazar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lazar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Popinski avoids the attempt from Lazar to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Popinski controlling from the full mount.
Lazar can't escape the position.
Popinski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Soda Popinski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lazar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazar wants to control but Popinski is having none of it.
Popinski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lazar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lazar is trying to stand up.
Lazar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Popinski controlling the pace for now.
Lazar manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popinski tries to pass to full mount but Lazar defends it.
Lazar is looking for a sweep. Popinski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lazar is working hard here to advance position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Popinski controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lazar looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popinski throws a good cross that connects.
Lazar takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lazar takes one on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Soda Popinski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lazar closes the distance looking to clinch
and Popinski counters with a huge overhand right that connects right on the temple, sending him crumpling, face first to the floor! This one is all over! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Soda Popinski!
An out of breath Soda Popinski thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.