PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xerxes Xaxxas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alyosha Popovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popovich has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Xaxxas
vs
Popovich

175 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Xerxes Xaxxas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alyosha Popovich!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Popovich enables Xaxxas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Popovich manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Popovich looks gassed!
Xaxxas with a nice head shot there.
Popovich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Xaxxas is in close to Popovich's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xaxxas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Xaxxas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Xaxxas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Xaxxas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Xaxxas connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xaxxas lands a couple of digs.
Xaxxas is working Popovich over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Popovich has momentary wrist control but Xaxxas slips an elbow through the middle.
Popovich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xaxxas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Xaxxas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Xaxxas postures up and lands a big shot to Popovich's brow.
Xaxxas trying to control the position from guard on top but Popovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xaxxas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Popovich's guard.
Xaxxas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Popovich keeps working.
Xaxxas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Popovich on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Xaxxas there.
Xaxxas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Xaxxas scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Popovich is rocked!
Xaxxas with a couple of short strikes.
Popovich is still in real trouble! Can Xaxxas finish him?
Xaxxas landing shots from mount.
Xaxxas raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xaxxas with a couple of short strikes.
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.
Xaxxas postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Popovich badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Xaxxas around the waist but Xaxxas pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Xaxxas is the winner by TKO! Xaxxas jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xerxes Xaxxas!