PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Uri Boyka (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. Alyosha Popovich acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Boyka
vs
Popovich

180 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good 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, Uri Boyka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alyosha Popovich!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popovich paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Boyka shoots in but no luck this time.
Boyka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Boyka fails with a takedown attempt.

Boyka clinches with his opponent.
Boyka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Popovich manages to break the clinch.

Boyka rushes Popovich and presses him up against the cage.
Boyka wants to take the fight to the mat but Popovich manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uri Boyka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka is trying to push Popovich away but Popovich has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Boyka is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Popovich is defending well.

Popovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boyka looks to land a combination but Popovich avoids it well.
Boyka looks for a takedown but Popovich sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Popovich.
Popovich tries to clinch there but Boyka circles away.
Boyka is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Popovich.
Boyka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popovich tries to avoid it but Boyka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popovich to the ground. Popovich escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Popovich is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Popovich stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Popovich wants it to stay on the feet.
Boyka is breathing heavily.
Boyka misses with a double jab.
Popovich throws a right and a left that Boyka avoids nicely.

Popovich moves into the clinch.
Boyka tries to pull guard but Popovich forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Popovich has Boyka pressed against the cage, preventing Boyka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Popovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popovich keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyka takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Boyka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
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!
Popovich showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Boyka.
Alyosha Popovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popovich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Boyka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Popovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Popovich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Popovich does no damage.
No joy there for Popovich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Boyka has a takedown stuffed.
Boyka ducks under a wild hook from Popovich.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyka motions for Popovich to come forward. Boyka throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Boyka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Popovich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.
Nice sprawl there from Popovich as Boyka shoots in.
Popovich is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Boyka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boyka shoots in looking for a takedown but Popovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Boyka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Popovich closes the distance and clinches.
Boyka stalling in the clinch.

Popovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boyka closes the distance but Popovich moves to the side
and Popovich connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Popovich gets tackled into the cage by Boyka. Boyka maintains the clinch.

Popovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A shot to the liver by Popovich. Beautiful body shot.
Boyka shoots for a takedown but Popovich saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Popovich throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Popovich defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Boyka.
Boyka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Popovich throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boyka tries a low kick but Popovich avoids it.
Boyka closes the distance and clinches up with Popovich, looking for a takedown. Boyka pushes Popovich against the cage but Popovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Popovich has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some wild striking there from Popovich.
Boyka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alyosha Popovich will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popovich drives through and clinches with Boyka against the cage.

Popovich manages to break the clinch.

Boyka moves into range and clinches up with Popovich.

Popovich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boyka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Popovich sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Boyka somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Boyka.
Popovich stuffs the takedown attempt from Boyka. Boyka gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uri Boyka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Popovich has managed to clinch.
Boyka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovich is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Boyka to keep the fight standing.

Boyka decides to pull guard.

Boyka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boyka is pulling down on Popovich's head. It's preventing any offense from Popovich, at least for the moment.

Boyka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Popovich is aware though and is defending well.
Boyka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Popovich is one step ahead there.
Popovich wants to stand and escape but instead Boyka has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
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.
Popovich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boyka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Popovich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Boyka controls the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Popovich can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boyka pushing down on Popovich's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Boyka gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich checks the leg kick.
Boyka is looking to clinch.
Boyka fails with a takedown attempt.
Boyka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Popovich as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Popovich does no damage.
Uri Boyka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boyka shoots in looking for a takedown but Popovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Boyka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Boyka closes the distance and clinches.
Boyka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Popovich pulls his leg out and moves away.
Boyka has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyka tries to clinch up.
Popovich slaps away a takedown attempt from Boyka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.
Boyka really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Boyka instigates a clinch.

Popovich breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boyka.
Popovich connects with the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popovich loads up on a big right hand but Boyka slips the punch.
Boyka shoots in but no luck this time.
Alyosha Popovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Popovich throws a nice looking combination but Boyka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uri Boyka dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Boyka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Popovich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Boyka.
Boyka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Popovich lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Boyka backs up against the cage.

Boyka pushes Popovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Boyka pushes Popovich back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Boyka jumps into guard, dragging Popovich to the mat.
Boyka is adopting a defensive guard.

Boyka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Popovich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyka controlling Popovich's posture.
Popovich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Boyka trying to keep a closed guard but Popovich is proving a slippery customer.
Boyka trying to control the position here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Uri Boyka has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Popovich slaps away a takedown attempt from Boyka, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Boyka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popovich avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uri Boyka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka wants to clinch.
Alyosha Popovich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boyka.
Popovich tries to bum rush Boyka with a series of wild strikes but Boyka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Popovich keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyka looks to land a combination but Popovich avoids it well.
Popovich fails to land with a series of punches.
Boyka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Boyka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popovich keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boyka.
A nice combination there by Popovich.
A jab lands there for Popovich.
Boyka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popovich tries to bum rush Boyka with a series of wild strikes but Boyka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Boyka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Boyka trying to land knees to the body.
Boyka trying to stall but Popovich improves his position.
Boyka is trying to pull guard but Popovich has him pressed against the cage.
Boyka missing with knees to the body.

Popovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Boyka moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Popovich breaks the clinch.
Popovich throws a right hand that Boyka ducks under and follows up with a left that Boyka also avoids with ease.
Popovich looks to land a combination but Boyka avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uri Boyka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Boyka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uri Boyka!