PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alyosha Popovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alyosha Popovich could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jack Nelson's chin.

Popovich
vs
Nelson

225 cm
25
130 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

172 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alyosha Popovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popovich lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nelson throws a series of punches but Popovich avoids them all with ease.
Nelson misses with the combination.
Popovich connects with a crisp jab.

Nelson is rocked!
Popovich fails to land with a series of punches.
Nelson is still on wobbly legs! Can Popovich finish him?
Nelson loads up on a big right hand but Popovich slips the punch.
Popovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nelson seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice shot by Popovich.
Popovich lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Popovich manages to avoid it.
Nelson dodges the punch combination from Popovich.
Nelson throws a series of strikes that have Popovich backpedaling.
Nelson throws a nice looking combination but Popovich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nelson throws a right hand that Popovich ducks under and follows up with a left that Popovich also avoids with ease.
Popovich throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Popovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Nelson misses.
Popovich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nelson.
Nelson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Popovich gets a clinch.

Popovich breaks from the clinch.
Popovich slips a jab from Nelson.
Popovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Popovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Nelson slips a jab and a cross from Popovich.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nelson is trying to push Popovich away but Popovich has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Popovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circling - Nelson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich misses with a two punch combination.
Popovich closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nelson throws a right and a left that Popovich avoids nicely.
Popovich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nelson.
Nelson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alyosha Popovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nelson.
No joy there for Nelson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popovich.
Popovich showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nelson.
Some wild striking there from Nelson.
Popovich avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nelson looks gassed!
Popovich lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich lands a jab-cross combination.
Nelson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Popovich counters with a left to the body.
Popovich scores with a shot to the body.
Popovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Sloppy strikes from Popovich. Those never looked like landing.
Popovich throws a right hand that Nelson ducks under and follows up with a left that Nelson also avoids with ease.
Popovich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nelson circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Nelson misses.
Popovich throws a combination that misses
and Nelson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nelson misses with the combination.
Popovich throws a nice looking combination but Nelson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popovich takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Popovich really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nelson throws a jab but it's blocked by Popovich.
A slow jab from Nelson misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Popovich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Nelson. Those never looked like landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson throws a nice looking combination but Popovich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popovich looks to land a combination but Nelson avoids it well.
Nelson slips a jab and a cross from Popovich.
Popovich misses with a double jab.
Nelson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nelson throws a right hand that Popovich ducks under and follows up with a left that Popovich also avoids with ease.
Nelson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Popovich throws a one two combo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nelson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nelson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nelson dodges the punch combination from Popovich.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alyosha Popovich dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
Popovich throws a series of punches but Nelson moves out of range.
Popovich lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sloppy strikes from Nelson. Those never looked like landing.
Nelson slips a jab and a cross from Popovich.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Popovich dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Popovich goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Popovich dodges the punch combination from Nelson.

Popovich has closed the distance and engaged Nelson in a clinch.
Nelson is breathing heavily.

Popovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Popovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nelson was well out of range. Poor timing from Popovich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.
Popovich fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nelson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Popovich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nelson throws a right hand that Popovich ducks under and follows up with a left that Popovich also avoids with ease.
Popovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Popovich scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nelson throws a right and a left that Popovich avoids nicely.
Popovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Popovich is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Popovich connects with a single shot there.
Nelson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nelson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Popovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nelson was well out of range. Poor timing from Popovich.
Popovich lands a nice hook to Nelson's body. Nelson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Popovich shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nelson eats them both and turns towards Popovich to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sloppy strikes from Nelson. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alyosha Popovich is winning the standup battle so far.
Nelson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Popovich is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Popovich throws a nice looking combination but Nelson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
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!
Nelson throws a series of punches but Popovich moves out of range.
Popovich rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nelson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nelson misses with a two punch combination.
Popovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Nelson fails to land with a series of punches.
Popovich feints a jab promting Nelson to slip. Popovich then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nelson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nelson throws a right hand that Popovich ducks under and follows up with a left that Popovich also avoids with ease.
Nelson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Popovich misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich misses with a wild combination.
Popovich on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nelson looks to land a left hand but Popovich moved out of range nicely.
Popovich scores with a three punch combo!
Nelson throws a right and a left that Popovich avoids nicely.
Nelson swinging wildly here.
Nelson misses with a few strikes there.
Alyosha Popovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nelson tries to keep at a distance but Popovich has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nelson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Popovich breaks from the clinch.

Popovich forces Nelson back against the cage and clinches.

Popovich manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws an overhand right that lands on Popovich's shoulder, as Popovich tries to avoid the shot.
Nelson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popovich.
Popovich throws a series of strikes that have Nelson backpedaling.
A lazy left from Popovich finds it's target.
Nelson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Popovich throws a right hand that Nelson ducks under and follows up with a left that Nelson also avoids with ease.
Nelson misses with a few strikes there.
Popovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Nelson circles away.
Popovich lands a jab-cross combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popovich throws a combination that misses
and Nelson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Popovich dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Nelson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Nelson.
Nelson misses with a combination
letting Popovich counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alyosha Popovich 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!

Popovich connects with a nice looking jab.

Popovich forces Nelson back against the cage and clinches.

Popovich manages to break the clinch.
Nelson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Popovich counters with a two punch combo.
Popovich throws a right hand that Nelson ducks under and follows up with a left that Nelson also avoids with ease.
Nelson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Popovich dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd cheers as Popovich lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nelson doesn't seem phased though.
Nelson looks to land a combination but Popovich avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes from Nelson. Those never looked like landing.
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popovich lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Nelson. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovich connects with the punch.
Popovich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nelson.

Popovich has managed to clinch.
Nelson is trying to force a seperation but Popovich has the dominant position.

Popovich manages to break the clinch.
Nelson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Popovich. Those never looked like landing.
A nice combination there by Popovich.
Nelson walks into a straight right hand from Popovich.
A left and a right from Popovich both land. Nice combination.
Popovich misses with a double jab.
Nelson misses with a few strikes there.
Popovich misses with a few strikes there.
Nelson misses with the combination.
Nelson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nelson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nelson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sloppy strikes from Popovich. Those never looked like landing.
Nelson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popovich.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nelson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nelson throws a right and a left that Popovich avoids nicely.
Popovich ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nelson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Popovich circles away quickly and effectively.
Nelson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Popovich counters with a one-two to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Popovich. Those never looked like landing.
Nelson swinging wildly here.
Nelson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovich misses with a double jab.
Nelson swinging wildly here.
Nelson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Popovich connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nelson momentarily.
Nelson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Popovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nelson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Popovich throws a nice looking combination but Nelson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
Nelson swinging wildly here.
Popovich connects with a crisp jab.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Popovich has Nelson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popovich prevents Nelson from breaking the clinch.

Popovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nelson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Nelson scores with a four punch combination!
Popovich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nelson circles away quickly and effectively.
Nelson throws a series of punches but Popovich moves out of range.
Nelson misses with a series of wild punches.
Popovich throws a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Danga de danga de dang - Popovich scores with a four punch combination!
Nelson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jack Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Popovich connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nelson's hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alyosha Popovich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Popovich has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alyosha Popovich!
Alyosha Popovich decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.