PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alyosha Popovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sailo Lance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lance has chosen Alive as his entrance music. Popovich is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Popovich
vs
Lance

225 cm
25
130 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

173 cm
23
134 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 5 - 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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sailo Lance!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lance throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popovich.
Popovich is breathing heavily.
Lance connects with a looping right hand.
Popovich displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Lance has Popovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Lance is trying to break the clinch but Popovich is controlling him.
A short right from Lance.

Lance has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Popovich uses from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Lance looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lance wriggles free and stands up.

Lance gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lance successfully pulls guard.

Lance pushes Popovich off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lance digs a good body shot into Popovich's ribs.
Lance changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popovich tries to avoid it but Lance manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popovich to the ground. Popovich escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lance tries a head kick but it misses.
Lance shoots in looking for a takedown. Popovich tries to sprawl out of it but Lance keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Popovich manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lance clinches with his opponent.

Lance pulls guard effortlessly.
Lance is controlling Popovich's posture.

Popovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich wants to stand but Lance is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lance trying to control the position here.
Popovich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lance on the ground.

Lance is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lance is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lance ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lance no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lance trying to control the position here.
Let's hope that Lance has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Lance has his feet on Popovich's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lance connects with a single shot there.
Lance lands with a cross.
A combination from Lance does no damage.
Lance fails with a takedown attempt.
Alyosha Popovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sailo Lance.
Lance shoots in looking for a takedown but Popovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lance's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lance tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lance will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lance scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lance fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Popovich avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sailo Lance 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.

Lance uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Popovich.
Popovich throws a combination that misses
and Lance cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Lance closes the distance and pushes Popovich back into the cage.
Lance is looking to break free of the clinch but Popovich has double underhooks.
Lance working hard to break the clinch.
Lance wants to take the fight to the mat but Popovich manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Popovich has Lance pressed against the cage, preventing Lance from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lance wants to break the clinch but can't.

Lance breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lance shoots in looking for a takedown but Popovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lance's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Popovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lance lands with a cross.
Lance lands an overhand right.
Lance rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Popovich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lance fails with the takedown.
Alyosha Popovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sailo Lance.
Lance avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popovich stuffs the takedown.
Popovich leaves Lance with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alyosha Popovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Popovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Lance rushes Popovich and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lance wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lance has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Popovich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Popovich wants to break free but Lance has control.
Lance wants to break the clinch but can't.
Popovich is trying to push Lance away but Lance has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lance wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lance wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lance is trying to break the clinch but Popovich is controlling him.

Lance manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lance has Popovich pulled in close to control his posture.
Popovich wants to get up but he can't break Lance's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lance is pulling down on Popovich's head. It's preventing any offense from Popovich, at least for the moment.
Popovich wants to stand and escape but instead Lance has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Popovich is working an open guard so Lance takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Alyosha Popovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lance lands a nice hook to Popovich's body. Popovich takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lance shoots in for a takedown but Popovich shows good takedown defense.
Lance fails with the takedown.
The fighters circling - Popovich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Popovich staying out of range there.
Popovich takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
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.
Lance connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lance jabs at Popovich's body.
Lance closes this distance looking for a takedown but Popovich circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sailo Lance showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lance tries to land a front kick but Popovich steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lance misses with a jab, cross combination.
A jab lands there for Lance.
Popovich stuffs the takedown.
Lance throws a right hand that Popovich ducks under and follows up with a left that Popovich also avoids with ease.
Popovich tries to bum rush Lance with a series of wild strikes but Lance uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lance connects with a good right hand that stumbles Popovich. Popovich circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Popovich blocks a jab.
Lance throws a series of punches but Popovich moves out of range.
Lance slips a jab and a cross from Popovich.
Popovich fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lance fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovich throws a combination that misses
and Lance counters with a nice uppercut.
Lance tries to clinch there but Popovich circles away.
Sailo Lance seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Popovich!
Popovich takes one to the side of the head.
Lance scores with a nice right hand.
Lance misses with an uppercut. Popovich saw that one coming.
Popovich tries to clinch but Lance is having none of it.
Popovich takes a swing at Lance's ribcage but misses.
Lance misses with a head kick.
Popovich misses with a straight left.
Lance looks to land a right hand but Popovich moved out of range.
Alyosha Popovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovich throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Popovich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lance connects with a good right hand that stumbles Popovich. Popovich circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lance throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popovich uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lance.
Popovich misses with a hook. Lance ducked under it nicely.

Lance has managed to clinch.

Lance pulls guard effortlessly.
Popovich throws a strike but Lance rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Popovich on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Popovich tries to get out of the position.
Popovich wants to stand up but Lance is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lance works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sailo Lance is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Popovich pushes Lance off but Lance dives into side control.
Popovich is being controlled here.
Popovich is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Lance has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lance staying calm.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lance throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Lance decides to stand back up.
Lance 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lance throws a hook to the side of Popovich's head but Popovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lance shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Popovich as he jumps to the side.
Alyosha Popovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sailo Lance.
Lance throws a lazy right hand but Popovich sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sailo Lance comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lance has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sailo Lance!
A less than humble Sailo Lance misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.