PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pieter Pieter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popov comes into the arena with Tom Sawyer - Rush blaring out of the sound system. Pieter Pieter acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Popov
vs
Pieter

175 cm
21
164 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
23
165 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Vitality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mikhail Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pieter Pieter!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Popov as Pieter shoots in.
Popov scores with a decent looking hook.
Popov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Popov misses with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Popov as Pieter shoots in.
Pieter dodges the punch combination from Popov.
A jab lands there for Popov.
Popov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pieter on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Popov. Popov obviously looking to wear him down.
Pieter takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pieter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Popov defends it nicely.
Mikhail Popov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pieter Pieter.
Popov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pieter manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pieter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pieter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Popov leaves Pieter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Popov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pieter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Popov.
Popov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Pieter counters with a single leg into guard. Popov didn't expect that.
Pieter sitting in guard here, content to control.
Popov pulls Pieter in close to his closed guard and prevents Pieter from doing any damage or advancing position.
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.

Popov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pieter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pieter's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pieter Pieter.
Popov throws a nice looking combination but Pieter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popov throws a nice looking combination but Pieter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pieter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Popov.
No joy there for Popov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Popov misses with a body shot
and Pieter counters with a stiff right hand.
Popov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pieter circles away quickly and effectively.

Pieter dives in and scores a takedown into Popov's guard.
Pieter sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pieter looking to pass the guard.

Pieter decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pieter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pieter Pieter will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Popov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Popov looks to land a right hand but Pieter moved out of range.
Popov jabs Pieter right on the nose. Pieter blinks but takes it well.
Popov throws a leg kick that misses.
Pieter ducks right into an uppercut from Popov.
Popov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pieter.
Pieter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Pieter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Popov is trying to defend but Pieter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pieter stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Pieter Pieter hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Pieter gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Popov takes a swing at Pieter's ribcage but misses.

Pieter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pieter prevents Popov from escaping the position.
Pieter moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieter controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Pieter 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.
Popov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pieter controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pieter Pieter was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pieter shoots for a takedown but Popov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Popov throws a hook but Pieter blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popov thows a body shot but no joy.
Mikhail Popov is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Popov. Pieter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pieter takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pieter Pieter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pieter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Popov as he jumps to the side.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Popov.
Popov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pieter manages to avoid it.
Popov looks to land a left hand but Pieter moved out of range nicely.
Pieter moves out of range of the leg kick from Popov.
Popov thows a body shot but no joy.
Popov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Pieter changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Popov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pieter moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Popov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Pieter looks up at the clock and then as Popov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pieter smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Pieter controls the position.

Pieter tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pieter has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieter tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Popov seems a little lost for a moment, as Pieter dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Popov wants to control but Pieter postures up.
Popov is being controlled here.
Pieter Pieter has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pieter Pieter wasn't active enough on the ground.
Popov swings for the body but Pieter moves out of range.
Pieter checks the leg kick.
Popov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Popov thows a body shot but no joy.
Popov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pieter.
Pieter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pieter blocks a leg kick.
Popov throws a series of punches but Pieter moves out of range.
No joy there for Popov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pieter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Popov.
Pieter avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pieter. That did some damage!
Mikhail Popov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pieter checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Popov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pieter doesn't seem bothered though.
Sloppy strikes from Popov. Those never looked like landing.
Pieter Pieter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Popov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mikhail Popov.
I think Pieter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pieter Pieter!
In his post fight interview, Pieter Pieter started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.