PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valeri Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Avleski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Popo
vs
Avleski

200 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

205 cm
19
245 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Valeri Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrei Avleski!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Avleski to the mat! Avleski manages to get full guard.
Popo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Avleski had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Popo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Avleski Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Popo's back instead.
Avleski struggling to keep hold of the position.

Popo is having to fend off submission attempts from Avleski, who is looking to sink in the choke. Avleski doesn't have the hooks in though and Popo manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Avleski controls Popo momentarily but Popo frees himself.
Avleski trying to control the position here.
Popo lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo is pushing down on Avleski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Avleski is fighting to maintain full guard but Popo has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Popo is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Avleski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Avleski tries to get to full guard but Popo has control of the leg.
Popo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Avleski is looking for a sweep. Popo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Avleski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Popo.
Popo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Avleski is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Popo 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.
Popo with shots to the head and body - Avleski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Popo content just to control the position here.
Avleski is looking to improve his position but Popo isn't that keen on the idea.
Popo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Avleski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Popo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo with shots to the head and body - Avleski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Avleski is trying to escape the mount.
Popo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Avleski sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avleski wants to improve his position but Popo is controlling well.
Popo blocks the strikes from Avleski.
Popo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Avleski keeps working.
Avleski tries to get to full guard but Popo has control of the leg.
Avleski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valeri Popo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Avleski.
Popo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Valeri Popo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popo tries for a takedown but Avleski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Popo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valeri Popo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Avleski throws a nice looking combination but Popo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Popo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Avleski to the mat! Avleski manages to get full guard.
Popo stopping the sweep attempt from Avleski.

Avleski looking for a guillotine here but Popo defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Avleski is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Popo has a closed guard, preventing Avleski from standing up.
Popo is looking to stand up but Avleski isn't so interested in that idea.
Popo keeping moving, preventing Avleski from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Avleski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Avleski trying to control the position from guard on top but Popo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popo trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Popo clinches up with Avleski and pushes him back against the cage.

Avleski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Popo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Avleski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Popo working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avleski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Popo lands some shots froms side control.
A control attempt from Avleski but he's now mounted!
Popo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Avleski tries to hold on but Popo pushes him away.
Popo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Avleski can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Avleski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Popo looking to control but Avleski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Popo working for a guillotine from mount but Avleski is in no mood to give up.
Avleski tries to reverse the position but Popo maintains control.
Avleski is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Avleski tries to hold on but Popo pushes him away.
Avleski tries to reverse the position but Popo maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avleski in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valeri Popo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Avleski tries a head kick but it misses.
Popo has a takedown stuffed.
Popo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Popo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Avleski's waist but Avleski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Popo off to one side.
Avleski lands a left and a right that sends Popo crashing to the canvas! Avleski dives into mount looking to finish!

Popo is rocked!
Avleski looking to control but Popo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Avleski controlling the position easily from mount.
Avleski landing shots from mount.
Avleski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Popo is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Avleski working for a submission but Popo is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avleski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Popo tries to hold on but Avleski pushes him away.
Popo throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Avleski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Popo is looking to escape.
Popo is looking to improve his position but Avleski isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Popo tries to hold on but Avleski pushes him away.
Avleski controlling the position easily from mount.
Avleski tries to control but Popo wriggling away.
The referee warns Popo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
You get the feeling that Popo really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Avleski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Popo is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avleski with good strikes from the mount here!
Popo is trying to escape the mount.
Popo tries to control Avleski's body but Avleski pushes him off. Popo squirms to his side and now Avleski has his back!

Avleski patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Avleski lands a shot to the head.
Andrei Avleski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Popo showing good submission defense here.
Popo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Avleski's guard. Nice work there by Popo.
Avleski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Popo trying to control the position from guard on top but Avleski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Popo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Avleski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Popo passes into side control.
Avleski is looking to get back to his feet here but Popo is keeping cool and he's managed to take Avleski's back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Avleski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Popo 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valeri Popo!