PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Evgeny Popov (ranked 2602 p4p, 290 weight class) and Bryan Thompson (ranked 2860 p4p, 318 weight class). Evgeny Popov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Popov
vs
Thompson

175 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

UnderGround Supplements

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeny Popov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bryan Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bryan Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson throws a shot to the body.
Thompson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Popov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Thompson has one foot on Popov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
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!
Popov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thompson avoids it really well and circles away.
Thompson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Popov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thompson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Popov scrambles back to his feet.
Thompson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Thompson takes a swing at Popov's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thompson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Popov on the side of the head.
Thompson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Thompson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Popov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Popov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thompson's guard.
Popov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Popov tries to stand but Thompson is controlling from the bottom.
Popov passes Thompson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Popov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson regains half 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.
Popov winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Popov connects with a nice short shot to Thompson's temple.

Popov is working for a submission of some sort.
Popov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Popov working Thompson over with strikes.
Popov tries to pass to full mount but Thompson defends it.
Popov lands strikes from half guard.
Popov controlling the action here.
Popov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov drops an elbow to the side of Thompson's head.

Popov wants to work for an arm triangle but Thompson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Popov working over Thompson with some ground and pound. Thompson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Popov drops an elbow to the side of Thompson's head.
Popov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Popov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Thompson is defending against the submission attempts here by Popov.
Thompson has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Popov is controlling the pace.
Popov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to stand back up but Popov is controlling him
Popov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Popov lands a big shot there that rocks Thompson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thompson is working to get back to half guard.
Thompson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Popov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Popov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Popov content just to control the position here.
Popov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popov landing punches.

Thompson is rocked!
Popov looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Thompson covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Evgeny Popov!