PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Ferreira-Alves (ranked 1493 p4p, 1519 weight class) and Nikos Giannopoulos (ranked 202 p4p, 204 weight class). Ferreira-Alves comes to the cage accompanied by The Mountain - Jucifer. Nikos Giannopoulos told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ferreira-Alves
vs
Giannopoulos

186 cm
30
174
9 - 6 - 1

184 cm
39
184
15 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Carnage Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Felipe Ferreira-Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikos Giannopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ferreira-Alves shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Giannopoulos is trying to defend but Ferreira-Alves finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ferreira-Alves sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Giannopoulos defending well though.
Giannopoulos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ferreira-Alves loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ferreira-Alves looking to sit in guard and control but Giannopoulos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Giannopoulos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ferreira-Alves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ferreira-Alves working for a triangle but Giannopoulos defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannopoulos wanted to stand there but Ferreira-Alves had control of the position.
Giannopoulos is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ferreira-Alves 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.

Ferreira-Alves is looking for a triangle but Giannopoulos pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Giannopoulos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ferreira-Alves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Giannopoulos defends well.
Giannopoulos wanted to stand there but Ferreira-Alves had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ferreira-Alves is looking for a triangle but Giannopoulos pushes his legs off easily.

Ferreira-Alves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Giannopoulos got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ferreira-Alves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Giannopoulos has managed to get both his arms back between Ferreira-Alves's legs - danger averted.

Ferreira-Alves looking for a guillotine here but Giannopoulos defends easily.
Ferreira-Alves has a closed guard, preventing Giannopoulos from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferreira-Alves has an active guard here but Giannopoulos has managed to pass into half guard.

Ferreira-Alves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Giannopoulos is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Ferreira-Alves has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Giannopoulos escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Giannopoulos!
Giannopoulos tries to stand but Ferreira-Alves is controlling his head.
Ferreira-Alves regains half guard.
Giannopoulos wants to stand but Ferreira-Alves has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Ferreira-Alves looking for submissions off his back.
Ferreira-Alves moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira-Alves looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ferreira-Alves throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Giannopoulos escapes and throws Ferreira-Alves's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Giannopoulos wants to stand but Ferreira-Alves has his arm trapped.
Ferreira-Alves is looking to regain half guard here but Giannopoulos keeps moving and retains side control.
Giannopoulos tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ferreira-Alves is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Giannopoulos tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ferreira-Alves controls his leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Felipe Ferreira-Alves will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Giannopoulos stuffs the takedown attempt from Ferreira-Alves. Ferreira-Alves gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Giannopoulos looks to score with a jab to the body but Ferreira-Alves is just out of range.
A head kick from Giannopoulos lands but Ferreira-Alves takes it in his stride.
Ferreira-Alves lands a jab to the head.
Giannopoulos throws out a powerful jab.
Giannopoulos dips to his left and cracks Ferreira-Alves with an uppercut!

It looks like Felipe Ferreira-Alves has been cut.
Giannopoulos misses with a straight left.
Ferreira-Alves misses with an uppercut.
Ferreira-Alves staying out of range there.
Ferreira-Alves checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Giannopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ferreira-Alves avoids a punch combination nicely.
Giannopoulos bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Giannopoulos tries to clinch but Ferreira-Alves moves out of range.
Ferreira-Alves misses the shot to the body.
Giannopoulos looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Giannopoulos lands a leg kick that knocks Ferreira-Alves off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannopoulos tries to clinch but Ferreira-Alves moves out of range.
Ferreira-Alves throws a good cross that connects.
Giannopoulos connects with a crisp jab.
Ferreira-Alves fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ferreira-Alves slips under a jab from Giannopoulos.
Giannopoulos comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Good exchange - Ferreira-Alves coming out on top.
Ferreira-Alves fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Giannopoulos manages to avoid it.
Ferreira-Alves pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ferreira-Alves throws out a powerful jab.
Nikos Giannopoulos seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Giannopoulos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Giannopoulos keeping moving, preventing Ferreira-Alves from controlling successfully.
Giannopoulos is controlling Ferreira-Alves's posture.
Giannopoulos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giannopoulos wants to get back to his feet but Ferreira-Alves is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ferreira-Alves throws a big right hand that misses.
Felipe Ferreira-Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ferreira-Alves postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ferreira-Alves throws a strike but Giannopoulos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ferreira-Alves seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Giannopoulos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ferreira-Alves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Giannopoulos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferreira-Alves has a closed guard, preventing Giannopoulos from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferreira-Alves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ferreira-Alves working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Giannopoulos has passed into half guard!
Ferreira-Alves trying to get back to full guard but Giannopoulos takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ferreira-Alves is trying to reverse the position but instead Giannopoulos has taken his back - oops!
Ferreira-Alves manages to reverse the position and now he's in Giannopoulos's guard. Nice work there by Ferreira-Alves.
Ferreira-Alves throws a big elbow that misses.
Ferreira-Alves being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira-Alves throws a big elbow that misses.
Ferreira-Alves won't allow Giannopoulos to sweep him here.
Ferreira-Alves with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ferreira-Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Giannopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferreira-Alves passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ferreira-Alves working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Giannopoulos wants to control but Ferreira-Alves postures up.
Ferreira-Alves trying to control the position but Giannopoulos is working away.
You can see the frustration on Giannopoulos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nikos Giannopoulos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Felipe Ferreira-Alves's cut.
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!

Giannopoulos wants to clinch up but Ferreira-Alves keeps it at a distance.
Ferreira-Alves throws a body shot but no joy.
Ferreira-Alves takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Giannopoulos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ferreira-Alves.
Ferreira-Alves fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ferreira-Alves on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Giannopoulos digs a good hook to Ferreira-Alves's body.
Ferreira-Alves looks to score with a jab to the body but Giannopoulos is just out of range.
Ferreira-Alves fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Giannopoulos scores with a sloppy right hand. Ferreira-Alves should have avoided that one.
Giannopoulos throws a head kick that misses.
Ferreira-Alves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Giannopoulos was well out of range. Poor timing from Ferreira-Alves.
Giannopoulos looks to land a left hand but Ferreira-Alves moved out of range nicely.
A left lands for Giannopoulos.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Giannopoulos lands a nice shot that snaps Ferreira-Alves's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferreira-Alves scores with a hook to the body. Giannopoulos takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nikos Giannopoulos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ferreira-Alves gets a takedown into half guard.
Giannopoulos felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Giannopoulos is in trouble now - Ferreira-Alves has advanced to mount!
Ferreira-Alves dominating with strikes here.
Giannopoulos in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ferreira-Alves lands a big elbow.
Ferreira-Alves thowing shots but they're missing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferreira-Alves trying to control but Giannopoulos is having none of it.
Ferreira-Alves tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira-Alves misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Giannopoulos taking shots to the head.
Ferreira-Alves working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Giannopoulos is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ferreira-Alves tries to control but Giannopoulos wriggling away.
Giannopoulos tries to hold on but Ferreira-Alves postures up.
Ferreira-Alves scoring with strikes but Giannopoulos is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giannopoulos wants to control but Ferreira-Alves is having none of it.
Ferreira-Alves postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Giannopoulos looks a forlorn figure.
Ferreira-Alves trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ferreira-Alves with a couple of short strikes.
Ferreira-Alves trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ferreira-Alves has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Giannopoulos's face.
Giannopoulos is squirming around, avoiding Ferreira-Alves's attempts to control the action.
Giannopoulos in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira-Alves trying to control but Giannopoulos is having none of it.
Ferreira-Alves takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ferreira-Alves lands a couple of good shots and Giannopoulos has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Giannopoulos defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The referee is taking a good look at Giannopoulos as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Ferreira-Alves!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Will Ferreira-Alves go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Ferreira-Alves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ferreira-Alves 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nikos Giannopoulos!