PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mattias Lundgren (ranked 892 p4p, 1388 weight class) and Nikos Giannopoulos (ranked 131 p4p, 189 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nikos Giannopoulos was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Lundgren
vs
Giannopoulos

192 cm
29
185
17 - 9 - 0

184 cm
40
184
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mattias Lundgren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikos Giannopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giannopoulos connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Mattias Lundgren has been cut.
Giannopoulos scores with a jab.

Giannopoulos cracks Lundgren with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Giannopoulos has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Lundgren to stand back up!

Lundgren is rocked!
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!
Giannopoulos throws a body shot but no joy.
Lundgren attempts a counter takedown but Giannopoulos avoids it well and moves away.
Oh Lundgren is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A swing and a miss from Giannopoulos.
Lundgren attempts a counter takedown but Giannopoulos avoids it well and moves away.
Giannopoulos misses with a hook.
Lundgren tries to counter by clinching up but Giannopoulos breaks away and moves out of range.
Lundgren is trying hard to land a takedown here. Giannopoulos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lundgren seems to have got his legs back now.
Giannopoulos misses with a hook.
Lundgren seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Giannopoulos throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lundgren lands a nice looking body shot.

Lundgren shoots in and gets a takedown into Giannopoulos's guard.
Lundgren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lundgren stops Giannopoulos from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannopoulos keeping moving, preventing Lundgren from controlling successfully.
Lundgren seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Giannopoulos pulls Lundgren in close to prevent any damage.
Lundgren wants to pass the guard but Giannopoulos is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lundgren slips under a jab from Giannopoulos.
No joy there for Giannopoulos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lundgren takes one to the side of the head.
Lundgren seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Giannopoulos thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lundgren moves in looking to clinch but Giannopoulos pushes him off.
A swing and a miss from Giannopoulos.
Lundgren tries to counter by clinching up but Giannopoulos breaks away and moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Giannopoulos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Giannopoulos throws an off balance right hand

and Lundgren counters with a shoot takedown. Giannopoulos fights it but they end up in guard.
Giannopoulos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lundgren is one step ahead there.
Lundgren advances position into side control!
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 dodges the ground and pound from Lundgren.
Lundgren is looking to take a break and control but Giannopoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lundgren tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giannopoulos wants to get back to his feet.
Giannopoulos prevents Lundgren from moving into mount.
Lundgren trying to control the action but Giannopoulos is working from the bottom.
Lundgren wants to control for a moment but Giannopoulos uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lundgren working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Giannopoulos's thigh. Giannopoulos counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Lundgren content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lundgren wants to control from the top but Giannopoulos keeps moving.
Lundgren lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Giannopoulos keeping full guard, as Lundgren tries to pass.
Lundgren trying to control but Giannopoulos is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikos Giannopoulos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mattias Lundgren's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Giannopoulos throws a shot from downtown. Lundgren moves away and avoids it.
Lundgren appears to be looking for a big counter.
Giannopoulos lands a jab to the head.
Giannopoulos throws a body punch but Lundgren moves out of range.
Lundgren tries to counter with a takedown but Giannopoulos is quick to defend against it.
Lundgren looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Giannopoulos is fending him off so far but Lundgren persists. Nope, Giannopoulos circles away and we're back to standing.
Good standup being displayed there by Giannopoulos as he connects with a hook.
Nikos Giannopoulos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Giannopoulos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lundgren moves away.
Lundgren attempts a counter takedown but Giannopoulos avoids it well and moves away.
Mattias Lundgren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Giannopoulos connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Giannopoulos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Giannopoulos. Lundgren does a little dance to reset his feet.
Giannopoulos throws an off balance right hand

and Lundgren decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Giannopoulos's guard.
Giannopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lundgren trying to control but Giannopoulos is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Giannopoulos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lundgren is controlling him.
Lundgren wants to pass the guard but Giannopoulos is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Giannopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lundgren tries to free his leg and advance position but Giannopoulos is retaining full guard.

Lundgren drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Giannopoulos dives on top into guard.

Lundgren is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lundgren has a closed guard, preventing Giannopoulos from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lundgren trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Giannopoulos wants to stand but Lundgren has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nikos Giannopoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lundgren closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Giannopoulos did well to prevent Lundgren getting side control.
Giannopoulos is holding on to half guard well.
Lundgren misses with a head shot. Giannopoulos uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Giannopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giannopoulos is pulling down on Lundgren's head. It's preventing any offense from Lundgren, at least for the moment.
Lundgren wants to pass the guard but Giannopoulos is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lundgren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Giannopoulos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Giannopoulos keeping moving, preventing Lundgren from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lundgren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lundgren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Giannopoulos is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Giannopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Giannopoulos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikos Giannopoulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mattias Lundgren's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Giannopoulos throws a series of punches but Lundgren avoids them all with ease.
Lundgren changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Giannopoulos misses with a low kick.
Giannopoulos throws a leg kick that is checked

so Lundgren counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Giannopoulos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lundgren is one step ahead there.
Giannopoulos is pulling down on Lundgren's head to control his posture.
Giannopoulos keeping full guard, as Lundgren tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giannopoulos is looking to stand up but Lundgren isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannopoulos wants to sweep here but Lundgren controlling him for the moment.
Lundgren tries to free his leg and advance position but Giannopoulos is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lundgren won't allow Giannopoulos to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Giannopoulos misses with a looping right.
Lundgren seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Giannopoulos throws a hook but Lundgren avoids it easily.
Giannopoulos throws a series of punches but Lundgren avoids them all with ease.
Lundgren appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Lundgren scores with a takedown into Giannopoulos's guard.
Giannopoulos can't keep his opponent in guard - Lundgren advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giannopoulos pushes Lundgren off looking to stand but Lundgren dives back in and keeps control.
Giannopoulos is staying active underneath Lundgren, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lundgren wants to pass to mount but Giannopoulos is defending the position.
Lundgren not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Lundgren is trying to work for a kimura but Giannopoulos is defending well.
Giannopoulos keeping control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lundgren is thwarting Giannopoulos's attempts to control the position.
Giannopoulos won't allow Lundgren to pass to mount.
Lundgren trying to control from Giannopoulos's half guard. Giannopoulos has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lundgren trying to control the position from guard on top but Giannopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giannopoulos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Giannopoulos pulls Lundgren in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Giannopoulos lands a front kick.
Nice takedown defense from Giannopoulos. No joy for Lundgren on that attempt.
Giannopoulos cracks Lundgren with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A big left from Giannopoulos misses.
Lundgren tries to counter by clinching up but Giannopoulos breaks away and moves out of range.
Giannopoulos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lundgren drops down looking for a counter takedown but Giannopoulos sprawls and moves away.
Giannopoulos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Giannopoulos motions for Lundgren to come forward. Giannopoulos throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Giannopoulos slaps away a takedown attempt from Lundgren, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Giannopoulos lands a leg kick that knocks Lundgren off balance momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikos Giannopoulos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Giannopoulos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikos Giannopoulos!
During a confident post fight interview, Nikos Giannopoulos thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Mattias Lundgren was interviewed post fight and said 'Sometines your opponent getsthebetter of you, tonight was one of those nights and I was unprepared. To all my fans sorry, I'll come back stronger and to my opponent congratulations but I'll be seing you again soon I'm sure.'.