PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Guillaume Laurent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Sotiropoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sotiropoulos has chosen Iron Man By Black Sabbath as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Laurent
vs
Sotiropoulos

178 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Guillaume Laurent!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, George Sotiropoulos!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laurent throws a nice looking combination but Sotiropoulos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Laurent throws a series of punches but Sotiropoulos avoids them all with ease.
Nice shot lands for Laurent.

It looks like George Sotiropoulos has been cut.
Laurent drops Sotiropoulos with a beautiful combination! Sotiropoulos stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Laurent is looking for the KO!
A punch combination from Laurent misses.
Laurent looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laurent throws a series of punches but Sotiropoulos moves out of range.
Laurent throws the left hand but Sotiropoulos avoids the punch easily.
Laurent throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Laurent misses.
Laurent swinging wilding here.
Laurent throws a combination. Sotiropoulos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sotiropoulos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laurent pinned against the cage. Laurent gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Laurent fails to land with a series of punches.
Laurent waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Sotiropoulos.
Laurent swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Laurent both land. Nice combination.
Laurent is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Laurent, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown by Sotiropoulos or perhaps it was just good defense by Laurent which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Laurent misses.
Guillaume Laurent seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laurent misses with a series of wild punches.
Laurent displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sotiropoulos.
Guillaume Laurent has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Sotiropoulos.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sotiropoulos.
Laurent throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sotiropoulos.
Laurent misses with a double jab.
Sotiropoulos takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sotiropoulos's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Sotiropoulos duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A combination from Laurent does no damage.
Laurent falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sotiropoulos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sotiropoulos trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sotiropoulos works his way into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos works to advance to full mount. Laurent defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Sotiropoulos avoids the attempt from Laurent to control.
Sotiropoulos is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sotiropoulos takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Laurent on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laurent tries to get out of the position.

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.

Sotiropoulos jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Laurent manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laurent gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Guillaume Laurent will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on George Sotiropoulos's cut.
That's time! Laurent's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Laurent misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laurent will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Laurent throws a right hand that Sotiropoulos ducks under and follows up with a left that Sotiropoulos also avoids with ease.
Sotiropoulos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laurent pinned against the cage. Laurent gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sotiropoulos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sotiropoulos dodges the punch combination from Laurent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laurent scores with the left hand. Sotiropoulos knows he should have avoided that one.
Sotiropoulos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Laurent.
Laurent misses with a double jab

and Sotiropoulos counters with a shoot takedown. Laurent fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurent is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sotiropoulos is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sotiropoulos passes Laurent's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Laurent wants to get back to his feet.
Sotiropoulos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Laurent!
Sotiropoulos landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos moves to the back.

Sotiropoulos has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Laurent is in real trouble here. Sotiropoulos gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Laurent is tapping out! Sotiropoulos wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). George Sotiropoulos!