PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tero Elo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonis Papageorgiou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonis Papageorgiou struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 207.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Elo
vs
Papageorgiou

185 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
20
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tero Elo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonis Papageorgiou!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Elo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Papageorgiou looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Papageorgiou throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Elo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Elo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Papageorgiou rushes Elo and presses him up against the cage.
Papageorgiou gets underhooks to prevent Elo's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tero Elo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Elo pulls guard effortlessly.

Papageorgiou stands up from Elo's guard - Papageorgiou perhaps looking for a knockout.

Papageorgiou gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Elo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Papageorgiou fails to pull guard.
Papageorgiou keeps control of Elo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Elo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Papageorgiou.

Elo manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elo fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Elo.
Nice takedown defense from Papageorgiou. No joy for Elo on that attempt.
Elo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Elo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Papageorgiou swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Papageorgiou as Elo shoots in.
Papageorgiou scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Elo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Papageorgiou to the mat! Papageorgiou manages to get full guard.
Elo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Elo trying to control but Papageorgiou is working from the bottom.

Papageorgiou escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Elo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Elo slips nicely into half guard.
Elo wants to stand but Papageorgiou has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Elo is looking to take a break and control but Papageorgiou is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Elo content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elo works his way into side control.
Elo tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Elo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Elo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Elo wants to pass the guard but Papageorgiou is defending well.
Papageorgiou is not content to let Elo control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Elo is just content to waste time from the top position. Papageorgiou takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Elo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Elo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Papageorgiou, up you get!
Papageorgiou stuffs the takedown attempt from Elo. Elo gets slowly back to his feet.
Elo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Papageorgiou as he jumps to the side.
Elo dodges the punch combination from Papageorgiou.
Elo shoots for a double leg takedown but Papageorgiou sprawls well. He's pushed Elo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Elo closes the distance but Papageorgiou moves to the side

and Papageorgiou counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonis Papageorgiou will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Elo misses with a takedown

and Papageorgiou counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Elo!
Elo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Elo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Papageorgiou putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

It looks like Tero Elo has been cut.
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!

Papageorgiou goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Elo turns into him and now he's in Papageorgiou's guard.
Papageorgiou not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Papageorgiou manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Antonis Papageorgiou has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Papageorgiou wants to finish this one by submission but Elo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Papageorgiou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papageorgiou won't let Elo get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Elo is working to get back to half guard.
Elo is working hard here to advance position.
Elo wants to control but Papageorgiou is having none of it.
Elo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Elo gets to his feet. Papageorgiou looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Elo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Papageorgiou counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Elo!
Elo is working to get back to half guard.
Elo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Papageorgiou is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Elo defends it well.
Elo landing small, sideways elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elo is looking to escape.

Papageorgiou is trying to work for a kimura but Elo is defending well.
Elo manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papageorgiou throws a strike but Elo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Elo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Papageorgiou is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Elo trying to control the position from guard on top but Papageorgiou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elo won't allow Papageorgiou to sweep him here.
Papageorgiou wants to stand and escape but Elo is having none of it.
Elo trying to control the position from guard on top but Papageorgiou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Elo stands and steps away. Papageorgiou gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Elo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Papageorgiou counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonis Papageorgiou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tero Elo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Elo shoots in and drives through. Papageorgiou sprawls well.
Elo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Elo looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tero Elo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elo fails with a takedown attempt.

Papageorgiou gets the takedown into side control.

Papageorgiou working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Who's going to make the next move?
Papageorgiou takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Elo is pushing Papageorgiou's head away, looking to escape. Papageorgiou manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Papageorgiou goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Elo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Papageorgiou's guard! Nice work there by Elo!
Elo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Papageorgiou's guard.
Papageorgiou is trying to get back to full guard.
Elo slows the pace down in half guard.
Elo wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Papageorgiou is trying to get back to full guard.
Elo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Elo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elo slips a nice elbow through Papageorgiou's hands, connecting with Papageorgiou's forehead.
Papageorgiou wants to get back to full guard.
Elo trying to control the pace.
Elo tries to pass to full mount but Papageorgiou defends it.

Papageorgiou looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Papageorgiou has a hand on Elo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Elo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Elo avoids the attempt from Papageorgiou to control.
Papageorgiou is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papageorgiou tries to improve his position but instead Elo has taken his back!
Tero Elo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Papageorgiou tries to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tero Elo.
Well Papageorgiou has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonis Papageorgiou!