PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aldin Arifi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angelos Karagounis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Arifi
vs
Karagounis

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aldin Arifi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Angelos Karagounis!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arifi throws a series of punches but Karagounis avoids them all with ease.

Karagounis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Karagounis is looking to take a break and control but Arifi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Karagounis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Arifi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Karagounis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Arifi throws a sloppy head kick

and Karagounis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Well, if Karagounis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karagounis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Karagounis trying to control the action but Arifi is working from the bottom.
Karagounis prevents Arifi from standing back up.
Karagounis is just content to waste time from the top position. Arifi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karagounis passes Arifi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Karagounis wants to stand up but Arifi is controlling the position.

Karagounis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Arifi defends it well.

Karagounis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arifi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Karagounis looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karagounis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Karagounis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Karagounis is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karagounis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arifi's head.

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.
Arifi is pressing down on Karagounis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Karagounis throws and elbow that misses. Arifi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karagounis's guard. Nice move by Arifi!
Arifi stops Karagounis from standing up.

Arifi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Karagounis is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Karagounis has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angelos Karagounis dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Arifi connects with the punch.
Karagounis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Arifi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Arifi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Arifi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karagounis wants to control but Arifi is keeping busy.

Arifi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Karagounis is just riding it out for now. Arifi eventually gives up the hold.
Karagounis is looking to improve his position.
Arifi wants to pass to mount but Karagounis is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Arifi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karagounis defending well though.
Karagounis is trying to maintain the position but Arifi is very close to passing his half guard.
Karagounis tries to kick Arifi off but Arifi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Karagounis is refusing to be controlled, as Arifi sits in half guard.

Karagounis pushes Arifi off and gets back to his feet.
Angelos Karagounis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Arifi. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karagounis misses with a takedown attempt

and Arifi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Arifi.
Arifi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Karagounis prevents it.
Arifi is trying to break the clinch but Karagounis has him pressed against the cage.
Karagounis stops a takedown attempt from Arifi.
Karagounis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arifi is defending well for now.

Karagounis gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Karagounis wants to take a breather but Arifi is having none of it.

Arifi is defending against the submission attempts here by Karagounis.

Karagounis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Arifi defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karagounis is keen to just control but Arifi is a slippery customer.
Arifi has his hands clasped together around Karagounis's back. He's all about the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldin Arifi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A head kick misses from Arifi.
Karagounis misses with a takedown
and Arifi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Karagounis wants to clinch
and Arifi counters with a two punch combo.
Karagounis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Arifi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Karagounis is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arifi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Arifi.
Karagounis shoots and misses

and Arifi counters with a single leg into guard. Karagounis didn't expect that.
Aldin Arifi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angelos Karagounis.
Arifi throwing strikes from guard but Karagounis blocks nicely.
Arifi pushing down on Karagounis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Angelos Karagounis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arifi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Arifi is working for a kimura but Karagounis is defending it quite comfortably.
Arifi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Karagounis manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Aldin Arifi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karagounis fails with the takedown

and Arifi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Arifi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arifi trying to control but Karagounis is working from the bottom.
Arifi postures up.
Arifi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arifi landing with the ground and pound.
Arifi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arifi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Karagounis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Arifi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Karagounis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Karagounis trying to control from half guard but Arifi is working away.
Karagounis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Arifi wants to improve his position but Karagounis is controlling well.
Arifi is working hard here to advance position.
Karagounis wants to control but Arifi is keeping him busy.
Arifi wants to control but Karagounis is keeping busy.
Karagounis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arifi keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aldin Arifi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arifi 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aldin Arifi!