PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Panagiotis Papadopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norbert Grupe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grupe comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Organized Konfusion - Bring It On (Buckwild Remix) kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Papadopoulos
vs
Grupe

175 cm
23
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

186 cm
27
178 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Panagiotis Papadopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norbert Grupe!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grupe throws a nice looking combination but Papadopoulos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Norbert Grupe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Papadopoulos tries for a takedown but Grupe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grupe throws a shot from downtown. Papadopoulos moves away and avoids it.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grupe but Grupe pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Papadopoulos shoots in and bounces Grupe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Papadopoulos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Papadopoulos wants to pass the guard but Grupe is keeping the position.
Papadopoulos being controlled here momentarily.
Papadopoulos stops Grupe from standing up.
Grupe seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grupe wants to sweep but no luck.
Grupe pulls Papadopoulos in to control the position.
Papadopoulos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Norbert Grupe wasn't active enough on the ground.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grupe. Papadopoulos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Papadopoulos takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Grupe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grupe wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Panagiotis Papadopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grupe misses with a hook.
Grupe throws the left hand but Papadopoulos avoids the punch easily.
Grupe throws a jab but it's blocked by Papadopoulos.
Grupe connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Papadopoulos has his takedown stuffed
and Grupe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos ducks right into an uppercut from Grupe.
Papadopoulos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grupe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Papadopoulos somewhat.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a double leg but Grupe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grupe misses the shot to the body.
Grupe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grupe looks to score with a jab to the body but Papadopoulos is just out of range.
Grupe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Papadopoulos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grupe is fending him off so far but Papadopoulos persists. Nope, Grupe circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos shoots in and drives through. Grupe sprawls well.
Grupe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Grupe cracks a nice hook into Papadopoulos's ribs.
Grupe leaves Papadopoulos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grupe is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Grupe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papadopoulos moves away.
Papadopoulos avoids the body shot from Grupe.
Grupe lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Grupe scores with a shot to the body.
Papadopoulos shoots and misses
and Grupe counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grupe's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Grupe duly obliges.
Papadopoulos dives in and grabs Grupe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Grupe pushes down on Papadopoulos's head and hops out.
Grupe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Papadopoulos is breathing heavily.
Grupe misses the shot to the body.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Grupe is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Papadopoulos rather than just go for the knockout.
Grupe throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Grupe misses its intended target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grupe jabs Papadopoulos to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Grupe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Papadopoulos at a distance.
Grupe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norbert Grupe dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Grupe stuns Papadopoulos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Papadopoulos fails to land the takedown.
Grupe scores with a crisp jab that stopped Papadopoulos in his tracks.
A combination from Grupe does no damage.
Grupe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Papadopoulos moves forwards but Grupe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Grupe misses the shot to the body.
Papadopoulos shoots and misses
and Grupe counters with a one-two to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grupe connects with the punch.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grupe sprawls well. Grupe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Papadopoulos gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Panagiotis Papadopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos needs to keep his hands up - Grupe had a free shot at his head there.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Grupe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Grupe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grupe catches Papadopoulos with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grupe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Papadopoulos with a poor takedown
and Grupe counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papadopoulos fails with the takedown.
Nice uppercut lands for Grupe. That snapped Papadopoulos's head back.
Papadopoulos misses with a takedown attempt
and Grupe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Papadopoulos shoots for a takedown but Grupe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Grupe works the jab nicely.
Grupe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grupe cracks Papadopoulos with a good jab.
Grupe connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Papadopoulos's hands.
Grupe misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grupe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Papadopoulos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Papadopoulos looks for a takedown but Grupe sprawls well.
Grupe cracks Papadopoulos with a good jab.
Grupe takes a swing at Papadopoulos's ribcage but misses.
Papadopoulos has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Papadopoulos there as he acknowledges the shot.
Grupe has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Grupe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Grupe connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Grupe does no damage.
Grupe lunges at Papadopoulos with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Papadopoulos's hand.

Papadopoulos is rocked!
Grupe lands a nice looking body shot.
Papadopoulos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Grupe finds it's way round the side to connect with Papadopoulos's head.
Grupe throws a series of punches but Papadopoulos moves out of range.
Grupe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Papadopoulos looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Papadopoulos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Grupe.
Grupe stalks Papadopoulos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Papadopoulos's face. Papadopoulos staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norbert Grupe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Grupe lands a nice shot to the body.
Grupe scores with a jab to the body.
Papadopoulos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grupe is fending him off so far but Papadopoulos persists. Nope, Grupe circles away and we're back to standing.
Grupe misses with a looping right.
Grupe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papadopoulos moves away.
Grupe misses with the combination.
Grupe closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Papadopoulos slips a jab from Grupe.
Grupe connects with a body shot that sends Papadopoulos's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grupe punishes Papadopoulos's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Papadopoulos takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Grupe jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Papadopoulos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grupe lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Grupe lands with a big left! Papadopoulos is wobbled badly! Grupe comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Papadopoulos to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Norbert Grupe!
An out of breath Norbert Grupe thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.