PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Efthimis Skeparnias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lock LA (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.

Skeparnias
vs
LA

220 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Efthimis Skeparnias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lock LA!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LA keeps the fight on the outside.

Skeparnias has closed the distance and engaged LA in a clinch.
LA is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
LA wants to break free but Skeparnias has control.

LA escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Skeparnias forces LA back against the cage and clinches.
LA has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Skeparnias avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Skeparnias leaning against his opponent.
Skeparnias tries to break free but LA pushes him back against the cage.
LA fails to pull the fight into his guard.
LA jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Skeparnias walks away with a smile on his face. LA gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Efthimis Skeparnias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lock LA.
Skeparnias scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Skeparnias fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Skeparnias fails with a takedown attempt.
Skeparnias tries to clinch up but LA circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skeparnias gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
LA is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Skeparnias to keep the fight standing.
LA is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Skeparnias is defending well.
LA throws an elbow but it misses.
LA is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Skeparnias to keep the fight standing.
LA wants to stall.
LA controlling the action here for a moment.
Skeparnias has had enough of the clinch but LA keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LA is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Skeparnias pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Skeparnias has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. LA is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
LA throws an elbow but it's blocked.
LA effectively controlling the action here.
LA is trying to drag Skeparnias to the mat but Skeparnias just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short uppercut from Skeparnias.
A bit of stalling here from Skeparnias.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - LA has eaten all the pies!

LA escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Skeparnias shoots in but no luck this time.

Skeparnias closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LA tries to throw a body punch but Skeparnias avoids it by throwing LA back against the cage.
LA tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
LA unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Skeparnias jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as LA walks away with a smile on his face. Skeparnias gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

LA clinches up with Skeparnias and pushes him back against the cage.
Skeparnias prevents a body shot from LA.

LA breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from LA. No joy for Skeparnias on that attempt.
LA moves out of range of the leg kick from Skeparnias.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Skeparnias is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables LA to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skeparnias is stalling here.
LA tries to pull guard but Skeparnias holds him up against the cage and eventually LA drops back down to his feet.
LA lands with a right to the head.
LA has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Skeparnias after a bit of a struggle.

LA successfully pulls guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
LA utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LA is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LA looks gassed!
Skeparnias pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. LA is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Skeparnias swats away the attempt to clinch by LA.
Skeparnias misses with a kick to the body
and LA counters with a thumping low kick.
Skeparnias showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from LA.
Skeparnias fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but LA avoids it really well and circles away.
Skeparnias misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from LA.
Skeparnias tries to close the distance and clinch up but LA swats him away and circles back towards the center.
LA throws a head kick that misses.
Skeparnias shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has LA pinned against the cage. LA gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
LA throws a series of punches but Skeparnias moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LA fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Skeparnias avoids it really well and circles away.
LA throws a jab when Skeparnias was well out of range.
LA throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Skeparnias fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efthimis Skeparnias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LA tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skeparnias swivels and escapes.
Skeparnias stuffs the takedown attempt from LA. LA gets slowly back to his feet.
Efthimis Skeparnias is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
LA is breathing heavily.
LA is trying hard to land a takedown here. Skeparnias sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skeparnias clinches up against the cage.
Skeparnias drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
LA will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Skeparnias up against the cage.
Lock LA seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

LA pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Skeparnias shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts LA as he jumps to the side.
LA tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skeparnias swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skeparnias avoids the head kick by LA.
LA keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Skeparnias lands a slapping body shot.
Skeparnias throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skeparnias tries to clinch up.
LA throws a head kick but Skeparnias moves out of range.
LA stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and LA wants it to stay on the feet.
Horrible takedown by LA or perhaps it was just good defense by Skeparnias which made him look bad.

Skeparnias moves into range and clinches up with LA.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LA is looking to take this one to the mat.
A frustrated look appears on LA's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Skeparnias is trying to break the clinch but LA is controlling him.
LA swings away with an uppercut that misses.
LA is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Skeparnias gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short left from Skeparnias.
Skeparnias is trying to pull guard but LA has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Efthimis Skeparnias will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Skeparnias stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Skeparnias wants it to stay on the feet.
Skeparnias tries to close the distance and clinch up but LA swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Skeparnias clinches up with LA and pushes him back against the cage.

LA successfully pulls guard.
Skeparnias engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Skeparnias sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed LA's guard.
Skeparnias throwing shots but LA is blocking nicely.
Skeparnias takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Skeparnias is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and LA defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skeparnias wants to stand but LA has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skeparnias not landing any meaningful shots this time.
LA trying to hold on to Skeparnias's head to control him but Skeparnias postures up.
Skeparnias controlling the action here.

Skeparnias is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
LA wants to control but Skeparnias is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LA is looking to improve his position.
LA is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LA takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
LA is looking to control Skeparnias's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can LA avoid being mounted?
Still in half guard, Skeparnias seems content to control.
Skeparnias will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
LA misses with a takedown attempt - Skeparnias sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Skeparnias fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skeparnias tries to close the distance and clinch but LA swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Efthimis Skeparnias is winning the standup battle so far.
Skeparnias shoots in but no luck this time.
LA stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and LA wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efthimis Skeparnias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skeparnias throws a leg kick but LA moved away.
LA moves to clinch but Skeparnias breaks away
and Skeparnias counters with a stiff right hand.
Skeparnias tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
LA defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Skeparnias.

LA fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Skeparnias, pushing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efthimis Skeparnias showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Skeparnias 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Efthimis Skeparnias!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Efthimis Skeparnias!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Efthimis Skeparnias!

Efthimis Skeparnias wins by unanimous decision!