PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stelios Raptis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Luan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raptis comes to the cage accompanied by Deviser - Threnody. El Luan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Raptis
vs
Luan

180 cm
25
191 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
191 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stelios Raptis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, El Luan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Raptis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Raptis forces his way into half guard.
Raptis prevents Luan from improving his position.

Raptis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Luan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Raptis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are battling for position here. Luan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Raptis with a nice head shot there.

Luan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raptis stands up over Luan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raptis lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Luan has his foot on Raptis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raptis works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Luan has momentary wrist control but Raptis slips an elbow through the middle.
Raptis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luan has momentary wrist control but Raptis slips an elbow through the middle.
Raptis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Luan is keeping the position for now.

Luan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raptis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Raptis is working Luan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Luan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Raptis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Raptis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raptis working some strikes from top position.

Luan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Raptis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Raptis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Raptis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raptis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raptis is pushing down on Luan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Luan is fighting to maintain full guard but Raptis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Luan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Raptis drops back looking for a leg! Luan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Luan manages to kick Raptis off! Raptis jumps back into Luan's guard.

Raptis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raptis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Luan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Raptis lands a couple of elbows.
Raptis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Raptis chips away with some ground and pound.
Raptis cracks Luan with a solid left hand.
Raptis won't allow Luan to sweep him here.

Luan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Raptis defends well.
Raptis stands up over Luan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raptis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Raptis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raptis wants to pass the guard but Luan is keeping the position.
Raptis scoring with some ground and pound.
Raptis scoring with some ground and pound.
Raptis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raptis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raptis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Raptis stands up over Luan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raptis lands a couple of digs.
Raptis connects with a couple of short punches.
Raptis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raptis scoring with punches to the head and body.

Raptis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Luan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Raptis has managed to get both his arms back between Luan's legs - danger averted.

Luan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Luan has his foot on Raptis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raptis works his way back into a safe position though.
Raptis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raptis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Raptis stands up over Luan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raptis postures up and lands a big shot to Luan's brow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Luan looking for a guillotine here but Raptis defends easily.
Raptis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raptis passes Luan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Raptis is nestled in close to Luan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Raptis seems to be working for a kimura but Luan defends the submission attempt.
Luan is pressing down on Raptis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raptis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Luan has his foot on Raptis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raptis works his way back into a safe position though.
Raptis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Raptis working some strikes from top position.
Raptis connects with a couple of short punches.

Luan is rocked!

Raptis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Raptis stands up over Luan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Luan is still in real trouble! Can Raptis finish him?
Raptis with a nice head shot there.
Raptis loads up on a big left hand. Luan felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Raptis looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Luan can't hide his disappointment, as Raptis celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Stelios Raptis!
A relieved looking Stelios Raptis thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.