PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshida Kotaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prokopos kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deep River Blues - Doc Watson. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kotaro's choice of entrance music: Dance Yourself Clean. Yoshida Kotaro acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Prokopos
vs
Kotaro

180 cm
35
144 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

194 cm
32
139 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshida Kotaro!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Prokopos swinging wildly here.
Prokopos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kotaro is fending him off so far but Prokopos persists. Nope, Kotaro circles away and we're back to standing.
Prokopos throws a low kick but Kotaro avoids it.
Kotaro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Prokopos misses with a double jab
and Kotaro counters with a nice body kick.
Prokopos misses with a hook
and Kotaro counters with a stiff right hand.
Prokopos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Prokopos closes the distance and clinches up with Kotaro, looking for a takedown. Prokopos pushes Kotaro against the cage but Kotaro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kotaro stuffs the takedown attempt from Prokopos. Prokopos gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Prokopos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prokopos shoots in and bounces Kotaro off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Prokopos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kotaro is looking to stand up but Prokopos isn't so interested in that idea.
Kotaro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kotaro looking to control but Prokopos passes into half guard.
Prokopos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kotaro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro is trying to get back to full guard.
Prokopos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Prokopos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kotaro sees it coming and defends easily.
Prokopos trying to control from half guard but Kotaro is working away.
Kotaro is in trouble now - Prokopos has advanced to mount!
Prokopos moves to the back position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Prokopos controlling well, preventing Kotaro from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos working for the choke.

Prokopos is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kotaro knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kotaro for a finish.
Kotaro is really stuck here.
Prokopos is not going to allow Kotaro to sit and survive in this position.

Prokopos has got his arm under Kotaro's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Kotaro has spun round into Prokopos's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro won't allow Prokopos to sweep him here.
Kotaro wants to control from the top but Prokopos keeps moving.
Kotaro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kotaro looking to sit in guard and control but Prokopos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Prokopos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Prokopos trying to control but Kotaro is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Prokopos passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Prokopos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Prokopos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kotaro is keeping the position for now.
Kotaro wants to sweep here but Prokopos controlling him for the moment.
Kotaro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Prokopos passes Kotaro's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura here.
Kotaro wants to control but Prokopos is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos trying to control the action but Kotaro is working from the bottom.
Kotaro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Prokopos is working away from the top position though.
Kotaro tries to kick Prokopos off in order to stand up. Prokopos Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Kotaro regains half guard there - taking advantage of Prokopos's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Prokopos moves into full mount! Kotaro won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro tries to hold on but Prokopos pushes him away.
Denny Prokopos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Prokopos goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kotaro is on top in guard.
Kotaro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Prokopos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kotaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Prokopos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Prokopos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kotaro escapes and throws Prokopos's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Prokopos is trying to get back to half guard.
Prokopos is trying to work for a sweep but Kotaro has mounted him!
Prokopos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kotaro throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Prokopos because Kotaro loaded up on that one.
Kotaro with the ground and pound from mount.
Kotaro tries to control but Prokopos wriggling away.
Kotaro throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Prokopos because Kotaro loaded up on that one.
Prokopos wants to hold on but Kotaro pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kotaro goes for an armbar but Prokopos turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Prokopos.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Prokopos has gone for a leg lock! Kotaro slips out almost immediately though and dives into Prokopos's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Prokopos blocks a head kick by Kotaro.
Prokopos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Prokopos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kotaro can pounce on him.
Prokopos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kotaro as he jumps to the side.
Prokopos misses with the combination.
Kotaro throws a head kick that misses.
Prokopos stalks Kotaro and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kotaro's face. Kotaro staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Prokopos's head backwards.
Denny Prokopos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Prokopos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kotaro.
Kotaro tries to clinch there but Prokopos circles away.

Kotaro has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kotaro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kotaro takes one to the chin there.
Kotaro darts in trying to clinch
and Prokopos counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kotaro goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Prokopos has a takedown stuffed.
Denny Prokopos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Prokopos scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Prokopos tries a head kick but it misses.
Kotaro doesn't manage to clinch there - Prokopos circles away.
Prokopos lands a nice hook to Kotaro's body. Kotaro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Prokopos throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kotaro holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kotaro with a knee to the head.
Prokopos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Prokopos tries to circle away but Kotaro has him pinned against the cage.

Prokopos turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Prokopos manages to end up in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kotaro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kotaro decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Prokopos paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice shot lands for Kotaro.
Prokopos throws a combination that misses
and Kotaro counters with a nice uppercut.
Kotaro is looking to clinch but Prokopos is avoiding it.
Yoshida Kotaro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kotaro stuffs the takedown attempt from Prokopos. Prokopos gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kotaro throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Prokopos swats away the attempt to clinch by Kotaro.
Prokopos lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro doesn't manage to clinch there - Prokopos circles away.
A combination from Prokopos does no damage.
Prokopos misses with a wild combination.
Yoshida Kotaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Prokopos looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Denny Prokopos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Prokopos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kotaro defends it nicely.
Kotaro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Prokopos.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Prokopos. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yoshida Kotaro.
I think Prokopos 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denny Prokopos!
Post fight, Denny Prokopos stared into the camera and said 'I always thought the removal of toes with a bolt cutter was rather humane '.