PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Kothciushco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Panikos Papaioanou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Krzysztof Kothciushco has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kothciushco
vs
Papaioanou

200 cm
23
250 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

183 cm
21
282 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Krzysztof Kothciushco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Panikos Papaioanou!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kothciushco just misses with a punch to the body.
Kothciushco tries a head kick but it misses.
Kothciushco misses with a body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kothciushco.
Papaioanou gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kothciushco wants to work for an arm triangle but Papaioanou is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kothciushco is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Papaioanou is just riding it out for now. Kothciushco eventually gives up the hold.

Papaioanou is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kothciushco pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Papaioanou moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Papaioanou working for a triangle but Kothciushco defends it easily.
Kothciushco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Papaioanou keeping moving, preventing Kothciushco from controlling successfully.

Papaioanou looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Papaioanou escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kothciushco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Papaioanou looking to control.
Kothciushco trying to control but Papaioanou is working from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Papaioanou had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kothciushco defends it easily.

Kothciushco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Papaioanou looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Papaioanou working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kothciushco doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kothciushco manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Papaioanou utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kothciushco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kothciushco stands and throws Papaioanou's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kothciushco working away.
Papaioanou is looking to reverse the position.
Papaioanou is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Papaioanou manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Papaioanou is pressing down on Kothciushco's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Papaioanou looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Papaioanou is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou keeping full guard, as Kothciushco tries to pass.
Kothciushco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kothciushco trying to control the position from guard on top but Papaioanou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kothciushco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Papaioanou had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kothciushco defends it easily.

Papaioanou is looking for a triangle here but Kothciushco uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Papaioanou is looking for a sweep.

Kothciushco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Papaioanou's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kothciushco tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kothciushco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Papaioanou keeps working.
Papaioanou is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Papaioanou sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Papaioanou actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Papaioanou looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kothciushco is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Panikos Papaioanou dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A telegraphed right hand from Kothciushco misses the target.
Kothciushco lands a body shot.
Kothciushco throws a head kick that misses.
Kothciushco fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Papaioanou.
Papaioanou shoots in for a takedown but Kothciushco shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kothciushco connects with a high kick.
Kothciushco throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kothciushco misses with a double jab.

Papaioanou manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kothciushco on his heels. He'll look to pass Kothciushco's guard now, I'm sure.
Kothciushco pulls Papaioanou in to control the position.
Papaioanou throwing strikes from guard but Kothciushco blocks nicely.
Papaioanou with a nice head shot there.

Papaioanou is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kothciushco is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kothciushco has escaped and now he's on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Papaioanou looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Papaioanou is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kothciushco defends well.
Kothciushco passes into half guard.
Kothciushco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Papaioanou does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kothciushco is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kothciushco is keen to just control but Papaioanou is a slippery customer.
Papaioanou punching from the bottom.
Papaioanou moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Papaioanou wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Papaioanou working for a triangle but Kothciushco defends it easily.

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

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

Papaioanou looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Papaioanou is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kothciushco won't allow Papaioanou to sweep him here.

Papaioanou looking for a guillotine here but Kothciushco defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kothciushco drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Papaioanou manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kothciushco has Papaioanou in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Papaioanou throwing strikes from guard but Kothciushco blocks nicely.
Papaioanou lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Papaioanou lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Papaioanou with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kothciushco has momentary wrist control but Papaioanou slips an elbow through the middle.
Papaioanou with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Panikos Papaioanou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kothciushco looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Papaioanou!

Kothciushco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Papaioanou is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kothciushco's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Kothciushco is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Papaioanou sees it coming and defends easily.
Papaioanou is looking to control Kothciushco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Papaioanou avoid being mounted?
Kothciushco prevents Papaioanou from improving his position.
Papaioanou gets full guard.

Kothciushco is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Papaioanou is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papaioanou missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Papaioanou throwing shots but Kothciushco is blocking nicely.
Papaioanou passes to side control.
Papaioanou working the head with strikes.
Papaioanou has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Papaioanou goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kothciushco has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Papaioanou but great work by Kothciushco.
Papaioanou gets back to half guard.
Kothciushco is trying to control. Papaioanou wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Papaioanou is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kothciushco pulls his head out easily.
Kothciushco blocks the strikes from Papaioanou.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Papaioanou manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Papaioanou throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papaioanou is trying to keep Kothciushco in close.

Papaioanou has his foot on Kothciushco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kothciushco works his way back into a safe position though.
Kothciushco won't allow Papaioanou to sweep him here.

Papaioanou is looking for a triangle but Kothciushco pushes his legs off easily.
Papaioanou takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kothciushco wants to control from the top but Papaioanou keeps moving.
Kothciushco passes into half guard.
Papaioanou is staying active underneath Kothciushco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Papaioanou manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kothciushco wants to pass the guard but Papaioanou is keeping the position.

Papaioanou had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kothciushco defends it easily.
Kothciushco pushes down on Papaioanou's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Papaioanou is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kothciushco's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kothciushco's back!
Krzysztof Kothciushco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Panikos Papaioanou is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kothciushco tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Panikos Papaioanou has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kothciushco is trying desperately to improve position.
Papaioanou content just to control the position here.
Papaioanou avoids the attempt from Kothciushco to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Papaioanou's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Papaioanou cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kothciushco is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Papaioanou controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Panikos Papaioanou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Papaioanou winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Panikos Papaioanou!
A victorious Panikos Papaioanou thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.