PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barristan Selmy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghiorghos Papadopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Selmy
vs
Papadopoulos

187 cm
25
222 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

185 cm
30
266 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barristan Selmy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ghiorghos Papadopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papadopoulos shoots for a takedown but Selmy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Papadopoulos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Selmy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Papadopoulos is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Papadopoulos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Papadopoulos is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Papadopoulos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Papadopoulos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Papadopoulos slips a nice elbow through Selmy's hands, connecting with Selmy's forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papadopoulos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Selmy is pressing down on Papadopoulos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Papadopoulos throwing strikes but missing.
Papadopoulos throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is in close to Selmy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Papadopoulos works over Selmy with some ground and pound from guard.
Selmy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Papadopoulos preventing the sweep.
Papadopoulos landing with the ground and pound.

Selmy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Papadopoulos throws a big elbow that misses.
Selmy wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Papadopoulos throwing strikes but missing.
Papadopoulos stands up over Selmy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Papadopoulos postures up in Selmy's guard and throws a big left but Selmy blocks it.
Papadopoulos is working Selmy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Papadopoulos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Selmy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Papadopoulos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Selmy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Papadopoulos is working Selmy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Selmy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Papadopoulos.
Selmy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Selmy tries to get out of the position.
Papadopoulos working some strikes from top position.
Papadopoulos scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Selmy is rocked!
Papadopoulos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oh Selmy is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Papadopoulos throws an elbow that misses. Selmy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Papadopoulos's guard. Nice move by Selmy!
Selmy seems to have got his legs back now.

Selmy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Selmy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papadopoulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Papadopoulos trying to strike off his back.
Selmy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Papadopoulos is looking to sweep but instead, Selmy has passed into half guard.
Papadopoulos throws a strike from the bottom but Selmy passes into side control!
Papadopoulos looking for a sweep but Selmy has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Papadopoulos tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Papadopoulos flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Papadopoulos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Selmy looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Papadopoulos flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Papadopoulos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Papadopoulos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Papadopoulos flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Selmy just misses with a punch to the body.
Papadopoulos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Selmy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Papadopoulos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Selmy tries to avoid it but Papadopoulos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Selmy to the ground. Selmy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Papadopoulos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Selmy counters with a nice double leg into side control. Papadopoulos won't be happy with that.
Barristan Selmy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghiorghos Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos looks to move to half guard but instead Selmy has passed into mount! Damn!
Selmy lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Papadopoulos hang on?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papadopoulos swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Papadopoulos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Selmy blocks Papadopoulos's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Selmy with good strikes from the mount here!
Selmy landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Selmy is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Papadopoulos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Papadopoulos tries to improve his position but Selmy has taken his back! Selmy has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Papadopoulos tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Selmy pushes Papadopoulos away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Barristan Selmy!
Barristan Selmy retains his heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Barristan Selmy thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.