PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Charalabous (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Salwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Charalabous
vs
Salwa

180 cm
28
195 lbs
21 - 3 - 0

184 cm
25
198 lbs
17 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear
Unique Wear and Custom Design

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kostas Charalabous!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Gabriel Salwa!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charalabous misses with an uppercut
and Salwa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Charalabous scores with a one two! Salwa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Gabriel Salwa has been cut.
Charalabous attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Salwa throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good standup being displayed there by Charalabous as he connects with a hook.
Salwa misses with a low kick.
Charalabous rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Salwa counters with a straight right hand.
Charalabous looks to land a right hand but Salwa moved out of range.
Charalabous feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Salwas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Charalabous circles away from the clinch attempt.
Charalabous takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Charalabous throws a low kick but Salwa moves out of range easily.
Salwa lets loose with a powerful body kick. Charalabous will feel that in the morning.
Salwa lands a nice shot to the body.
Salwa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A good leg kick by Salwa.
Charalabous pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charalabous misses with a kick to the body.
Charalabous is looking to land body kicks.
Some wild striking there from Charalabous.
Charalabous throws the kick towards the body but Salwa avoids it.

Salwa clinches with his opponent.

Salwa breaks from the clinch.
Charalabous throws a sloppy body shot

and Salwa counters with a head kick that drops Charalabous to the mat! Charalabous scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Charalabous throws a leg kick that is checked

and Salwa counters with a nice right hand that sends Charalabous toppling to the canvas! Charalabous scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Salwa finish him?!

Charalabous is rocked!
Both fighters circling a little - Salwa finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Oh Charalabous is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kostas Charalabous is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salwa thumps Charalabous with a low kick.
Charalabous is breathing heavily.

Salwa has closed the distance and engaged Charalabous in a clinch.
Salwa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Salwa is pushing Charalabous up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Charalabous seems to have got his legs back now.
Charalabous scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salwa misses with a body punch.

Salwa has Charalabous pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Salwa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Charalabous tumbling to the mat - Salwa dives into Charalabous's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Salwa tries to free his leg and advance position but Charalabous is retaining full guard.
Salwa looking to sit in guard and control but Charalabous gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Salwa looking for a sweep. Not yet Salwa, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salwa is trying to keep Charalabous in close.
Salwa looking for a sweep. Not yet Salwa, not yet.
Charalabous being controlled here momentarily.
Charalabous preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gabriel Salwa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Charalabous fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Salwa is out of range.
Charalabous checks a low kick from Salwa.
Charalabous scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Charalabous throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Salwa counters with an outside leg kick.
Salwa misses with a body kick.
Charalabous lands with an uppercut that bounces Salwa off the cage and back into range.
An inside leg kick from Salwa misses.
Charalabous blocks a head kick by Salwa.
Salwa blocks the body kick.
Charalabous misses the shot to the body.
Charalabous just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Charalabous scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Charalabous scoring well with a low kick there.
Charalabous checks the leg kick.
Salwa moves out of range of the leg kick from Charalabous.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Salwa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Salwa's cut.
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.

Salwa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Charalabous throws a leg kick but Salwa checks it.

Salwa closes the distance and pushes Charalabous back into the cage.
Charalabous gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Salwa.
Salwa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Charalabous blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Charalabous misses with a punch to the body.
Charalabous blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Charalabous tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salwa's elbow.
Salwa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Salwa.
A head punch on the inside from Charalabous fails to land.
Salwa blocks an uppercut.
Charalabous lands a left hand that snaps the head of Salwa backwards.
Charalabous tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salwa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Salwa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Charalabous doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Salwa can't find room to land a body shot as Charalabous controls the action.
Salwa blocking some punches.
Salwa prevents a body shot from Charalabous.

Salwa works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Salwa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Salwa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Salwa forces his way into half guard.
Salwa passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous is squirming around, avoiding Salwa's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salwa content just to control the position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salwa wants to control the pace but Charalabous is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous is looking to get to half guard.
Salwa fails to take his opponent's back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Charalabous is squirming around, avoiding Salwa's attempts to control the action.
Charalabous has given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous prevents Salwa from getting a body triangle.
Salwa is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Charalabous fending off the submission attempt from Salwa.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Charalabous needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Salwa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Salwa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salwa misses with a low kick as Charalabous jumps back.
A clash of legs there as Salwa blocks the low kick.
Charalabous lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Salwa throws a hook but Charalabous avoids it easily.
Salwa looks for a takedown but Charalabous sprawls well.
Charalabous dips to his left and cracks Salwa with an uppercut!
Charalabous fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kostas Charalabous seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Charalabous thuds a left hand into Salwa's body.
Charalabous lands with a thumping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salwa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Charalabous can pounce on him.
Charalabous throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Salwa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charalabous is looking to slow Salwa down with leg kicks.
Charalabous wants to clinch up but Salwa keeps it at a distance.
Charalabous chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salwa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Salwa moves out of range of the body kick from Charalabous.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Charalabous is able to avoid easily.
Salwa tries to land a front kick but Charalabous steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Charalabous connects with a body shot that sends Salwa's belly button to the back.
Charalabous scores with a jab to the body.
Salwa with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Charalabous to score with a decent uppercut.
Charalabous dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salwa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salwa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Salwa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Charalabous tests Salwa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Charalabous tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salwa was well out of range. Poor timing from Charalabous.
Charalabous connects with an inside leg kick.
Charalabous lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous moves into range and connects with a jab.

Salwa is rocked!
Charalabous cracks the inside of Salwa's front leg.
Salwa is still on wobbly legs! Can Charalabous finish him?
Salwa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kostas Charalabous is winning the standup battle so far.
Salwa gets hit by the mother of all head kicks and drops to the canvas in a crumpled heap! Woooow, the Internet is going to be talking about this one for weeks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Kostas Charalabous!
Kostas Charalabous retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath and clearly excited Kostas Charalabous thanked Reaper Combatwear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).