PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moses Sithole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giannis Bakos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giannis Bakos is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sithole
vs
Bakos

187 cm
20
213 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
213 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Moses Sithole!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Giannis Bakos!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sithole circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sithole pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sithole keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Sithole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bakos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sithole looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bakos is avoiding damage well.
Sithole lands an elbow.
Bakos tries to improve position but can't.
Sithole misses with the ground and pound.
Sithole throws a strike aimed at the side of Bakos's head but Bakos avoids it well.
Bakos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Sithole.
Bakos tries to buck Sithole off but Sithole is having none of it.
Sithole in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bakos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sithole. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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!
Sithole tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bakos is not content to let Sithole control the position.
Sithole working away.
Sithole misses with the ground and pound.
Sithole working away.
Bakos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sithole tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bakos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sithole is trying to control the action in half guard but Bakos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bakos can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bakos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sithole.
Bakos tries to roll over but Sithole keeps him under control.
Sithole not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sithole not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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!
Sithole thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bakos's head.
Sithole is just content to waste time from the top position. Bakos takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sithole wants to control from the top but Bakos keeps moving.
Sithole distracts Bakos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bakos looking to control.
Sithole throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sithole seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakos wants to sweep but no luck.
Sithole 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.
Bakos looking to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Giannis Bakos wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bakos closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sithole.
Sithole lands a nice forearm strike.
Bakos is not content to let Sithole control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sithole cracks Bakos with an elbow. That is naaassty.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bakos takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Bakos can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sithole tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bakos's legs.
Sithole throws an elbow but Bakos slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sithole looks up at the clock and then as Bakos takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sithole smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sithole working the head and body with strikes.

Bakos is rocked!
Sithole is looking to take a break and control but Bakos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bakos wants to control but Sithole postures up.
Bakos is looking to regain half guard here but Sithole keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sithole controlling the position from side mount.
Sithole in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Sithole dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sithole looks to land a body kick but Bakos moved away.
Sithole tests Bakos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sithole keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sithole throws a shot to the body.
Sithole throws a sloppy head kick and Bakos moves out of range easily.
Bakos throws out a leg kick but Sithole moves out of range and Bakos only half commits.
Moses Sithole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sithole dives in and scores a takedown into Bakos's guard.
Sithole loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sithole working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sithole's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sithole throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sithole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bakos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole is working hard here to advance position.
Bakos controls Sithole momentarily but Sithole frees himself.
Bakos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sithole trying to control the position from guard on top but Bakos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sithole cracks Bakos with a solid left hand.
Sithole throwing strikes but missing.
Sithole wants to control from the top but Bakos keeps moving.
Moses Sithole overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sithole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakos wants to sweep but no luck.
Sithole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sithole passes Bakos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sithole sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bakos defending well though.
Bakos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sithole slows the pace down in half guard.
Bakos taking some punishment here, with Sithole in his half guard.
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!
Bakos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sithole.
Sithole passes to side control.
Sithole tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sithole controlling from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Bakos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sithole cracks Bakos with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sithole sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bakos is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sithole lands some shots froms side control.
Sithole lands a nice forearm strike.
Bakos is still in real trouble! Can Sithole finish him?
Sithole throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bakos seems to have recovered his senses.
Sithole working the ground and pound from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sithole working the ground and pound.
Sithole is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bakos can do to turn this around?
Sithole scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bakos to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakos tries to improve position but can't.
A big shot lands for Sithole! That's hurt Bakos! Will he recover? Sithole fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Moses Sithole!
Moses Sithole retains his light heavyweight title!
Moses Sithole decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.