PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Illias Illiadis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Achilles Leonidas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonidas has chosen Whom Shall I Fear as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Illiadis
vs
Leonidas

178 cm
25
189 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Illias Illiadis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Achilles Leonidas!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonidas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Illiadis.

Illiadis tries to keep at a distance but Leonidas has taken the fight into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Leonidas.
Leonidas tries to land a knee to the head but Illiadis blocks with his arms.
Leonidas tries to work over Illiadis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Leonidas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Illiadis blocks it with crossed arms.
Leonidas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Illiadis's elbow.
Leonidas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Illiadis just leaning against Leonidas, taking a breather.

Illiadis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonidas moves in looking to clinch but Illiadis pushes him off.
Leonidas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Illiadis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leonidas sprawls well. Leonidas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Illiadis gets slowly back to his feet.
Illiadis throws a nice looking combination but Leonidas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas misses with a head kick.
Achilles Leonidas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leonidas tries to clinch but Illiadis is having none of it.
Leonidas wants to clinch up but Illiadis keeps it at a distance.
Illiadis pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Achilles Leonidas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonidas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Illiadis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Illiadis is working for a kimura but Leonidas is defending it quite comfortably.
Illiadis controlling the action here.

Illiadis is trying to work for a kimura but Leonidas is defending well.
Leonidas is trying to stand up here but Illiadis is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonidas is trying to control but can't.
Leonidas felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Illiadis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Leonidas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Illiadis.
Leonidas is trying to stand up here but Illiadis is controlling him well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Leonidas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Illiadis pushes down on Leonidas's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Illiadis in particular looking to stall.
Leonidas is refusing to be controlled, as Illiadis sits in half guard.
Still in half guard, Illiadis seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas tries to kick Illiadis off but Illiadis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Illiadis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leonidas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Illiadis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leonidas sees it coming and defends easily.

Illiadis is working for a kimura but Leonidas is defending it quite comfortably.
Leonidas is trying to maintain the position but Illiadis is very close to passing his half guard.
Leonidas wants to get back to his feet.
Leonidas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Illiadis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Illiadis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leonidas sees it coming and defends easily.
Leonidas is refusing to be controlled, as Illiadis sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leonidas is defending against the submission attempts here by Illiadis.
Illiadis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leonidas keeps working.

Illiadis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Leonidas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Illiadis stops Leonidas from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Illiadis is working for a submission of some sort.
Illiadis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leonidas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Illias Illiadis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Illiadis circles away from the clinch attempt.

Illiadis closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Leonidas quickly recovers to half guard.
Leonidas is looking to escape.
Illiadis wants to control but Leonidas is keeping him busy.
Illiadis prevents Leonidas from standing back up.
Leonidas is looking to improve his position.

Illiadis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Leonidas defends it well.

Leonidas is defending against the submission attempts here by Illiadis.
Illiadis prevents Leonidas from improving his position.

Leonidas is defending against the submission attempts here by Illiadis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

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

Illiadis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Illiadis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leonidas is just riding it out for now. Illiadis eventually gives up the hold.
Leonidas tries to roll over but Illiadis keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas is refusing to be controlled, as Illiadis sits in half guard.

Leonidas is defending against the submission attempts here by Illiadis.
Leonidas pushes Illiadis off looking to stand but Illiadis dives back in and keeps control.

Illiadis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Leonidas has his hands clasped together around Illiadis's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonidas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Illiadis is working away from the top position though.
Leonidas is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis trying to control from Leonidas's half guard. Leonidas has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Illiadis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Illiadis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Leonidas controls Illiadis momentarily but Illiadis frees himself.
Illiadis trying to control but Leonidas is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leonidas misses with a wild body shot.
Illiadis wants to land a leg kick but Leonidas is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis throws a head kick but Leonidas moves out of range.
A big right from Illiadis misses.
Leonidas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Illiadis counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Illiadis sitting in guard here, content to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Illiadis passes into half guard.

Illiadis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leonidas is just riding it out for now. Illiadis eventually gives up the hold.
Leonidas is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Illiadis is working for a submission of some sort.

Illiadis wants to work for an arm triangle but Leonidas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Illias Illiadis dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Illiadis tries for a takedown but Leonidas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Illiadis blocks a leg kick.
Leonidas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Illiadis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Leonidas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Illiadis is out of range.
Leonidas pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Leonidas takes the fight into the clinch.

Illiadis gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Leonidas regains guard.
Leonidas keeping moving, preventing Illiadis from controlling successfully.

Illiadis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Leonidas dives on top into guard.
Leonidas wants to control from the top but Illiadis keeps moving.
Leonidas tries to free his leg and advance position but Illiadis is retaining full guard.
Leonidas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illiadis looking for a sweep. Not yet Illiadis, not yet.
Leonidas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Illiadis's guard.
Illiadis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Leonidas's guard.
Leonidas trying to keep a closed guard but Illiadis is proving a slippery customer.
Illiadis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Achilles Leonidas hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Illiadis takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Illiadis avoids a kick to the body.

Illiadis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Leonidas sprawls well initially but Illiadis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Leonidas won't allow Illiadis to pass to mount.
Achilles Leonidas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas wants to get back to his feet.
Illiadis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
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!
Leonidas is staying active underneath Illiadis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Illias Illiadis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leonidas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leonidas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Leonidas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leonidas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Illiadis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Illiadis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Leonidas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Illiadis wants to pass the guard but Leonidas is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis preventing the sweep.
Illiadis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Leonidas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Illiadis is one step ahead there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Illiadis tries to free his leg and advance position but Leonidas is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Illias Illiadis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Illiadis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leonidas was well out of range. Poor timing from Illiadis.
Leonidas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Illias Illiadis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Illiadis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A bone on bone clash there as Illiadis blocks the leg kick.
Leonidas tries to clinch there but Illiadis circles away.
Leonidas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Illiadis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Leonidas tries to clinch there but Illiadis circles away.
Leonidas darts in trying to clinch

and Illiadis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Leonidas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leonidas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonidas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Illiadis is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Illias Illiadis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Illiadis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Illias Illiadis!
A very excited looking Illias Illiadis made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
In defeat, Achilles Leonidas stepped up to the mic, saying 'I want to thank my sponsors and all of my fans! My goal every show is to give the crowd an awesome fight. I will grow from this and one day I will become Champion!! '.