PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Refn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aristos Ioannidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ioannidis comes into a darkened arena with his song building. If I Can't - 50 Cent kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Refn
vs
Ioannidis

178 cm
34
174 lbs
24 - 27 - 1

185 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aristos Ioannidis!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Refn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ioannidis counters with a nice body shot.

Refn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ioannidis's guard.
Refn wants to get up but he can't break Ioannidis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Refn trying to control the position from guard on top but Ioannidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Refn stopping the sweep attempt from Ioannidis.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Refn wants to get up but he can't break Ioannidis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ioannidis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ioannidis keeping moving, preventing Refn from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ioannidis has a closed guard, preventing Refn from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ioannidis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ioannidis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Refn is controlling him.
Ioannidis is adopting a defensive guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Nicolas Refn wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Refn darts in looking for a takedown but Ioannidis gets double underhooks and turns Refn into the cage.

Ioannidis gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Refn desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Refn 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.
Ioannidis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn wants to control but Ioannidis is keeping busy.
Ioannidis tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Refn.
Ioannidis wants to take a breather but Refn is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ioannidis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Refn pushes Ioannidis away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ioannidis gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Refn sneaks out the side door and pushes Ioannidis away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Refn shoots for a double leg takedown but Ioannidis sprawls well. He's pushed Refn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Refn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ioannidis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Refn.

Refn gets caught flat footed, as Ioannidis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Refn had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ioannidis defends it easily.
Refn can't keep his opponent in guard - Ioannidis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Refn manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ioannidis keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Refn wants a takedown but no success here.

Ioannidis is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Refn can't fight it off and eventually Ioannidis manages to take the fight to the floor. Refn looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Refn is looking to stand up but Ioannidis isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ioannidis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Refn wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ioannidis manages to pass to side control.
Ioannidis trying to control the action but Refn is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn landing rabbit punches to the side of Ioannidis's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aristos Ioannidis will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Refn shoots in but no luck this time.

Ioannidis rushes Refn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ioannidis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Refn shoots in but Ioannidis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Refn moves into the clinch successfully.
Refn lands a shoulder strike.
Ioannidis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Refn.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Refn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ioannidis lands a shot to the body.

Ioannidis lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ioannidis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ioannidis is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
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!
Refn is refusing to be controlled, as Ioannidis sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn is trying to stand back up but Ioannidis is controlling him
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ioannidis in particular looking to stall.
Aristos Ioannidis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Refn makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ioannidis swats away the attempt to clinch by Refn.
Refn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ioannidis's waist but Ioannidis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Refn off to one side.
Refn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ioannidis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Refn somewhat.
Refn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ioannidis avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ioannidis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ioannidis wants it to stay on the feet.

Ioannidis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Refn has clasped his hands together around Ioannidis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Refn throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ioannidis is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Refn is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ioannidis regains half guard.
Ioannidis keeping hold of Refn's head, controlling as best he can.
Refn is trying to control. Ioannidis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Refn stands up out of the half guard.
Refn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ioannidis pinned against the cage. Ioannidis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn shoots in looking for a takedown. Ioannidis tries to sprawl out of it but Refn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ioannidis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Refn tries for a takedown but Ioannidis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ioannidis drives through and clinches with Refn against the cage.
Refn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ioannidis prevents the takedown attempt.

Ioannidis gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ioannidis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Refn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Ioannidis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ioannidis wants to control but Refn is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn is trying to control but Ioannidis manages to pass to mount!
Ioannidis looking to control but Refn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Refn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ioannidis sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ioannidis postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Refn looks a forlorn figure.
Refn tries to buck Ioannidis off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristos Ioannidis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Refn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ioannidis is looking to clinch.

Refn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ioannidis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Refn.
Our sources have told us that Refn has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Ioannidis decides to pull guard.
Refn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Refn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ioannidis's guard.

Refn stands up from Ioannidis's guard - Refn perhaps looking for a knockout.
Refn darts in looking for a takedown but Ioannidis gets double underhooks and turns Refn into the cage.

Ioannidis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Refn shoots in and drives through. Ioannidis sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Refn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ioannidis.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ioannidis swivels and escapes.

Ioannidis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ioannidis turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Refn is pushing Ioannidis's head away, looking to escape. Ioannidis manages to hold on to the position though.
Refn tries to buck Ioannidis off but Ioannidis is having none of it.
Ioannidis lands a nice forearm strike.

Ioannidis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Ioannidis decides to stand back up.
Nicolas Refn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ioannidis gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ioannidis wants to control but Refn is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ioannidis is working away from the top position though.
Ioannidis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ioannidis trying to control the action but Refn is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Refn tries to kick Ioannidis off but Ioannidis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aristos Ioannidis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Refn wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn is trying to drag Ioannidis to the mat but Ioannidis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Ioannidis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ioannidis moves in looking to clinch but Refn pushes him off.

Ioannidis gets the takedown into side control.
Refn wants to control but Ioannidis postures up.
Ioannidis is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Refn will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Nicolas Refn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Refn struggling a bit here.
Refn tries to control but Ioannidis manages to take his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ioannidis is persistently looking for the submission but Refn is defending it well.

Ioannidis is looking for the choke from the back position but Refn is controlling his hands well.
Refn breaks Ioannidis's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Refn throws an elbow that misses. Ioannidis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Refn's guard. Nice move by Ioannidis!
Ioannidis wanted to stand there but Refn had control of the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ioannidis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aristos Ioannidis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ioannidis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aristos Ioannidis!
During a confident post fight interview, Aristos Ioannidis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.