PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefanos Kokkalis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rumble Lord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lord has chosen Let's get ready to Rumble by Jock Jams as his entrance music. Rumble Lord is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kokkalis
vs
Lord

190 cm
28
250 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

176 cm
31
260 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stefanos Kokkalis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rumble Lord!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kokkalis misses with a hook.
Lord tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kokkalis swivels and escapes.
Lord shoots in but Kokkalis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Lord gets a takedown into half guard.
Kokkalis won't allow Lord to pass to mount.
Lord is trying to control. Kokkalis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lord trying to control the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kokkalis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lord stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kokkalis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kokkalis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lord being controlled here momentarily.
Lord content to stall in guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kokkalis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lord tries for a takedown but Kokkalis circles away easily
and Kokkalis counters with a series of strikes. Lord will be more careful next time no doubt.
Stefanos Kokkalis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rumble Lord.
Kokkalis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lord.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lord uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kokkalis.
Lord wants to clinch up but Kokkalis keeps it at a distance.
Lord slips a jab from Kokkalis.
Stefanos Kokkalis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lord ducks under a wild hook from Kokkalis.
A slow jab from Kokkalis misses its intended target.
Lord keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lord moves out of range of the strikes.
Kokkalis scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kokkalis misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lord fails with a takedown attempt.
Kokkalis misses with a wild body shot.
Lord tries to clinch up

and Kokkalis counters by clinching up.
I was talking to Kokkalis's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A right handed body shot lands from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lord's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kokkalis blocking some punches.
Lord jumps guard but Kokkalis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lord tries to pull guard but Kokkalis holds him up against the cage and eventually Lord drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokkalis lands with a left to the head.
Kokkalis scores with a shoulder strike.
Kokkalis is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kokkalis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lord prevents a body shot from Kokkalis.
Lord tries to pull guard but Kokkalis won't allow it.
Lord tries to pull guard but Kokkalis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lord tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kokkalis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kokkalis misses with the head strike.
Lord jumps guard but Kokkalis stands there with Lord around his waist. Lord gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lord looking for a takedown.
Kokkalis misses with a punch on the inside.
Kokkalis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lord fails to pull guard.
Lord wants to break free but Kokkalis has control.
Lord misses with a body punch.
Kokkalis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lord tries to pull guard but Kokkalis won't allow it.
Lord jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kokkalis walks away with a smile on his face. Lord gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefanos Kokkalis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kokkalis misses the shot to the body.
Lord doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kokkalis counters with a right hand to the body.
Lord's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kokkalis connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lord scrambles back to his feet.

Kokkalis lands a left and a right that send Lord crashing to the mat, dazed. Kokkalis thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kokkalis misses with an uppercut. Lord saw that one coming.
Kokkalis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kokkalis tries to clinch but Lord moves away

so Lord counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kokkalis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
My spies in Z-Force Academy - Grappling (5* Sparring + Sauna) inform me that Lord has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Lord pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kokkalis is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokkalis wants to get back to his feet but Lord is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kokkalis keeping moving, preventing Lord from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lord showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kokkalis wants to sweep here but Lord controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kokkalis swings widly with a right hand

and Lord counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kokkalis tries to get to full guard but Lord has control of the leg.
Lord is looking to advance position but Kokkalis won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokkalis is trying to control but can't.
Lord wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kokkalis keeps working.
Lord slows the pace down in half guard.
Kokkalis keeping control of the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kokkalis is looking to clinch but Lord is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lord tries to clinch up.
Kokkalis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jab, jab by Kokkalis - just one landing.
Kokkalis darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stefanos Kokkalis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kokkalis slaps away a takedown attempt from Lord, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kokkalis throws an overhand right that lands on Lord's shoulder, as Lord tries to avoid the shot.

Lord drives through and clinches with Kokkalis against the cage.

Lord drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kokkalis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kokkalis preventing the sweep.
Kokkalis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stefanos Kokkalis just wasn't active enough.
Lord fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lord takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lord avoids the body shot from Kokkalis.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kokkalis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kokkalis thuds his right hand into Lord's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefanos Kokkalis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lord shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kokkalis as he avoids it easily.
Lord fails with a takedown attempt.
Lord shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kokkalis as he jumps to the side.
Stefanos Kokkalis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rumble Lord.

Lord drives through with a takedown into Kokkalis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kokkalis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lord pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kokkalis is keeping the position for now.
Kokkalis has control of Lord's left arm, preventing Lord from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lord pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kokkalis is keeping the position for now.
Kokkalis pulls Lord in close to prevent any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Stefanos Kokkalis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kokkalis throws a hook but Lord avoids it easily.
A jab from Kokkalis misses.
Kokkalis doesn't manage to clinch there - Lord circles away.
Kokkalis ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kokkalis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kokkalis wants it to stay on the feet.
Kokkalis lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokkalis tries to clinch up

and Lord counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lord jumps guard but Kokkalis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kokkalis displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lord up against the cage.
Lord is looking for a takedown.
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!
Kokkalis misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kokkalis fails to land.
Kokkalis digs a right hand into Lord's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lord's gas tank.
Lord takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kokkalis lands with a light punch inside.
A short body shot lands from Kokkalis as the two fighters clinch.
Kokkalis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kokkalis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lord backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lord prevents a body shot from Kokkalis.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lord.
Lord tries to pull guard but Kokkalis holds him up against the cage and eventually Lord drops back down to his feet.
Kokkalis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A shot in the inside from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis lands a left hand.
Kokkalis works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short uppercut from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stefanos Kokkalis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kokkalis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kokkalis content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kokkalis lands with a short shot to the head.
Kokkalis scores with a nice hook to the head.

Lord is rocked!
Kokkalis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lord is still on wobbly legs! Can Kokkalis finish him?
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!
Kokkalis lands with a short shot to the head.
Kokkalis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kokkalis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nice body punch from Kokkalis - that landed with a thud.
Kokkalis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kokkalis lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Kokkalis fails to land.
Lord is trying to pull guard but Kokkalis has him pressed against the cage.
Kokkalis is pushing Lord up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Kokkalis drops Lord onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Lord is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Kokkalis lands a big right hand! Lord is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Stefanos Kokkalis!
After winning the bout, Stefanos Kokkalis thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.