PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Pierre Hennard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lukas Ioannou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Pierre Hennard
vs
Ioannou

175 cm
26
212 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
220 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Pierre Hennard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lukas Ioannou!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ioannou moves into the clinch.

Ioannou breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ioannou wants to clinch
and Hennard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ioannou manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hennard on his heels. He'll look to pass Hennard's guard now, I'm sure.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ioannou lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ioannou cracks Hennard with a solid left hand.
Ioannou in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hennard has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hennard looking for a sweep. Not yet Hennard, not yet.

Hennard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ioannou thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hennard trying to keep a closed guard but Ioannou is proving a slippery customer.
Ioannou must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ioannou throws a big right hand that misses.
Ioannou keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hennard's head.
Ioannou scoring with some ground and pound.
Ioannou throwing strikes from guard but Hennard blocks nicely.

Hennard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ioannou postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hennard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ioannou is aware though and is defending well.
Ioannou trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ioannou is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hennard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hennard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ioannou doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ioannou manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hennard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
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!
Ioannou working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hennard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hennard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ioannou stands up over Hennard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ioannou loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hennard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ioannou postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ioannou trying to control but Hennard is working from the bottom.
Ioannou lands a couple of digs.
Ioannou keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hennard's head.

Hennard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hennard has his foot on Ioannou's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ioannou works his way back into a safe position though.
Ioannou with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ioannou is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ioannou trying to control the position from guard on top but Hennard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou working some strikes from top position.
Ioannou postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ioannou is looking to pass into half guard but Hennard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hennard is in guard.
Ioannou wants to stand but Hennard is controlling the position.

Hennard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ioannou looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ioannou looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ioannou!
Ioannou lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ioannou working the strikes but Hennard uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Nice strikes from Ioannou there.
Hennard is not content to let Ioannou control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lukas Ioannou dominated that round.
That's time! Hennard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ioannou with a poor takedown
enabling Hennard to counter with a crisp jab.
No luck for Ioannou with that takedown attempt.
Ioannou dives in and grabs Hennard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hennard pushes down on Ioannou's head and hops out.
George Pierre Hennard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lukas Ioannou.
Ioannou closes the distance and clinches up with Hennard, looking for a takedown. Ioannou pushes Hennard against the cage but Hennard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hennard or perhaps it was just good defense by Ioannou, which made it look bad.

Hennard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hennard trying to control the position from guard on top but Ioannou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennard wants to pass the guard but Ioannou is keeping the position.
Hennard trying to control the position from guard on top but Ioannou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because George Pierre Hennard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ioannou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hennard.
Lukas Ioannou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ioannou sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hennard somewhat.
Hennard goes for a double leg but Ioannou avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ioannou continues to drive forward.

Ioannou decides to pull guard.
Hennard wants to control from the top but Ioannou keeps moving.
Ioannou is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hennard is controlling him.
Hennard tries to free his leg and advance position but Ioannou is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hennard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hennard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ioannou keeping moving, preventing Hennard from controlling successfully.
Hennard looking to sit in guard and control but Ioannou gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ioannou looking to pass the guard.
Ioannou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ioannou has gone for a leg lock! Hennard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ioannou's guard.
Hennard wants to control from the top but Ioannou keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hennard stands and throws Ioannou's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ioannou wants to get back to his feet but Hennard drags him back down.

Hennard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ioannou has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hennard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ioannou is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pierre Hennard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ioannou looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hennard is fending him off so far but Ioannou persists. Nope, Hennard circles away and we're back to standing.
Hennard shoots in and drives through. Ioannou sprawls well.
Ioannou wants to clinch up but Hennard keeps it at a distance.
Ioannou wants to clinch up but Hennard keeps it at a distance.

Hennard gets tackled into the cage by Ioannou. Ioannou maintains the clinch.
Ioannou swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ioannou is pressed up against the cage. Hennard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ioannou down to the mat. Ioannou avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ioannou shoots in and drives through. Hennard sprawls well.
Hennard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ioannou pinned against the cage. Ioannou gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Pierre Hennard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ioannou displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hennard.

Ioannou shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ioannou lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ioannou lands a nice short elbow.
Ioannou prevents Hennard from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ioannou is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hennard is just riding it out for now. Ioannou eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ioannou seems to be working for a kimura but Hennard defends the submission attempt.
Hennard regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ioannou.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ioannou stopping the sweep attempt from Hennard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ioannou is posturing up here but Hennard has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Ioannou tries to roll out but it's too tight and Ioannou has to tap! Slick submission there by Hennard!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). George Pierre Hennard!
George Pierre Hennard retains his light heavyweight title!
Our winner, George Pierre Hennard, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.