PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Burdyalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lefteris Papaioanou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burdyalov comes into the arena with To The Metal blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burdyalov
vs
Papaioanou

185 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

VICIOUS FIGHT GEAR

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Burdyalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lefteris Papaioanou!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papaioanou throws a left and a right that both miss
and Burdyalov counters with a left and a right that stings Papaioanou.
Burdyalov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papaioanou moves away.
Papaioanou dips to his left and cracks Burdyalov with an uppercut!
Burdyalov ducks under a wild hook from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou defending well as Burdyalov loads up on a big left hand.
Papaioanou throws a body punch but Burdyalov moves out of range.
Papaioanou missing with a left hand there. Burdyalov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Papaioanou throws a right and a left that Burdyalov avoids nicely.
Burdyalov staying out of range there.

Nice combo by Burdyalov! Oh, that's hurt him - Papaioanou falls to the canvas and Burdyalov follows him into side control.

It looks like Lefteris Papaioanou has been cut.
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!
Burdyalov trying to control the action but Papaioanou is working from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Burdyalov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Burdyalov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burdyalov trying to control the position but Papaioanou is working away.
Papaioanou 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burdyalov tries for a kimura but Papaioanou is defending well.

Burdyalov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Burdyalov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Burdyalov scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Burdyalov is trying to get an arm triangle but Papaioanou is defending well.

Burdyalov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Papaioanou rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Burdyalov's guard! Nice work there by Papaioanou!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burdyalov working a defensive guard here.

Burdyalov is looking for a triangle but Papaioanou pushes his legs off easily.
Papaioanou is fighting to break Burdyalov's control of his arms but Burdyalov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou trying to control but Burdyalov is working from the bottom.

Burdyalov is looking for a triangle but Papaioanou pushes his legs off easily.
Papaioanou has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Burdyalov is proving hard to escape from.

Burdyalov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Papaioanou defends it easily.
Papaioanou is pushing down on Burdyalov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Burdyalov is fighting to maintain full guard but Papaioanou has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burdyalov is trying to maintain the position but Papaioanou is very close to passing his half guard.

Burdyalov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Burdyalov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Papaioanou pulls his head out easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Burdyalov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Papaioanou was well out of range. Poor timing from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papaioanou darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Papaioanou tries to bum rush Burdyalov with a series of wild strikes but Burdyalov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Burdyalov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Papaioanou lands a jab.
Papaioanou takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Burdyalov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lefteris Papaioanou's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burdyalov misses with a wild combination.
Nikolay Burdyalov is winning the standup battle so far.
Papaioanou fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burdyalov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Donk. Papaioanou catches Burdyalov right on the button with a cross.
Papaioanou throws a poor cross that misses
and Burdyalov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burdyalov throws a jab but it's blocked by Papaioanou.
Burdyalov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burdyalov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Papaioanou in his tracks.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Papaioanou bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Burdyalov lands with an overhand left.
Papaioanou throws a right and a left that Burdyalov avoids nicely.
Burdyalov tries to bum rush Papaioanou with a series of wild strikes but Papaioanou uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burdyalov takes one to the chin there.
Burdyalov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Papaioanou was well out of range. Poor timing from Burdyalov.
Papaioanou misses with a looping left.
Papaioanou might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nice uppercut there from Papaioanou.
Burdyalov moves out of range as Papaioanou strikes.
Burdyalov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burdyalov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Papaioanou is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Burdyalov.
Papaioanou takes a swing at Burdyalov's ribcage but misses.
Burdyalov misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Papaioanou to counter with a crisp jab.
Burdyalov misses with a few strikes there.
Burdyalov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nikolay Burdyalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burdyalov loads up on a big right hand but Papaioanou slips the punch.
Papaioanou throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Burdyalov on the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Papaioanou misses the target.
Papaioanou throws a hook but Burdyalov blocks it.
Burdyalov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burdyalov slips under a jab from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou slips under a jab.
Burdyalov misses with an uppercut. Papaioanou saw that one coming.
Burdyalov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Papaioanou was well out of range. Poor timing from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov slips a straight right by Papaioanou.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sloppy strikes from Burdyalov. Those never looked like landing.
Papaioanou slips a jab from Burdyalov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Burdyalov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Papaioanou throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Burdyalov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Papaioanou connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Burdyalov's hands.
Burdyalov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Papaioanou.
Papaioanou looks to land a left hand but Burdyalov moved out of range nicely.
Burdyalov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Papaioanou stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Papaioanou lands a slapping body shot.
Papaioanou uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Papaioanou fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burdyalov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Burdyalov throws a combination that misses
and Papaioanou connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Burdyalov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
No joy there for Papaioanou, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Papaioanou throws a body punch but Burdyalov moves out of range.
Burdyalov misses the jab.
Papaioanou connects with a good right hand that stumbles Burdyalov. Burdyalov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Burdyalov drops Papaioanou with a nice combination! Burdyalov dives into Papaioanou's guard, looking to finish!

Papaioanou is rocked!
Papaioanou utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burdyalov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Papaioanou is keeping the position for now.
Burdyalov trying to control but Papaioanou is working from the bottom.
Papaioanou controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Burdyalov is looking to work some ground and pound but Papaioanou has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Burdyalov misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab from Burdyalov misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papaioanou swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burdyalov misses with a double jab.
Burdyalov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Papaioanou sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Burdyalov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Papaioanou can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Papaioanou throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Burdyalov counter with a right hand.
Burdyalov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Burdyalov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Papaioanou has time to react.
Papaioanou moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Burdyalov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lefteris Papaioanou's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Papaioanou lands a jab to Burdyalov's midsection.
Burdyalov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Papaioanou avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burdyalov misses with a two punch combination.
Papaioanou looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Burdyalov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burdyalov looks to throw the jab but Papaioanou is out of range.
Papaioanou misses with a looping left.
Papaioanou scores with a nice head shot.
Nice defenses there by Papaioanou.
Burdyalov takes one to the chin there.
Burdyalov fails to land with a series of punches.
Papaioanou swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Papaioanou throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papaioanou throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Burdyalov.
Papaioanou lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Burdyalov ducks under a wild hook from Papaioanou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papaioanou stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Burdyalov is rocked!
Nice straight punches there by Papaioanou. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Papaioanou.
Oh Burdyalov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Papaioanou ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burdyalov moves away.
Papaioanou scores with a hook to the body. Burdyalov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Papaioanou lands a jab to the nose.
Papaioanou throws the left hand but Burdyalov avoids the punch easily.
Burdyalov throws a series of punches but Papaioanou moves out of range.
Papaioanou throws the left hand but Burdyalov avoids the punch easily.
Papaioanou lands a really nice looking cross but Burdyalov seems unphased.
Burdyalov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Papaioanou jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Burdyalov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Burdyalov slips under a jab.
Papaioanou misses with a series of wild punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed right hand from Burdyalov misses the target.
Burdyalov fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burdyalov throws a lazy right hand but Papaioanou sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No joy there for Papaioanou, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burdyalov seems to have got his legs back now.
Papaioanou throws a shot from downtown. Burdyalov moves away and avoids it.
Lefteris Papaioanou has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Papaioanou.
Papaioanou misses with a series of wild punches.

Papaioanou throws a left that rocks Burdyalov and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Papaioanou dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Burdyalov regain composure!
Papaioanou trying to control the action but Burdyalov is working from the bottom.
Papaioanou tries to stand but Burdyalov is controlling his head.
Burdyalov wants to control but Papaioanou postures up.
Nikolay Burdyalov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov is looking for a sweep.
Nikolay Burdyalov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Papaioanou slips a jab and a cross from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov throws a lazy right hand but Papaioanou sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Papaioanou bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Burdyalov as he connects with a hook.

Oooh a lovely combination from Papaioanou sends Burdyalov down but not out. Papaioanou dives into side control looking to finish.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burdyalov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou tries to stand but Burdyalov is controlling his head.
Papaioanou wants to control but Burdyalov is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burdyalov struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lefteris Papaioanou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Burdyalov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Burdyalov!
Nikolay Burdyalov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.