PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vangelis Kokkalis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Billington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kokkalis comes to the cage accompanied by Promises - Nero ft. Skrillex. Billington has chosen The Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kokkalis
vs
Billington

190 cm
33
245 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

190 cm
37
234 lbs
36 - 19 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vangelis Kokkalis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 19 - 3, fighting out of Hilo, Thomas Billington!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Billington.
Kokkalis throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kokkalis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Billington throws a lazy right hand but Kokkalis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Billington misses with a looping left.
Kokkalis misses with a body shot.
Billington walks into a stiff left hand from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Billington's calf.
Billington has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Billington thows a leg kick but Kokkalis checks it
and Kokkalis counters with an inside leg kick.
Billington moves out of range as Kokkalis strikes.
Billington throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Billington blocks the body kick.
Kokkalis swings for the body but Billington moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Kokkalis as he connects with a hook.
Nice jab there from Billington.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billington keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Billington ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kokkalis moves away.
Billington takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kokkalis throws a leg kick that is checked
and Billington counters with an outside leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Billington lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kokkalis has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kokkalis and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kokkalis is looking to land body kicks.
Billington uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kokkalis.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Billington moves out of range as Kokkalis throws a body kick.
Kokkalis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kokkalis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Billington blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokkalis misses with a hook

and Billington counters with a single leg into guard. Kokkalis didn't expect that.
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!
Billington wants to control from the top but Kokkalis keeps moving.
Kokkalis is trying to control the position but Billington postures up.
Billington must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Billington preventing the sweep.
Billington loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kokkalis keeping moving, preventing Billington from controlling successfully.
Kokkalis looking for a sweep. Not yet Kokkalis, not yet.
Kokkalis wants to get back to his feet but Billington is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Billington trying to control the position from guard on top but Kokkalis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billington on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Billington avoids a punch combination nicely.
Billington takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kokkalis takes a swing at Billington's ribcage but misses.
Billington just misses with a punch to the body.
Kokkalis misses with a body kick.
Kokkalis swings widly with a right hand
and Billington counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Vangelis Kokkalis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Billington shoots in for a takedown but Kokkalis shows good takedown defense.
Billington avoids the body shot from Kokkalis.
Vangelis Kokkalis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kokkalis takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billington swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kokkalis misses with a shot to the body

and Billington counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kokkalis controls Billington momentarily but Billington frees himself.
Kokkalis keeping moving, preventing Billington from controlling successfully.
Kokkalis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Billington is one step ahead there.
Billington lands a couple of elbows.
Billington wants to control from the top but Kokkalis keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vangelis Kokkalis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kokkalis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kokkalis lets loose with a powerful body kick. Billington will feel that in the morning.
Kokkalis misses with a wild body shot.
Kokkalis bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kokkalis looks to score with a jab to the body but Billington is just out of range.
Kokkalis is looking to wear down Billington with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kokkalis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kokkalis throws a chopping leg kick but Billington manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
It looks like Kokkalis has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Kokkalis lands with a thumping leg kick.
Billington takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kokkalis connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Billington momentarily.
Billington avoids the body shot from Kokkalis.
Vangelis Kokkalis is winning the standup battle so far.
Billington misses with a straight left.
Kokkalis connects with a body shot that sends Billington's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokkalis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kokkalis.
Nice cross by Kokkalis.
Billington cracks a nice hook into Kokkalis's ribs.
Kokkalis misses with a kick to the body.
Kokkalis throws a body punch but Billington moves out of range.
Kokkalis thuds his shin into the meat of Billington's side.
Kokkalis thows a leg kick but Billington checks it
and Billington counters with a nice uppercut.
Kokkalis throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Billington fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kokkalis sprawls well initially but Billington persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kokkalis is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Billington jumps into side control!
Billington throws an elbow but Kokkalis slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokkalis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Billington's best efforts.
Kokkalis tries to roll over but Billington keeps him under control.
Kokkalis wants to control but Billington is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Billington perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kokkalis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kokkalis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kokkalis keeping moving, preventing Billington from controlling successfully.
Billington chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billington trying to control but Kokkalis is working from the bottom.
Kokkalis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kokkalis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kokkalis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas Billington has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kokkalis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Billington does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Billington is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billington is looking for a sweep. Kokkalis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kokkalis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crunch! Kokkalis slams his shin into Billington's torso.
Billington slips a jab from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis looks to land a combination but Billington avoids it well.
Billington moves out of range of the body kick.
A leg kick checked by Billington.
Kokkalis gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Billington.
Kokkalis scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Billington changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vangelis Kokkalis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Billington lands with a slapping head kick.
Kokkalis throws a shot from downtown. Billington moves away and avoids it.
Thomas Billington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kokkalis loads up on a big right hand but Billington slips the punch.
A clash of legs there as Billington blocks the low kick.
Billington blocks a jab.
Kokkalis throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Billington throws a body punch but Kokkalis moves out of range.
Billington moves out of range of the body kick from Kokkalis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick from Kokkalis misses.
Billington lands a leg kick that knocks Kokkalis off balance momentarily.
Kokkalis missing with a left hand there. Billington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kokkalis lands with an uppercut that bounces Billington off the cage and back into range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokkalis motions for Billington to come forward. Kokkalis throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A slapping leg kick lands for Billington.
Billington throws a head kick but Kokkalis moves out of range.
Kokkalis lands with a good body shot.
Kokkalis loads up on a big right hand but Billington slips the punch.
Billington shoots in but Kokkalis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kokkalis blocks a low kick nicely.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kokkalis.
A big right from Billington misses.
Billington throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kokkalis swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billington ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kokkalis moves away.
Kokkalis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Billington moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kokkalis looks to score with a jab to the body but Billington is just out of range.
Kokkalis throws a leg kick but Billington sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kokkalis misses with the body kick
and Billington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kokkalis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billington chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kokkalis can pounce on him.
Kokkalis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Billington's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kokkalis fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Billington on the side of the head.
Kokkalis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kokkalis checks the leg kick.
Kokkalis scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis throws a leg kick that is checked
and Billington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kokkalis misses with a low kick.
Billington is looking to slow Kokkalis down with leg kicks.
Kokkalis misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Billington to counter with a crisp jab.
Kokkalis tests Billington's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kokkalis looks to score with a jab to the body but Billington is just out of range.
Billington ducks under a wild hook from Kokkalis.
Kokkalis throws a looping overhand right but Billington ducks down to avoid it.
Kokkalis looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokkalis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Billington.
Billington on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Billington lands with a thumping leg kick.
A low kick from Billington is predictable there
and Kokkalis counters with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Billington lands a nice shot that snaps Kokkalis's head back.
Kokkalis throws a leg kick
and Billington makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kokkalis scores with a kick to the body.
Kokkalis's corner calls for a 1-2. Kokkalis obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Billington throws a front kick aimed at Kokkalis's knee but Kokkalis avoids it well.
Kokkalis throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kokkalis on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vangelis Kokkalis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kokkalis, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vangelis Kokkalis!
A victorious Vangelis Kokkalis thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Thomas Billington was interviewed post fight and said 'How the hell did that just happen?'.