PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rio Pape (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonas Karionatakes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Pape
vs
Karionatakes

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Pape!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jonas Karionatakes!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pape lands a two punch combo.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch but Pape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karionatakes doesn't manage to clinch there - Pape circles away.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch.
Pape swats away the attempt to clinch by Karionatakes.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but Pape moves out of range.
Pape throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karionatakes.
Pape wants to slow Karionatakes down by chopping away at his legs.
No joy there for Pape, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pape fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karionatakes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karionatakes moves in looking to clinch but Pape pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pape swats away the attempt to clinch by Karionatakes.
Pape throws a nice looking combination but Karionatakes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Karionatakes wants to clinch.
Pape misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pape circles away from the clinch attempt.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but Pape moves out of range.
Karionatakes wants to clinch up but Pape keeps it at a distance.
Karionatakes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pape throws a series of punches but Karionatakes avoids them all with ease.
A head kick from Karionatakes lands but Pape takes it in his stride.

It looks like Rio Pape has been cut.

Karionatakes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Karionatakes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Karionatakes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pape defends it well.
Karionatakes slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pape pushes Karionatakes off looking to stand but Karionatakes dives back in and keeps control.
Karionatakes throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Pape to regain full guard.
Karionatakes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pape has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karionatakes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karionatakes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but Pape moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karionatakes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pape avoids the head kick by Karionatakes.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karionatakes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karionatakes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pape lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Karionatakes tries to clinch up but Pape circles away and keeps his distance.
Pape throws a right and a left that Karionatakes avoids nicely.
Karionatakes tries to clinch up
and Pape counters with a left and a right that stings Karionatakes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karionatakes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pape counters with a three punch combo that has Karionatakes backing up. Karionatakes nods at Pape to acknowledge the strikes.
Karionatakes looks to clinch
and Pape counters with a one-two to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karionatakes tries to clinch but Pape moves out of range.
Pape tries to bum rush Karionatakes with a series of wild strikes but Karionatakes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but Pape is having none of it.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch.
Pape throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karionatakes.
Pape throws a combination. Karionatakes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A left and a right from Pape both land. Nice combination.
Sloppy strikes from Pape. Those never looked like landing.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pape swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pape misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Karionatakes doesn't manage to clinch there - Pape circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Pape dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rio Pape's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Karionatakes misses with the combination.
Karionatakes wants to clinch.
Rio Pape is winning the standup battle so far.

Karionatakes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karionatakes pushes off an throws an elbow but Pape leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pape as Karionatakes tries to tie him up.
Karionatakes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pape walks away with a smile on his face. Karionatakes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rio Pape is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pape lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Karionatakes circles away quickly and effectively.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but Pape is having none of it.
Pape swinging wildly here.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pape swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pape scores with a three punch combo!
Pape swats away the attempt to clinch by Karionatakes.
Pape is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karionatakes can do to turn this around?
Pape misses with the combination.
Pape swats away the attempt to clinch by Karionatakes.
Pape keeps the fight on the outside.
No joy there for Pape, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pape misses with a looping right.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch but Pape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pape misses with a few strikes there.
Pape lands a two punch combo.
Karionatakes doesn't manage to clinch there - Pape circles away.
Pape misses with a wild combination.
Pape throws a series of punches but Karionatakes avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch but Pape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karionatakes tries to clinch up but Pape circles away and keeps his distance.
Pape throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karionatakes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pape throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karionatakes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karionatakes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pape pinned against the cage. Pape gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch but Pape is avoiding it.
Karionatakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karionatakes tries a head kick but it misses.
Pape tries to bum rush Karionatakes with a series of wild strikes but Karionatakes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Karionatakes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karionatakes wants to clinch.
Pape with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karionatakes throws a sloppy head kick and Pape moves out of range easily.
Pape swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Karionatakes slips a jab and a cross from Pape.
Karionatakes moves in looking to clinch but Pape pushes him off.
Karionatakes dodges the punch combination from Pape.
Pape goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pape throws a right hand that Karionatakes ducks under and follows up with a left that Karionatakes also avoids with ease.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch but Pape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pape rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Karionatakes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pape throws a right and a left that Karionatakes avoids nicely.
Karionatakes tries to clinch
and Pape counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Karionatakes tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karionatakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pape throws a combination. Karionatakes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pape throws a right hand that Karionatakes ducks under and follows up with a left that Karionatakes also avoids with ease.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Pape.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karionatakes wants to clinch up but Pape keeps it at a distance.
Karionatakes wants to clinch.

Karionatakes moves into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Karionatakes throws an elbow but misses.
Karionatakes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pape's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Pape dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rio Pape's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karionatakes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pape.
Karionatakes wants to clinch but Pape slips to the side
and Pape counters with a two punch combo.
Pape fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pape misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pape fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karionatakes wants to clinch.
Pape closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Karionatakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pape swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karionatakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karionatakes moves in looking to clinch but Pape pushes him off.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch but Pape is avoiding it.
Karionatakes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pape as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pape fails to land with a series of punches.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pape swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karionatakes wants to clinch
enabling Pape to counter with a crisp jab.
Karionatakes tries to clinch up but Pape circles away and keeps his distance.
Karionatakes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karionatakes is looking to clinch but Pape is avoiding it.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch but Pape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karionatakes throws a head kick but Pape moves out of range.
Pape throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karionatakes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pape manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pape throws a leg kick but Karionatakes checks it.
Pape will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Karionatakes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pape swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karionatakes throws a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karionatakes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rio Pape is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karionatakes throws a head kick but Pape moves out of range.
Pape misses with a series of wild punches.
Pape misses with a two punch combination.
Karionatakes wants to clinch.
Karionatakes darts in trying to clinch
and Pape counters with a series of strikes. Karionatakes will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd cheers as Pape lands an impressive looking overhand right. Karionatakes doesn't seem phased though.
Pape is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pape misses with a few strikes there.
Karionatakes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karionatakes wants to clinch but Pape slips to the side
and Pape counters with a two punch combo.
Karionatakes looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pape throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pape tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pape comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Pape fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Karionatakes, pushing him back against the cage.
Pape tries to break the clinch but Karionatakes is controlling the position.
Pape wants to get back to striking at distance but Karionatakes won't allow it.
Karionatakes is trying to maintain a safe position but Pape gets an underhook and turns Karionatakes into the cage.
Jonas Karionatakes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karionatakes trying to land knees to the body.
Pape is trying to break free.
Karionatakes tries to pull guard but Pape forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pape blocks an uppercut.
Pape wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pape is looking to break free of the clinch but Karionatakes has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karionatakes working hard to break the clinch.
Pape is trying to force a seperation but Karionatakes has the dominant position.
Karionatakes keeps control of Pape as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pape dodges an elbow strike from Karionatakes.
Rio Pape is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karionatakes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pape.
Pape wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karionatakes has him pressed against the cage.
Pape tries to break free but Karionatakes pushes him back against the cage.
Karionatakes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rio Pape has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonas Karionatakes.

Pape breaks from the clinch.
Pape throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karionatakes.
Some wild striking there from Karionatakes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rio Pape showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pape, 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rio Pape!