PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Papantoniou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Papantoniou's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Phobophobia. Kostas Papantoniou has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Papantoniou
vs
James

187 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

209 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kostas Papantoniou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank James!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Papantoniou's waist but Papantoniou gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
We've been told by Papantoniou's head coaches at Warrior MMA and Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into Papantoniou's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James with a nice head shot there.
Papantoniou wants to sweep but no luck.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Papantoniou is retaining full guard.
Papantoniou pulls James in close to his closed guard and prevents James from doing any damage or advancing position.
Papantoniou looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James throwing strikes from guard but Papantoniou blocks nicely.
James wants to control from the top but Papantoniou keeps moving.
Papantoniou on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Papantoniou tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papantoniou wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
Papantoniou has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Papantoniou shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. James manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Papantoniou gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

James has an active guard here but Papantoniou has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Papantoniou stands up from half guard.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from James enables Papantoniou to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. James manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Papantoniou has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Papantoniou works a leg free and moves into half guard.
James trying to hold on to Papantoniou's head to control him but Papantoniou postures up.
Papantoniou looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papantoniou stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
Papantoniou slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Papantoniou stands up and beckons James to his feet.
Papantoniou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Papantoniou drives through with a takedown into James's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
James looks winded!
Papantoniou not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Papantoniou stands up from James's guard - Papantoniou perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Papantoniou circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Papantoniou dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

James darts in looking for a takedown but Papantoniou gets double underhooks and turns James into the cage.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Papantoniou avoids it really well and circles away.
Papantoniou seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Papantoniou swivels and escapes.
Kostas Papantoniou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank James.
Papantoniou shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Papantoniou closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
Papantoniou is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papantoniou controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kostas Papantoniou overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papantoniou wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Papantoniou controlling from the top position.
Papantoniou content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
James is looking to clinch but Papantoniou is avoiding it.

Papantoniou feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

James working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Papantoniou has passed into half guard!
James is breathing heavily.
Papantoniou seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking for a sweep. Papantoniou is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Papantoniou not doing much here.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Papantoniou seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down James for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Papantoniou seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Papantoniou sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kostas Papantoniou is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Papantoniou. No joy for James on that attempt.
Papantoniou seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Papantoniou looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for James!
James gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Papantoniou controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Papantoniou dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Papantoniou shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Papantoniou finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Papantoniou decides to stand and escape the position.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Papantoniou misses its target.

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Papantoniou controlling the position well.
Papantoniou looks like he's trying to stand up.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is looking for a kimura here.
Papantoniou slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Papantoniou is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James won't allow Papantoniou to get back to his feet.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Papantoniou works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Papantoniou.
Papantoniou has James pulled in close to control his posture.
James with a nice head shot there.
Papantoniou wants to sweep but no luck.
James trying to stand up but can't free himself from Papantoniou's guard.
James trying to control but Papantoniou is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
James tries to clinch

and Papantoniou counters with a takedown into side control.
James tries to bench press Papantoniou off him but Papantoniou keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Papantoniou decides to stand up, so the ref orders James to his feet.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Papantoniou is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Papantoniou circles away and we're back to standing.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Papantoniou as he avoids it easily.
Kostas Papantoniou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank James.

James gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Papantoniou seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papantoniou stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Papantoniou controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Papantoniou is stalling in the full guard.

James has his foot on Papantoniou's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Papantoniou works his way back into a safe position though.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Frank James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Papantoniou throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. James was covering up waiting for the punch and Papantoniou finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papantoniou seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kostas Papantoniou showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Papantoniou has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kostas Papantoniou!
Kostas Papantoniou looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I want to thank all of you and my opponent for this match.Thank you again!'.