PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dimitris Pilikidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandro Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pilikidis
vs
Rios

170 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dimitris Pilikidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sandro Rios!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jonathan Paton and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Pilikidis.

Rios has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pilikidis misses with a punch to the body.
Rios stalling.
Rios lands an uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rios is looking for a takedown.
A right hand to the body from Rios.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pilikidis has had enough of the clinch but Rios keeps him there for the moment.
Rios tries to pull guard but Pilikidis won't allow it.
Rios lands a right hand.
Pilikidis wants to stall.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rios - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilikidis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rios fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Pilikidis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rios defends it nicely.
Rios feints a jab promting Pilikidis to slip. Rios then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pilikidis slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Rios clinches up with Pilikidis and pushes him back against the cage.
Pilikidis is trying to force a seperation but Rios has the dominant position.

Rios's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rios clinches.

Rios has Pilikidis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rios pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pilikidis tumbling to the mat - Rios dives into Pilikidis's guard.
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.

Rios stands and steps away. Pilikidis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Pilikidis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rios defends well and Pilikidis ends up having to push Rios into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitris Pilikidis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rios getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pilikidis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rios throws Pilikidis to one side and escapes!

Pilikidis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rios to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pilikidis is breathing heavily.
Rios not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pilikidis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rios manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rios manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Pilikidis wants to break the clinch but can't.

Rios has Pilikidis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rios pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pilikidis tumbling to the mat - Rios dives into Pilikidis's guard.
Pilikidis working a defensive guard but Rios manages to pass into side control anyway.

Rios tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pilikidis is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Rios dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pilikidis throws a head kick but Rios moves out of range.

Rios gets caught flat footed, as Pilikidis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Rios has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Pilikidis off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Pilikidis tries to clinch there but Rios circles away.
Pilikidis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Rios instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Rios breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rios has Pilikidis up against the cage in a clinch.

Rios has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pilikidis regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rios 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios tries to free his leg and advance position but Pilikidis is retaining full guard.
Pilikidis controls Rios momentarily but Rios frees himself.
Rios throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pilikidis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pilikidis controls Rios momentarily but Rios frees himself.
Pilikidis wants to improve his position but instead Rios has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pilikidis wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pilikidis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pilikidis wants to improve his position but Rios is controlling well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rios forces Pilikidis back against the cage and clinches.
Rios keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pilikidis's efforts to push away.
Rios makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Rios breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rios listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rios moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rios clinches up with Pilikidis and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rios throws a right hand that Pilikidis ducks under and follows up with a left that Pilikidis also avoids with ease.

Rios has managed to clinch.

Rios pulls guard successfully.
Rios managing to control the position.

Rios uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rios swats away the attempt to clinch by Pilikidis.
Pilikidis shoots in but no luck this time.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilikidis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rios walks away with a smile on his face. Pilikidis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rios scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pilikidis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitris Pilikidis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rios closes the distance and clinches.

Rios manages to break the clinch.

Rios lands a left and a right that send Pilikidis crashing to the mat, dazed. Rios thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Pilikidis is rocked!
Rios scores with a body shot.
Oh Pilikidis is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rios has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Rios showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rios moves into the clinch.
Pilikidis seems to have got his legs back now.
Rios stalling in the clinch.
Pilikidis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rios has Pilikidis pushed against the cage.
Rios working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pilikidis is trying to pull guard but Rios has him pressed against the cage.
Rios avoiding damage as Pilikidis throws knees to the body.

Rios jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pilikidis wants to stand but Rios has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rios throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rios throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rios had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pilikidis defends it easily.
Pilikidis won't allow Rios to sweep him here.
Rios pulls Pilikidis in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

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.
Rios is working for takedown but Pilikidis is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pilikidis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pilikidis tries to circle away but Rios has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rios keeps control of Pilikidis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rios gets control of Pilikidis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rios will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pilikidis is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Pilikidis trying to control the position from guard on top but Rios is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rios manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios is pushing Pilikidis up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sandro Rios seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Come on Rios - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rios continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Pilikidis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Pilikidis leaning against his opponent.

Rios manages to break the clinch.
Pilikidis throws a head kick but Rios moves out of range.
Rios connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pilikidis's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilikidis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rios sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitris Pilikidis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rios connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rios jumps guard.
Rios wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rios is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rios controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sandro Rios comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rios has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Sandro Rios!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Sandro Rios!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Sandro Rios!

Sandro Rios wins by unanimous decision!