PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Spiros Saravakos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trent Rainey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Saravakos
vs
Rainey

175 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
26
167 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Spiros Saravakos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Trent Rainey!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saravakos fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rainey checks it well.
Rainey looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Rainey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saravakos is fending him off so far but Rainey persists. Nope, Saravakos circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rainey or perhaps it was just good defense by Saravakos, which made it look bad.

Saravakos gets tackled into the cage by Rainey. Rainey maintains the clinch.
Saravakos tries to throw a body punch but Rainey avoids it by throwing Saravakos back against the cage.
Rainey drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saravakos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Spiros Saravakos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trent Rainey.
Saravakos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rainey's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saravakos misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Saravakos's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rainey has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Saravakos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Saravakos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rainey throws a punch but it's blocked by Saravakos.
Saravakos pushes Rainey back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rainey wants to get back to striking at distance but Saravakos won't allow it.
Saravakos misses with a punch on the inside.
Saravakos throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Raineys head.
Rainey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rainey tries for a takedown. No joy.
Saravakos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saravakos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rainey prevents it.
Saravakos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rainey being controlled against the cage.
Rainey blocks a body shot from Saravakos.
Rainey is trying to maintain a safe position but Saravakos gets an underhook and turns Rainey into the cage.
Saravakos misses with a punch to the body.
Rainey misses with a knee to the head.
Rainey wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rainey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rainey is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos throws out a leg kick but Rainey moves out of range and Saravakos only half commits.
Rainey looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Saravakos misses with a looping left.
Rainey steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saravakos.
No joy there for Saravakos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Saravakos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rainey, pushing him back against the cage.
Saravakos lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Saravakos - that landed with a thud.
Rainey keeps control of Saravakos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rainey tries to pull guard but Saravakos won't allow it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Saravakos scores with a hook to the body.
Saravakos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos gets through Rainey's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Saravakos misses with some punches.
Saravakos stalling in the clinch.
Saravakos wants to take the fight to the mat but Rainey manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Saravakos misses with a body punch.
Rainey is trying to pull guard but Saravakos has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saravakos.
The referee calls for Saravakos to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good body shot from Saravakos.
Rainey has Saravakos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Saravakos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spiros Saravakos dominated that round.
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.

Saravakos tries to work over Rainey's front leg with a kick but Rainey checks it.
Saravakos connects with a crisp jab.
Saravakos fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rainey checks it well.
Rainey uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saravakos.
Rainey takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Saravakos misses with an uppercut. Rainey saw that one coming.

Saravakos has closed the distance and engaged Rainey in a clinch.
Saravakos is trying to drag Rainey to the mat but Rainey just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saravakos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rainey is breathing heavily.
Rainey is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saravakos has Rainey pushed against the cage.
Saravakos leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rainey tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Saravakos tightens his grip and picks Rainey up, before dumping him to the ground. Rainey manages to land in guard.
Saravakos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rainey trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Saravakos trying to control the position from guard on top but Rainey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saravakos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Saravakos trying to control but Rainey is working from the bottom.
Saravakos works over Rainey with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rainey utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saravakos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Saravakos working some strikes from top position.
Saravakos is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rainey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saravakos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rainey on the ground.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saravakos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saravakos postures up in Rainey's guard and throws a big left but Rainey blocks it.
Saravakos passes Rainey's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rainey is refusing to be controlled, as Saravakos sits in half guard.
Rainey 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.
Saravakos working the head and body with strikes.
Saravakos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rainey with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos is nestled in close to Rainey, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Saravakos works his foot free and advances to mount.
Saravakos looking to finish Rainey with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rainey!
Saravakos looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Saravakos lands a big elbow.
Saravakos has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rainey's face.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saravakos unloading with bombs!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saravakos unloading with bombs!
Saravakos landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spiros Saravakos dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rainey steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saravakos.

Rainey gets tackled into the cage by Saravakos. Saravakos maintains the clinch.
Saravakos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rainey's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rainey has Saravakos pressed against the cage, preventing Saravakos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saravakos is trying to break the clinch but Rainey is controlling him.
Rainey tries to score a body lock takedown but Saravakos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The referee is keeping an eye on Saravakos - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rainey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rainey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rainey scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rainey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saravakos tries to avoid it but Rainey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saravakos to the ground. Saravakos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Saravakos scores with a jab. Rainey acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Saravakos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Saravakos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Saravakos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rainey keeps working.
Saravakos slips a nice elbow through Rainey's hands, connecting with Rainey's forehead.
Saravakos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rainey with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rainey is staying active underneath Saravakos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saravakos lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos drops an elbow to the side of Rainey's head.
Saravakos working the head and body with strikes.
Saravakos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rainey can do to turn this around?
Saravakos wants to pass the guard but Rainey is defending well.
Saravakos scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Saravakos is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saravakos wants to free his trapped foot but Rainey is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saravakos working Rainey over with strikes.
Rainey tries to kick Saravakos off but Saravakos keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rainey is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Saravakos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rainey punching from the bottom.
Saravakos passes to full mount!
Saravakos punishing his opponent with strikes.
Saravakos scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Saravakos lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saravakos putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rainey is bucking up trying to escape but Saravakos cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The referee warns Rainey that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Saravakos raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saravakos landing shots from mount.
Saravakos lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
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!
Saravakos punishing his opponent with strikes.
Saravakos is landing with some decent strikes but Rainey is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Spiros Saravakos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saravakos landing punches.
Saravakos looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Saravakos with the ground and pound from mount.
Saravakos working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Saravakos working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Trent Rainey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spiros Saravakos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saravakos with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spiros Saravakos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saravakos 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:25
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spiros Saravakos!