PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gus Pappas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darko Vader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vader has chosen Return of Darko as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pappas
vs
Vader

172 cm
29
156 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

168 cm
27
145 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gus Pappas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darko Vader!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Phil Schofield and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Vader.
We've been told by Pappas's head coaches at The Factory that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Vader is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pappas throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Vader counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pappas throws a shot from downtown. Vader moves away and avoids it.
Vader misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pappas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vader throws a hook but Pappas blocks it.
Vader looks to land a combination but Pappas avoids it well.
Pappas misses with a hook.
Vader throws a hook to the side of Pappas's head but Pappas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pappas throws a leg kick
and Pappas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Vader tries to bum rush Pappas with a series of wild strikes but Pappas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vader keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pappas.
Vader swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pappas slips under a jab from Vader.
Pappas is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Vader.
Vader takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A big right from Vader misses.
Vader misses the jab.
Vader jabs Pappas right on the nose. Pappas blinks but takes it well.
Pappas misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Vader throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pappas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pappas throws a low kick but Vader moves out of range easily.
It seemed like Vader was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gus Pappas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pappas moves into the clinch.
A short right from Vader on the inside.
Pappas misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vader throws an elbow but misses.
Pappas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vader working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pappas's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pappas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pappas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pappas misses with a punch on the inside.
Vader blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vader is trying to break free.
Vader dodges an elbow strike from Pappas.
Pappas stalls.
Vader lands a nice shot to the body.
Vader throws a punch but it's blocked by Pappas.
Pappas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Pappas scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vader pushes off an throws an elbow but Pappas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pappas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vader swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pappas has a couple of punches blocked by Vader.
Vader misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vader throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vader scores with a shot to the side of Pappas's head.

Vader breaks from the clinch.
Vader keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pappas moves away from the strike by Vader.
Pappas is looking to counter punch.
Pappas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pappas takes a jab right on the kisser.
Vader lands with a good body shot.
Vader moves out of range of the body kick.
Pappas looks to clinch
and Vader counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pappas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vader counters with a nice uppercut.
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!

Pappas clinches up with Vader and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pappas.
Pappas misses with a punch to the body.
Vader misses with some punches.
Pappas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pappas stalling in the clinch.
Vader lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vader prevents a body shot from Pappas.
Pappas is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right from Pappas.
Pappas blocks an elbow strike from Vader.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pappas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darko Vader dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vader throws a poor cross that misses

and Pappas moves into the clinch.
Vader misses with a punch on the inside.
Vader misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vader has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Pappas seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Vader can turn it around.
Pappas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pappas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Pappas.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Pappas for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Vader can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pappas.
Pappas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vader backwards.
Pappas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vader's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pappas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pappas blocks an uppercut.
Vader creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vader swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pappas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pappas breaks the clinch.
Pappas has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Pappas cracks Vader with a good jab.
Pappas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vader.
Vader with a hook.
Pappas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A telegraphed right hand from Vader misses the target.
Pappas throwing a counter right hand but Vader manages to avoid it.
Vader has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pappas misses with a wild combination.
Vader misses with a hook. Pappas ducked under it nicely.
Vader misses with a straight right.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pappas.
Darko Vader seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pappas slips under a jab from Vader.
Pappas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vader paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Vader misses.
Pappas throws a jab when Vader was well out of range.
A little jabbing left from Vader on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vader misses with a looping left.
Pappas takes one to the chin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Vader looks to throw the jab but Pappas is out of range.
Pappas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vader stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pappas lands a glancing blow to the side of Vader's head.
Vader misses with a looping left.
Pappas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vader displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pappas throws out the jab.
Vader might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Vader has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pappas.
Pappas tests Vader's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Pappas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vader working aggressively here.
Pappas throws a punch but it's blocked by Vader.

Pappas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gus Pappas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vader showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pappas.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vader! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pappas drops his hands momentarily and Vader takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Vader lands a jab to Pappas's midsection.

Pappas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vader, pushing him back against the cage.
Vader lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Pappas breaks from the clinch.
Vader throws a predictable looking body shot
and Pappas counters with a two punch combo.
Pappas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vader manages to avoid it.
Pappas scores with a one two! Vader had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Vader is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pappas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Vader is still on wobbly legs! Can Pappas finish him?
Vader throws a body shot but no joy.
Pappas lands a big uppercut and this one is all over! His foe lies motionless on the canvas - a massive one punch knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Gus Pappas!
An out of breath and clearly excited Gus Pappas thanked Pitt Nutrition 160Q@$149 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, Darko Vader stepped up to the mic, saying 'I wanna thank all my fans for their support, and to the people who came to witness this great match. Gotta go my chika babes are now waiting in my room. '.