PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sofoklis Aristotelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abbe Faria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abbe Faria has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aristotelis
vs
Faria

225 cm
27
265 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

195 cm
30
265 lbs
22 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sofoklis Aristotelis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abbe Faria!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aristotelis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Faria tries to counter it with a takedown but Aristotelis pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Aristotelis misses with a wild combination.
Faria throws a series of punches but Aristotelis avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Faria.
Aristotelis swinging wildly here.
Aristotelis throws a combination. Faria tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danga de danga de dang - Aristotelis scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Abbe Faria has been cut.
Abbe Faria seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aristotelis throws a right and a left that Faria avoids nicely.
Aristotelis misses with a combination

and Faria counters with a takedown into side control.
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!
Aristotelis defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faria is looking to take a break and control but Aristotelis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aristotelis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Faria working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Faria landing a few strikes.
Faria throwing strikes but Aristotelis manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Aristotelis wants to stand but Faria has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Faria is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faria has a closed guard, preventing Aristotelis from standing up.
Faria trying to keep a closed guard but Aristotelis is proving a slippery customer.
Aristotelis tries to stand but Faria is controlling from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Faria holds on and takes a little breather.
Faria wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faria is pulling down on Aristotelis's head to control his posture.
Aristotelis pushes down on Faria's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Aristotelis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Aristotelis is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Faria is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Faria is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Faria is trying is best to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Faria throws a body punch but Aristotelis moves out of range.
Faria scores with a jab.
Aristotelis wants to clinch up but Faria keeps it at a distance.
Faria swings for the body but Aristotelis moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Aristotelis - just one landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faria darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Faria throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Aristotelis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Faria will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sofoklis Aristotelis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abbe Faria's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aristotelis tries to clinch up.
Aristotelis tries to close the distance and clinch but Faria swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aristotelis tries to clinch up.
Faria drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Aristotelis defends it well.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Aristotelis chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Faria tries to keep at a distance but Aristotelis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Faria misses with a short punch on the inside.
Faria dodges an elbow strike from Aristotelis.
Faria blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Aristotelis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Faria backwards.
Aristotelis lands a damaging elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aristotelis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Aristotelis lands a shoulder strike.
Aristotelis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aristotelis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aristotelis throws an elbow that misses.
Faria stalling.
A head punch on the inside from Faria fails to land.
Faria lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Faria scores with a nice short uppercut.
Faria gets through Aristotelis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aristotelis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Faria fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Faria scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faria misses with a knee strike.
Aristotelis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Faria blocks an elbow strike.
Faria throws a punch but it's blocked by Aristotelis.
Faria avoids the elbow strike from Aristotelis, against the cage.
Faria utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Faria tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aristotelis avoids it.
Faria makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Faria is trying to maintain a safe position but Aristotelis gets an underhook and turns Faria into the cage.
Faria putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Aristotelis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Faria obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Faria missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faria displaying some good clinch control by pressing Aristotelis up against the cage.
Aristotelis misses with a punch on the inside.
Aristotelis misses with some punches.
Faria lands with a left to the head.
Faria lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Faria tries to land a knee to the head but Aristotelis blocks with his arms.
A head punch on the inside from Faria fails to land.
Faria avoids a wild elbow strike from Aristotelis.
Aristotelis misses with an elbow strike.
Aristotelis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Faria backwards.
Faria blocks an elbow strike.
Aristotelis pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Faria tries to throw a body punch but Aristotelis avoids it by throwing Faria back against the cage.
Faria misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Faria.
A nice left hand lands by Aristotelis.
Aristotelis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faria tries to land a knee to the head but Aristotelis blocks with his arms.
Aristotelis pushes off an throws an elbow but Faria leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aristotelis lands an elbow just above Faria 's eye.
Faria is trying to stall.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Faria lands a hook to the side of the head.
Faria is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Faria with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Faria.
Aristotelis throws an elbow that misses.
Faria tries to land knees in the clinch but Aristotelis avoids the damage to the body.
Aristotelis misses with the head strike.
Faria scores with a shot to the side of Aristotelis's head.
Faria tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Faria blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis throws a punch but it's blocked by Faria.
Aristotelis throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Aristotelis avoiding damage as Faria throws knees to the body.
Faria taking a breather.
Aristotelis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Faria misses with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aristotelis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Aristotelis lands an elbow that stopped Faria in his tracks for a moment.
Faria takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aristotelis lands a nice elbow.

That has opened up Abbe Faria's cut even more.
A short uppercut from Aristotelis.
Faria lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Faria avoids a wild elbow strike from Aristotelis.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aristotelis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Faria's brow.
Faria lands with a right to the head.

Aristotelis is rocked!
Faria has a couple of punches blocked by Aristotelis.
Faria blocks a body shot from Aristotelis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abbe Faria will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Abbe Faria's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Aristotelis moves in looking to clinch but Faria pushes him off.
Aristotelis misses with a wild combination.

Aristotelis clinches up against the cage.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Faria scores a nice knee to the body.
Faria swings wildly with an uppercut but Aristotelis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Faria gets through Aristotelis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Faria scores a nice knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faria crunches a lovely knee into Aristotelis's ribcage.
Faria lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faria landing knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Faria lands a hook that snaps the head of Aristotelis backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faria misses with a hook to the ribs.
Faria utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Faria tries a knee to the head but Aristotelis blocks it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Faria lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Faria obliges.
Faria lands a nice uppercut.
Faria lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Faria with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Faria blocks the elbow strike.
Aristotelis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Faria putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Aristotelis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Faria lands a knee to the head.
Oh Aristotelis is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Abbe Faria seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Faria.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Faria.
Faria pushes Aristotelis back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Faria is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Faria has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Faria stalls.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Faria.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Faria obliges.
Faria is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Come on Faria - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aristotelis.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Aristotelis as Faria tries to tie him up.
Aristotelis seems to have got his legs back now.
Faria prevents a body shot from Aristotelis.
Aristotelis throws a punch but it's blocked by Faria.
Faria lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aristotelis backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis misses with some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Faria tries to land a knee to the head but Aristotelis blocks with his arms.
Faria doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faria lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Faria working Aristotelis over with knees to the body.
Faria scores a nice knee to the body.
Faria avoiding damage.
Faria softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Faria misses with a body punch.
Aristotelis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Faria misses with a knee strike.
Aristotelis blocking some punches.
Aristotelis lands with a right to the head.
Aristotelis throws a head punch that misses.
Faria working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis lands an elbow just above Faria 's eye.
Aristotelis misses with an elbow strike.
Faria presses Aristotelis against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Faria lands with a short shot to the head.
Faria lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Aristotelis backwards.
Faria lands a shot to the body.
A right hand to the body from Faria.
Faria scores a nice knee to the body.
Aristotelis avoiding damage as Faria throws knees to the body.
Faria lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Aristotelis backwards.
Faria using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Aristotelis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Faria has a couple of punches blocked by Aristotelis.
Faria tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aristotelis avoids it.
Aristotelis misses with the head strike.
Faria missing with knees to the body.
Faria tries to throw a body punch but Aristotelis avoids it by throwing Faria back against the cage.

Faria drops Aristotelis with a big knee straight up the middle! Aristotelis is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

And that's the end of the fight!
Abbe Faria comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faria has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abbe Faria!
Abbe Faria seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Sofoklis Aristotelis spoke after the fight, saying 'He's a good fighter, I need to go back to the gym and work on some things. My fans can expect a win next time!'.