PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Charalabous (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claus Clausen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Charalabous
vs
Clausen

180 cm
40
195 lbs
33 - 8 - 1

189 cm
37
195 lbs
28 - 28 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 33 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Kostas Charalabous!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Claus Clausen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clausen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clausen throws a jab when Charalabous was well out of range.
Charalabous thows a leg kick but Clausen checks it
and Clausen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Charalabous finds it's way through Clausen's defenses.
Clausen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Clausen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Charalabous moves away.
Clausen thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Clausen tries to get set, Charalabous tries to push him back and clinch up but Clausen manages to avoid the attempt.
Clausen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Charalabous slips under a jab.
Clausen misses with a looping left.
Clausen throws a sloppy body shot

and Charalabous counters by clinching up.
Charalabous has Clausen pushed against the cage.
Clausen misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Charalabous - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Charalabous stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Clausen blocking some punches.
Charalabous lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Charalabous lands a shoulder strike.
Clausen is looking to control Charalabous's arms but Charalabous gets an underhook and turns him. Now Clausen has his back to the cage.
Clausen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Charalabous up against the cage.
Charalabous takes a shot to the head.
Charalabous blocking some punches.
Charalabous keeps control of Clausen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Clausen has a couple of punches blocked by Charalabous.
Clausen blocks a body shot from Charalabous.
Clausen works on Charalabous's body with a couple of short punches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Clausen as Charalabous tries to tie him up.
Charalabous stalling in the clinch.
Clausen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Clausen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Charalabous's elbow.
Charalabous fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Charalabous blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous misses with a hook from the clinch.
Charalabous lands a shoulder strike.
Charalabous lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Charalabous misses with a hook from the clinch.
Charalabous lands with a light punch inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clausen working aggressively here.
Clausen is trying to break free.
Clausen letting Charalabous take a breather here.
Clausen scores with a shoulder strike.
Clausen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Clausen lands with a right to the head.
Clausen stalling in the clinch.
A short right from Clausen.
Charalabous gets through Clausen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Charalabous doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Clausen misses with a punch to the body.
Clausen is trying to break the clinch but Charalabous is controlling him.
Clausen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Charalabous backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous swings wildly with an uppercut but Clausen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clausen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Clausen fails to land.
The referee is keeping an eye on Charalabous - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Clausen misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Charalabous.

Clausen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Charalabous moves out of range as Clausen strikes.
Clausen misses with an uppercut.
Good work by Clausen as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Charalabous.
Charalabous tries to clinch but Clausen moves out of range.
Charalabous throws a head kick that misses.
Clausen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Charalabous.
Charalabous misses with a few strikes there.
Charalabous tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clausen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Clausen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Clausen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Charalabous.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous tries to clinch up but Clausen circles away and keeps his distance.
Clausen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Clausen throws a good cross that connects.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Charalabous!
Clausen swings for the body but Charalabous moves out of range.
Charalabous throws a one two combo.
That kick from Charalabous tenderised Clausen's leg. Clausen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Charalabous connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clausen cracks Charalabous with a good jab.
Clausen looks to score with a jab to the body but Charalabous is just out of range.
Kostas Charalabous seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Charalabous connects with a crisp jab.

Clausen is rocked!

Charalabous forces Clausen back against the cage and clinches.
Clausen is still on wobbly legs! Can Charalabous finish him?
Clausen throws a head punch that misses.
Clausen is trying to maintain a safe position but Charalabous gets an underhook and turns Clausen into the cage.
Clausen seems to have recovered his senses.
Charalabous throws a head punch that misses.
Charalabous being controlled against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clausen misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kostas Charalabous will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clausen scores with a body shot.
Charalabous connects with a leg kick. Clausen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Clausen tests Charalabous's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Clausen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Charalabous misses with a wild combination.
Kostas Charalabous is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Charalabous lands a nice shot to the body.
Charalabous tries to bum rush Clausen with a series of wild strikes but Clausen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A countering left hand to the body from Clausen misses.
Charalabous takes one to the side of the head.
Clausen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Charalabous stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Charalabous misses with a head kick.
Clausen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Charalabous.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clausen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Clausen looks to score with a jab to the body but Charalabous is just out of range.
Charalabous misses with a body kick.
Charalabous moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Charalabous moves into range and clinches up with Clausen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charalabous is trying to maintain a safe position but Clausen gets an underhook and turns Charalabous into the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Clausen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Clausen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Charalabous misses with a hook. Clausen ducked under it nicely.
Charalabous buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Charalabous tries to clinch up but Clausen circles away and keeps his distance.
Charalabous on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Charalabous connects with a solid leg kick.
Charalabous throws a nice looking combination but Clausen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Clausen throws a good cross that connects.
Clausen lands with a straight right. Charalabous didn't see that one coming.
Good work by Charalabous as he checks the leg kick.
Charalabous misses with a low kick.
Clausen misses with a low kick as Charalabous jumps back.
A low kick from Charalabous is predictable there
and Clausen counters with a stiff right hand.

Charalabous is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Charalabous.
Oh Charalabous is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clausen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Charalabous. Charalabous obviously looking to wear him down.
Charalabous chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clausen lands a nice looking body shot.
Charalabous seems to have got his legs back now.
Charalabous steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clausen.
As Clausen tries to get set, Charalabous tries to push him back and clinch up but Clausen manages to avoid the attempt.
A good leg kick by Charalabous.
Charalabous uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clausen.
Clausen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Clausen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Clausen misses with the combination.
Clausen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Clausen swings for the body but Charalabous moves out of range.
As Clausen tries to get set, Charalabous tries to push him back and clinch up but Clausen manages to avoid the attempt.
Charalabous misses with a series of wild punches.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Clausen! But no joy.
Charalabous ducks under a wild hook from Clausen.
Clausen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Charalabous looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Charalabous scoring well with a low kick there.
Charalabous slips under a jab from Clausen.
Charalabous is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Clausen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charalabous moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Charalabous's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Charalabous duly obliges.
Clausen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Charalabous wants to clinch up but Clausen keeps it at a distance.
Charalabous bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Clausen slips a jab and a cross from Charalabous.
Charalabous throws a one two combo.
Clausen slips a jab and a cross from Charalabous.
Charalabous slips under a jab from Clausen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clausen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Clausen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Clausen throws the left hand but Charalabous avoids the punch easily.
Clausen throws a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Clausen misses.
Good leg kick by Charalabous there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Charalabous tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clausen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Clausen loads up on a big right hand but Charalabous slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Clausen finds it's way through Charalabous's defenses.
Clausen throws a right and a left that Charalabous avoids nicely.
Charalabous is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Clausen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clausen. Charalabous does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Clausen tries to get set, Charalabous tries to push him back and clinch up but Clausen manages to avoid the attempt.
Clausen looks to score with a jab to the body but Charalabous is just out of range.
Charalabous shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Clausen eats them both and turns towards Charalabous to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Charalabous rushes Clausen and presses him up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Charalabous.
Clausen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Charalabous backwards.
Charalabous lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Clausen throws a head punch that misses.
Charalabous blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Charalabous blocking some punches.
Charalabous can't find room to land a body shot as Clausen controls the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Charalabous blocks an uppercut.
Clausen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Charalabous misses with the head strike.
Clausen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kostas Charalabous will probably get the nod.
That's time! Charalabous's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Clausen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Charalabous was well out of range. Poor timing from Clausen.
Charalabous is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Clausen.
Clausen blocks a head kick by Charalabous.
Charalabous moves away from the strike by Clausen.
Clausen lunges at Charalabous with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Charalabous's hand.
Charalabous tries to clinch up but Clausen circles away and keeps his distance.
Clausen throws a series of punches but Charalabous avoids them all with ease.
Clausen misses the jab.
Clausen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Charalabous.
Charalabous tries to clinch but Clausen moves away
and Clausen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clausen throws a hook to the side of Charalabous's head but Charalabous sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Charalabous moves in looking to clinch but Clausen pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charalabous misses with a series of wild punches.
Clausen looks to score with a jab to the body but Charalabous is just out of range.
Clausen throws a body punch but Charalabous moves out of range.
Clausen lands with a cross.
Clausen takes a swing at Charalabous's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen misses with a hook.
A bone on bone clash there as Clausen blocks the leg kick.
Charalabous fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clausen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Charalabous throws a nice inside leg kick.
Charalabous lands a nice leg kick that just misses Clausen's sensitive parts.
Charalabous lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Charalabous misses with a double jab
and Clausen counters with a nice uppercut.
Charalabous looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Clausen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Clausen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
No joy there for Charalabous, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Charalabous takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clausen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clausen swats away the attempt to clinch by Charalabous.
Clausen lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Charalabous.
Charalabous tries to land a leg kick but Clausen saw it coming and moves away.
Nice jab there from Clausen.
Clausen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Charalabous.
Clausen tries to land a leg kick but Charalabous saw it coming and moves away.
Claus Clausen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Charalabous tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Clausen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Charalabous fails to land with a series of punches.
Clausen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Clausen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Charalabous.
Clausen just misses with a punch to the body.
Charalabous on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Charalabous moves out of range as Clausen strikes.
Charalabous misses with a series of wild punches.
Clausen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Clausen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Clausen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Charalabous manages to avoid it.
Clausen takes a swing at Charalabous's ribcage but misses.
Kostas Charalabous is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Charalabous, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clausen throws a body punch but Charalabous moves out of range.
Charalabous tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clausen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Charalabous misses with a few strikes there.
Charalabous lands with a straight right. Clausen didn't see that one coming.
Charalabous throws a head kick but Clausen moves out of range.
Clausen slips a jab and a cross from Charalabous.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clausen throws a good cross that connects.
Clausen avoids the head kick by Charalabous.
Clausen lands a body shot.
Nice jab there from Clausen.
Clausen throws a quick inside leg kick.

Charalabous rushes Clausen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Charalabous looking to stall.
Clausen lands a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clausen lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clausen throws a head punch that misses.
Claus Clausen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clausen is leaning against Charalabous and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Charalabous letting Clausen take a breather here.
Charalabous looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Charalabous works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Clausen effectively controlling the action here.
Clausen scores with a shot to the side of Charalabous's head.
Clausen throws a punch but it's blocked by Charalabous.
Stalling in the clinch from Clausen.
Clausen blocking some punches.
Charalabous swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Charalabous prevents a body shot from Clausen.
A short right from Clausen on the inside.
Charalabous blocking some punches.
Charalabous blocks a body shot from Clausen.
Clausen swings wildly with an uppercut but Charalabous uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claus Clausen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Charalabous has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kostas Charalabous!
Kostas Charalabous very nearly forgot to thank Reaper Combatwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.