PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pranav Kumaran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manos Anagnostopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kumaran
vs
Anagnostopoulos

180 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

186 cm
18
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pranav Kumaran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manos Anagnostopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumaran misses with a head kick.
Anagnostopoulos shapes to counter with a head kick.
Anagnostopoulos blocks a head kick by Kumaran.
Anagnostopoulos plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Anagnostopoulos.
Anagnostopoulos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kumaran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kumaran clinches with his opponent.
Anagnostopoulos looking to stall.
We've been informed that Anagnostopoulos has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kumaran throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anagnostopoulos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kumaran's efforts to push away.
Anagnostopoulos avoids a wild elbow strike from Kumaran.
Anagnostopoulos leaning his opponent against the cage.
Anagnostopoulos wants to break the clinch but can't.

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.
Anagnostopoulos dodges an elbow strike from Kumaran.
Anagnostopoulos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kumaran up against the cage.
Anagnostopoulos taking a breather.

Anagnostopoulos breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumaran tries a head kick but it misses.
Kumaran lands a high kick!

It looks like Manos Anagnostopoulos has been cut.
Anagnostopoulos looks winded!
Kumaran throws a lazy head kick
and Anagnostopoulos counters with a solid body kick.
Kumaran throws a sloppy head kick
and Anagnostopoulos counters with a body kick.
Kumaran doesn't manage to clinch there - Anagnostopoulos circles away.
Anagnostopoulos steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kumaran throws a sloppy head kick and Anagnostopoulos moves out of range easily.

Kumaran closes the distance and clinches.

Kumaran escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anagnostopoulos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anagnostopoulos throws a head kick that misses.
Kumaran throws a head kick that misses.
Kumaran pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anagnostopoulos replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Kumaran blocks it well.

Kumaran forces Anagnostopoulos back against the cage and clinches.
Anagnostopoulos is looking to control Kumaran's arms but Kumaran gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anagnostopoulos has his back to the cage.
Anagnostopoulos trying to control the position but instead, Kumaran has worked for underhooks and has pushed Anagnostopoulos into the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anagnostopoulos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pranav Kumaran dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manos Anagnostopoulos'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.

Kumaran throws a sloppy head kick and Anagnostopoulos moves out of range easily.
Pranav Kumaran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kumaran darts in and clinches Anagnostopoulos up against the cage.
Anagnostopoulos taking a breather.
Anagnostopoulos avoids the elbow strike from Kumaran, against the cage.
Kumaran can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kumaran pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kumaran tries to close the distance and clinch but Anagnostopoulos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kumaran wants to clinch.
Anagnostopoulos tries a quick counter leg kick but Kumaran is wise to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumaran throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kumaran tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kumaran blocks a head kick by Anagnostopoulos.
Anagnostopoulos is breathing heavily.

Kumaran closes the distance and pushes Anagnostopoulos back into the cage.
Anagnostopoulos avoids a wild elbow strike from Kumaran.
Kumaran pushes off an throws an elbow but Anagnostopoulos leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Anagnostopoulos to work.
Kumaran has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Anagnostopoulos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kumaran just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anagnostopoulos lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kumaran throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kumaran breaks the clinch.
Kumaran tries to clinch but Anagnostopoulos is having none of it.
Kumaran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Anagnostopoulos counters with a body kick.
Kumaran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Anagnostopoulos is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Anagnostopoulos gets tackled into the cage by Kumaran. Kumaran maintains the clinch.
Kumaran lands an elbow that stopped Anagnostopoulos in his tracks for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumaran wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Anagnostopoulos trying to control the position but instead, Kumaran has worked for underhooks and has pushed Anagnostopoulos into the cage.

Kumaran escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pranav Kumaran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kumaran moves to clinch but Anagnostopoulos breaks away
and Anagnostopoulos counters with a body kick that stops Kumaran in his tracks momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pranav Kumaran dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Manos Anagnostopoulos's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Kumaran looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kumaran backing away here, and Anagnostopoulos unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kumaran tries to clinch but Anagnostopoulos moves out of range.
Anagnostopoulos steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

Kumaran lands a head kick that stumbles Anagnostopoulos and the fighters go to the mat.

Anagnostopoulos is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kumaran is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anagnostopoulos can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anagnostopoulos jumps guard but Kumaran turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Anagnostopoulos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kumaran creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumaran dodges an elbow strike from Anagnostopoulos.
Kumaran creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Kumaran's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pranav Kumaran is winning the standup battle so far.
Kumaran tries to clinch but Anagnostopoulos moves away
and Anagnostopoulos counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kumaran tries to clinch up but Anagnostopoulos circles away and keeps his distance.
Kumaran tries to clinch up but Anagnostopoulos circles away and keeps his distance.
Kumaran tries to clinch up but Anagnostopoulos circles away and keeps his distance.
Anagnostopoulos steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kumaran tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumaran tries to clinch there but Anagnostopoulos circles away.
Kumaran throws a head kick but Anagnostopoulos moves out of range.
Anagnostopoulos lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A head kick by Kumaran misses
and Anagnostopoulos counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Anagnostopoulos blocks a head kick by Kumaran.
Kumaran throws a sloppy head kick and Anagnostopoulos moves out of range easily.
Kumaran tries to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Pranav Kumaran is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kumaran tries to clinch there but Anagnostopoulos circles away.
Anagnostopoulos shapes to counter with a head kick.
Kumaran fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kumaran rushes Anagnostopoulos and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anagnostopoulos throws an elbow but it misses.
Anagnostopoulos takes an elbow to the temple.
Anagnostopoulos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Anagnostopoulos looking to stall.
Kumaran throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kumaran gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kumaran dodges an elbow strike from Anagnostopoulos.
Anagnostopoulos tries to pull guard but Kumaran won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anagnostopoulos blocks the elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pranav Kumaran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kumaran, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pranav Kumaran!