PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Panopoulos (ranked 4863 p4p, 4862 weight class) and Raffaele Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Panopoulos
vs
Esposito

182 cm
24
205
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Panopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raffaele Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panopoulos turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Esposito shoots in but no luck this time.
Esposito tries to clinch up but Panopoulos circles away and keeps his distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Panopoulos.
Panopoulos with the inside leg kick.
Panopoulos throws a nice outside leg kick.
Panopoulos with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Panopoulos scoring well with a low kick there.
Esposito throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Esposito chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Panopoulos can pounce on him.
Panopoulos stuffs the takedown attempt from Esposito. Esposito gets slowly back to his feet.
Esposito misses with a wild body shot.

Panopoulos tries to sprawl but Esposito drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esposito trying to control the action but Panopoulos is working from the bottom.
Esposito is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Panopoulos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Panopoulos tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panopoulos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Esposito.
Esposito trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panopoulos is trying to stand back up but Esposito is controlling him
Esposito tries to stand but can't do so whilst Panopoulos controls his leg.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Esposito lands strikes from half guard.
Esposito missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Esposito throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Esposito is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Esposito working Panopoulos over with strikes.
Panopoulos is breathing heavily.
Still in half guard, Esposito seems content to control.
Panopoulos is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Esposito scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Esposito controlling the action here.
Panopoulos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Esposito on the ground.
Esposito is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Panopoulos is trying to reverse the position but instead Esposito has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
It looks like Esposito might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Esposito's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raffaele Esposito will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Esposito decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Panopoulos is trying to escape back to his feet but Esposito uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Panopoulos trying to remain calm as Esposito controls from the top position.
Esposito has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Panopoulos is not content to let Esposito control the position.
Panopoulos parries the strikes from Esposito easily there. Esposito is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Panopoulos to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esposito landing strikes.
Esposito working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Esposito wants to stand but Panopoulos has his arm trapped.
Esposito working the ground and pound.
Esposito is looking to take a break and control but Panopoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Esposito has an Americana. Panopoulos didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Esposito is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Esposito hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Raffaele Esposito!