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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rico Van-Plant (ranked 1994 p4p, 3019 weight class) and Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos (ranked 271 p4p, 380 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
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| 183 cm
26
174
9 - 9 - 0 |
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183 cm
26
180
9 - 9 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Rico Van-Plant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xanthopoulos lands with an overhand left.
Xanthopoulos misses with a left hand
and Van-Plant counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice takedown defense from Van-Plant. No joy for Xanthopoulos on that attempt.
Van-Plant avoids the body shot from Xanthopoulos.
Van-Plant has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Xanthopoulos throws a hook but Van-Plant blocks it.
A jab from Van-Plant finds it's way through Xanthopoulos's defenses.
It looks like Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos has been cut.
Xanthopoulos gets the takedown into side control.
Van-Plant gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Xanthopoulos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!
Xanthopoulos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van-Plant's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van-Plant trying to control here.
Xanthopoulos is looking to take a break and control but Van-Plant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van-Plant is looking to improve his position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Van-Plant wants to control but Xanthopoulos is keeping busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Xanthopoulos lands a nice short elbow.
Xanthopoulos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Van-Plant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Xanthopoulos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xanthopoulos working over Van-Plant with some ground and pound. Van-Plant looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Van-Plant avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Van-Plant blocking the ground and pound attempt from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van-Plant is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Van-Plant is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Van-Plant keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos wants to take a breather but Van-Plant is having none of it.
Xanthopoulos blocks the strikes from Van-Plant.
Xanthopoulos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Van-Plant is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Xanthopoulos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Van-Plant trying to hold on to Xanthopoulos's head to control him but Xanthopoulos postures up.
Xanthopoulos misses with a head shot. Van-Plant uses the momentum to regain guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van-Plant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Van-Plant has his hands on Xanthopoulos's head, controlling the position.
Van-Plant is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Xanthopoulos defends well.
Van-Plant working a defensive guard here.
Van-Plant manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xanthopoulos manages to get himself to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Van-Plant wants to control from the top but Xanthopoulos keeps moving.
Van-Plant throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Xanthopoulos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Xanthopoulos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Van-Plant throws a big elbow that misses.
Xanthopoulos is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Van-Plant throws a big elbow that misses.
Van-Plant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xanthopoulos is keeping the position for now.
Xanthopoulos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van-Plant throwing strikes but missing.
Xanthopoulos can't keep his opponent in guard - Van-Plant advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos's cut.
That's time! Van-Plant's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Xanthopoulos listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Xanthopoulos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Xanthopoulos looks to land a combination but Van-Plant avoids it well.
Xanthopoulos throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Van-Plant counters with a nice uppercut.
Xanthopoulos misses with a hook. Van-Plant ducked under it nicely.
Van-Plant feinted with a counter takedown.
A jab lands there for Xanthopoulos.
Van-Plant takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van-Plant ducks under a wild hook from Xanthopoulos.
Van-Plant moves away from the strike by Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos misses with a looping right.
Van-Plant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Xanthopoulos rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Van-Plant to counter with a crisp jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van-Plant.
Xanthopoulos throws a right hand that Van-Plant ducks under and follows up with a left that Van-Plant also avoids with ease.
Xanthopoulos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Xanthopoulos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Xanthopoulos misses with a left hand
and Van-Plant cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Xanthopoulos has a takedown stuffed.
Van-Plant changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Xanthopoulos avoids a kick to the body.
Van-Plant gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Xanthopoulos looking to score a takedown here. Van-Plant is defending well but Xanthopoulos drives through and ends up in Van-Plant's guard.
Van-Plant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van-Plant keeping moving, preventing Xanthopoulos from controlling successfully.
Xanthopoulos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xanthopoulos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Van-Plant keeping moving, preventing Xanthopoulos from controlling successfully.
Van-Plant looking for a guillotine here but Xanthopoulos defends easily.
Xanthopoulos wants to control from the top but Van-Plant keeps moving.
Xanthopoulos distracts Van-Plant with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos postures up in Van-Plant's guard and throws a big left but Van-Plant blocks it.
Xanthopoulos trying to control but Van-Plant is working from the bottom.
Van-Plant trying to control the position.
Van-Plant throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Xanthopoulos escapes and throws Van-Plant's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Van-Plant defending against the ground and pound.
Van-Plant struggling a bit here.
Xanthopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A lull in the action here.
Van-Plant struggling a bit here.
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.
Xanthopoulos working the ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos looks up at the clock and then as Van-Plant takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Xanthopoulos smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Xanthopoulos looking to control but instead Van-Plant has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Xanthopoulos scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Xanthopoulos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Van-Plant is trying to get back to full guard.
Van-Plant slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Xanthopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Van-Plant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Xanthopoulos lands a nice shot to the body.
Xanthopoulos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Xanthopoulos showed some decent athleticism there.
Van-Plant is refusing to be controlled, as Xanthopoulos sits in half guard.
Xanthopoulos not doing much here.
Van-Plant is trying to maintain the position but Xanthopoulos is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van-Plant with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Xanthopoulos throws a strike but Van-Plant avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Van-Plant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Xanthopoulos is one step ahead there.
Van-Plant is working hard here to advance position.
Van-Plant is looking for a triangle but Xanthopoulos pushes his legs off easily.
Van-Plant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Xanthopoulos is one step ahead there.
Xanthopoulos scoring with some ground and pound.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Van-Plant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xanthopoulos landing with the ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Van-Plant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xanthopoulos throws a big right hand that misses.
Van-Plant has his hands on Xanthopoulos's head, controlling the position.
Xanthopoulos works over Van-Plant with some ground and pound from guard.
Xanthopoulos is looking to advance position but Van-Plant has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Xanthopoulos is looking to get to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Van-Plant.
Xanthopoulos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Van-Plant looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rico Van-Plant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Xanthopoulos is desperately trying to improve his position but Van-Plant has a good base and remains in mount.
Van-Plant tries to push Xanthopoulos's head away but Xanthopoulos is holding on tight.
Xanthopoulos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Xanthopoulos is still trying to improve position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van-Plant is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Xanthopoulos is surviving well by controlling Van-Plant's body position as best he can.
Xanthopoulos gets back to half guard.
Xanthopoulos keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Xanthopoulos trying to control from the bottom.
Xanthopoulos manages to get to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xanthopoulos is pulling down on Van-Plant's head. It's preventing any offense from Van-Plant, at least for the moment.
Xanthopoulos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that's the end of the fight!
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Xanthopoulos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
A very excited looking Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
33% |
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