PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nord Dude (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georgios Kourkonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Nord Dude has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dude
vs
Kourkonis

194 cm
22
234 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nord Dude!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Georgios Kourkonis!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dude throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dude fails to land with a series of punches.
Kourkonis shoots in but Dude avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kourkonis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dude was well out of range. Poor timing from Kourkonis.
Dude throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kourkonis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dude misses with a double jab.
Dude misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nord Dude seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dude pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Kourkonis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kourkonis controlling the position from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kourkonis trying to control the position but Dude is working away.
Dude manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kourkonis is looking for a sweep. Dude is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dude is thwarting Kourkonis's attempts to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kourkonis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kourkonis is trying to stand up here but Dude is controlling him well.
Kourkonis gets full guard.
Dude is looking to advance position but Kourkonis has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kourkonis landing punches.
Dude is breathing heavily.
Kourkonis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dude is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kourkonis sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Dude is working to get back to half guard.
Kourkonis cracks Dude with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kourkonis content just to control the position here.
Kourkonis prevents Dude from getting the reversal.
Kourkonis trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dude wants to hold on but Kourkonis pushes him away.
Dude has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Kourkonis's lack of action.
Kourkonis should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kourkonis tries to stand but can't do so whilst Dude controls his leg.
Dude is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kourkonis lands a nice short elbow.
Kourkonis prevents Dude from improving his position.
Kourkonis trying to control the action but Dude is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kourkonis is stalling here. Dude is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kourkonis seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dude has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kourkonis tries to improve position but can't.
Dude in side control, throwing shots but Kourkonis defends.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dude swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dude darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kourkonis blocks a head kick by Dude.
Nice defenses there by Kourkonis.
Kourkonis doesn't manage to clinch there - Dude circles away.

Kourkonis pushes Dude up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgios Kourkonis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kourkonis clinches.
Kourkonis tries to pull guard but Dude holds him up against the cage and eventually Kourkonis drops back down to his feet.

Kourkonis jumps guard.
Kourkonis throws a couple of heel strikes.
Kourkonis is pulling down on Dude's head. It's preventing any offense from Dude, at least for the moment.
Kourkonis is looking to stand up but Dude isn't so interested in that idea.
Kourkonis is adopting a defensive guard.
Kourkonis is breathing heavily.
Dude trying to control the position from guard on top but Kourkonis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dude is really struggling to control Kourkonis but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dude throws a big right hand that misses.
Kourkonis trying to keep a closed guard but Dude is proving a slippery customer.
Dude with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kourkonis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dude misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dude pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Kourkonis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dude did well to prevent Kourkonis getting side control.

Kourkonis is working for a kimura but Dude is defending it quite comfortably.
Dude moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Dude is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kourkonis is aware though and is defending well.
Kourkonis looking to pass the guard.
Dude will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dude wants to improve his position but instead Kourkonis has moved into half guard.
Dude is pressing down on Kourkonis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Dude has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kourkonis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dude has momentary wrist control but Kourkonis slips an elbow through the middle.
Kourkonis wanted to stand there but Dude had control of the position.
Dude trying to keep a closed guard but Kourkonis is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dude wants to sweep here but Kourkonis controlling him for the moment.
Kourkonis trying to control the position from guard on top but Dude is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dude is trying to keep Kourkonis in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kourkonis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Kourkonis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgios Kourkonis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Dude's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dude wants to land a leg kick but Kourkonis is out of range.

Kourkonis forces Dude back against the cage and clinches.

Kourkonis breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Dude misses the target.
Kourkonis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dude sprawls well. Dude wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kourkonis gets slowly back to his feet.
Kourkonis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dude.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dude misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kourkonis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dude but Dude pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dude tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kourkonis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dude swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kourkonis closes the distance and clinches.
Dude is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kourkonis is keeping busy.
Maybe Dude would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

Kourkonis manages to break the clinch.
Kourkonis misses with a straight right.

Kourkonis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dude makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dude.

Dude has his foot on Kourkonis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kourkonis works his way back into a safe position though.
Kourkonis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dude swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kourkonis works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kourkonis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dude keeps working.
Dude trying to control but Kourkonis postures up.
Kourkonis trying to control from Dude's half guard. Dude has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kourkonis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Georgios Kourkonis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dude throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Dude is trying to control the position but Kourkonis postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourkonis trying to control the position from guard on top but Dude is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kourkonis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dude tries to clinch but Kourkonis moves out of range.
Dude lands a glancing blow to the side of Kourkonis's head.

Kourkonis forces Dude back against the cage and clinches.
Dude trying to stall but Kourkonis improves his position.
Kourkonis effectively controlling the action here.
Dude gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kourkonis.
Nord Dude has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Georgios Kourkonis.
Dude misses with a hook from the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kourkonis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dude is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kourkonis tries a knee to the head but Dude blocks it.
Dude is trying to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dude.
Dude tries to stall but Kourkonis uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nord Dude.
Kourkonis lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kourkonis shoots in looking for a takedown. Dude tries to sprawl out of it but Kourkonis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dude manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nord Dude is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dude uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nord Dude has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Georgios Kourkonis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kourkonis darts in and clinches Dude up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georgios Kourkonis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kourkonis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georgios Kourkonis!