PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Primo Marcello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Prokopos might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Deep River Blues - Doc Watson. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Prokopos
vs
Marcello

180 cm
27
142 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

162 cm
26
135 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing™
Fight Club Clothing™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Primo Marcello!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Prokopos scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Marcello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Prokopos.
Marcello misses with a looping left.
Marcello jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Marcello throws a right hand that Prokopos ducks under and follows up with a left that Prokopos also avoids with ease.
Prokopos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marcello.
Marcello moves away from the strike by Prokopos.
Marcello misses with a hook.

Prokopos drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Prokopos looking to pass the guard.
Prokopos stops Marcello from standing up.
Prokopos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Prokopos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marcello is keeping the position for now.
Prokopos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Prokopos prevents Marcello from getting back to his feet.
Marcello keeping moving, preventing Prokopos from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Marcello wants to get back to his feet but Prokopos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marcello. Prokopos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marcello throws out a loose jab but Prokopos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Prokopos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marcello manages to avoid it.
Marcello jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Prokopos walks into a straight right hand from Marcello.

Prokopos feints and as Marcello raises his hands in defense, Prokopos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Prokopos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Prokopos tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcello is retaining full guard.
Prokopos passes Marcello's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Marcello is trying to stand back up but Prokopos is controlling him
Prokopos sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Marcello is defending against the submission attempts here by Prokopos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Marcello is trying to stand.
Prokopos trying to mount his opponent but Marcello defends it.
Prokopos keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Marcello wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Marcello looks gassed!
Prokopos wants to free his trapped foot but Marcello is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Prokopos controlling the action here.
Prokopos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Prokopos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marcello.
Marcello misses with a straight left.
Marcello is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Marcello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Prokopos.
Marcello dodges the punch combination from Prokopos.
Marcello walks into a left hand.

Prokopos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Prokopos showed some decent athleticism there.
Marcello tries to kick Prokopos off but Prokopos keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Prokopos in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos is looking to advance position but Marcello won't allow it.
Marcello wants to get back to his feet.
Prokopos content to control rather than advance.

We're going to have a standup here because Denny Prokopos wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Prokopos cracks Marcello with an open hand slap.
Marcello throws the left hand but Prokopos avoids the punch easily.
Prokopos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Prokopos shoots for a double leg takedown but Marcello sprawls well. He's pushed Prokopos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Prokopos moves away from the strike by Marcello.
Prokopos misses the jab.
Prokopos bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Prokopos lands a lovely overhand right.
Primo Marcello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot lands for Prokopos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos 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.

Marcello will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marcello defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Prokopos.
Marcello punishes Prokopos's body with a nice straight punch.
Marcello throws a nice looking combination but Prokopos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Prokopos is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Marcello defending well as Prokopos loads up on a big left hand.
Prokopos tries to clinch up but Marcello circles away and keeps his distance.
Primo Marcello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marcello swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Prokopos is defended easily by Marcello.
Prokopos cracks Marcello with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Prokopos moves out of range as Marcello strikes.
Marcello slips a straight right by Prokopos.
Marcello lands with an overhand left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Prokopos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Prokopos throws a lazy right hand but Marcello sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch combination from Prokopos misses.
Prokopos is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Marcello throws a predictable looking body shot
and Prokopos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcello keeps the fight on the outside.
Marcello throws a looping overhand right but Prokopos ducks down to avoid it.
Marcello misses with a double jab

and Prokopos counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Prokopos.
Marcello is breathing heavily.
Marcello is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Prokopos is controlling him.
Prokopos wants to pass the guard but Marcello is keeping the position.
Marcello can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Prokopos controls the pace.
Prokopos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marcello is keeping the position for now.
Prokopos is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Denny Prokopos.

Prokopos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marcello manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Primo Marcello is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Prokopos slips a jab and a cross from Marcello.
Marcello throws a right and a left that Prokopos avoids nicely.
Prokopos darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Marcello slips under a jab from Prokopos.
Prokopos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Marcello. Marcello circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Prokopos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!
Prokopos content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcello is trying to stand up here but Prokopos is controlling him well.
Prokopos is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Marcello is trying to stand back up but Prokopos is controlling him

Denny Prokopos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Prokopos shoots in looking for a takedown. Marcello tries to sprawl out of it but Prokopos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marcello manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marcello closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Prokopos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Marcello slips under a jab.
A big right from Marcello misses.
Prokopos connects with a single shot there.
Prokopos avoids the body shot from Marcello.
Marcello scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Prokopos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Prokopos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marcello is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcello wants to stand and escape but Prokopos is having none of it.
Prokopos is stalling in the full guard.
Prokopos passes Marcello's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Marcello is trying to stand up here but Prokopos is controlling him well.

Prokopos is working for a kimura but Marcello is defending it quite comfortably.
Prokopos takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Marcello enables Prokopos to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Marcello manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Marcello wants to get back to his feet but Prokopos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Prokopos is pushing down on Marcello's leg trying to pass to half guard. Marcello is fighting to maintain full guard but Prokopos has managed to sneak the leg through.
Still in half guard, Prokopos seems content to control.
Marcello is staying active underneath Prokopos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Marcello pushes Prokopos off and gets back to his feet.
Prokopos throws a hook but Marcello avoids it easily.
Prokopos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Prokopos throws the left hand but Marcello avoids the punch easily.
Marcello takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Marcello throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jab by Prokopos.
Marcello throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcello is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Prokopos is controlling him well.
Marcello seems a little lost for a moment, as Prokopos dominates the positioning.
Denny Prokopos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marcello is trying to get back to his feet.
Prokopos advances to mount.
Prokopos takes Marcello's back.
Prokopos controlling from the back.
Marcello has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Marcello preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Prokopos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcello prevents Prokopos from getting a body triangle.
Marcello is trapped and Prokopos is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Prokopos trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Marcello doesn't escape.
Marcello prevents Prokopos from getting a body triangle.

Prokopos tightening his grip on Marcello, looking for the choke.
Marcello is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marcello defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Marcello trying to get back to his feet but Prokopos is in full control for now.
Prokopos controlling the position well here. Marcello rolled but Prokopos kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Marcello is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Prokopos trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Marcello doesn't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marcello preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Prokopos.
Prokopos is riding his opponent, not letting Marcello buck him off.
Prokopos seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Marcello for as long as he can get away with.
Marcello trying to get back to his feet but Prokopos is in full control for now.
Marcello is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A slow jab from Marcello misses its intended target.
Marcello misses with a body shot.
Prokopos is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Prokopos connects with a jab.
Prokopos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Prokopos.

Prokopos shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marcello's guard.
Prokopos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marcello can do to turn this around?
Prokopos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Marcello wants to stand but Prokopos is controlling the position.
Prokopos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Marcello wants to stand but Prokopos is controlling the position.
Marcello is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Prokopos looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Denny Prokopos just wasn't active enough.
Marcello walks into a straight right hand from Prokopos.

Prokopos closes the distance and clinches.
Marcello tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Prokopos smiles and moves away.
Marcello slips a straight right by Prokopos.
Prokopos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Prokopos ducks under a wild hook from Marcello.

Prokopos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Prokopos won't allow Marcello to get back to his feet.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prokopos sitting in guard here, content to control.

Marcello kicks Prokopos off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcello misses with a hook. Prokopos ducked under it nicely.
Prokopos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marcello defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Prokopos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marcello.
Prokopos lands with a cross.
Marcello looks to score with a jab to the body but Prokopos is just out of range.
Marcello throws a nice looking combination but Prokopos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marcello throws a right and a left that both miss.
Prokopos scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Marcello doesn't seem bothered though.
Prokopos scores with a hook.

Marcello tries to keep at a distance but Prokopos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Prokopos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Marcello up against the cage.
Marcello tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos displaying some good clinch control by pressing Marcello up against the cage.
Prokopos lands a shoulder strike.
Marcello tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marcello lands with a light punch inside.
Prokopos trying to stall but Marcello improves his position.
Prokopos lands with a right to the head.
Marcello tries for a takedown but Prokopos manages to get underhooks.
Marcello misses with a short punch on the inside.
Prokopos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Prokopos stalling the fight.
Prokopos lands a nice uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Prokopos scores with a nice hook to the head.
Prokopos lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Marcello or not.
A head punch on the inside from Prokopos fails to land.
Prokopos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marcello can't get the takedown.
Prokopos throws a head punch that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Prokopos takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcello blocking some punches.
Prokopos makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Prokopos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Marcello.
Prokopos lands with a light punch inside.
Prokopos slows down the pace here.
Marcello drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Prokopos gets through Marcello's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Prokopos lands an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Marcello tries to pull guard but Prokopos won't allow it.
Marcello swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Prokopos scores with a shot to the side of Marcello's head.
Marcello has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Prokopos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Prokopos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Marcello backwards.
Marcello takes a shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Prokopos.
Marcello fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Prokopos holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Prokopos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos had his way with Primo Marcello in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Prokopos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Prokopos throws a punch but it's blocked by Marcello.
Marcello being controlled against the cage.
Prokopos has a couple of punches blocked by Marcello.
Marcello has Prokopos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Prokopos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Prokopos has a couple of punches blocked by Marcello.
A shot in the inside from Prokopos.
Marcello jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Prokopos walks away with a smile on his face. Marcello gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Marcello misses its intended target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Prokopos is defended easily by Marcello.
Prokopos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marcello tries to avoid it but Prokopos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marcello to the ground. Marcello escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Prokopos lands a glancing blow to the side of Marcello's head.
Prokopos missing with a left hand there. Marcello was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marcello moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Marcello takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Horrible takedown by Prokopos or perhaps it was just good defense by Marcello which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Prokopos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marcello.
Marcello scores with a hook.
Marcello misses with a jab to the body
letting Prokopos counter with a right hand.
Nice defenses there by Prokopos.
Marcello misses with a series of wild punches.
Marcello steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Prokopos.
Prokopos looks to throw the jab but Marcello is out of range.
Prokopos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Jab, jab by Prokopos - just one landing.
Marcello takes one to the chin there.
Prokopos fails to land with a series of punches.
Prokopos throws a jab when Marcello was well out of range.
Marcello fails to land with a series of punches.
Prokopos missing with a left hand there. Marcello was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marcello scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcello throws a nice looking combination but Prokopos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Prokopos misses with a straight right.
Prokopos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Prokopos scores with a takedown into Marcello's guard.
Prokopos is stalling in the full guard.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Prokopos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Marcello wants to stand but Prokopos is controlling the position.
Prokopos forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcello looks like he's trying to stand up.
Prokopos slows the pace down in half guard.

Marcello manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Denny Prokopos is winning the standup battle so far.
Marcello keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Prokopos scores with a jab.
Marcello gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Prokopos.
Marcello misses with a combination
and Prokopos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Prokopos wants to clinch up but Marcello keeps it at a distance.
Prokopos lands a slapping body shot.
Primo Marcello has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Prokopos.
Marcello uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Prokopos.

Prokopos drives through with a takedown into guard.

Marcello pushes Prokopos off and gets back to his feet.
Prokopos shoots for a takedown but Marcello saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marcello looks to land a left hand but Prokopos moved out of range nicely.
Marcello swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Prokopos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Prokopos throws a good cross that connects.
Prokopos takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Marcello drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Marcello slips under a jab.
Prokopos looks for a takedown but Marcello sprawls well.
Marcello misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Prokopos.
The fighters circling - Prokopos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A punch combination from Marcello misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denny Prokopos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Prokopos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 50:45
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denny Prokopos!