|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Sotiropoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael LaBelle (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.
 |
|
 |
| 185 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
|
175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Cuts easily |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Granite 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
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Sotiropoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael LaBelle!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaBelle leaves Sotiropoulos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sotiropoulos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
LaBelle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sotiropoulos walks away with a smile on his face. LaBelle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
LaBelle misses the shot to the body.
Sotiropoulos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in LaBelle's half guard.
Sotiropoulos prevents LaBelle from improving his position.
LaBelle pushes Sotiropoulos off looking to stand but Sotiropoulos dives back in and keeps control.
LaBelle is trying to control but can't.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael LaBelle has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sotiropoulos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
LaBelle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sotiropoulos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in LaBelle's guard.
Sotiropoulos stands up and waves to LaBelle to follow him.
LaBelle shoots and misses
and Sotiropoulos counters with a single leg into guard. LaBelle didn't expect that.
George Sotiropoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael LaBelle.
LaBelle looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
LaBelle will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
LaBelle can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sotiropoulos controls the pace.
LaBelle wants to control the position but Sotiropoulos says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos is pressing down on LaBelle's thigh, looking to free his foot. LaBelle is holding on for now.
Sotiropoulos is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Sotiropoulos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sotiropoulos trying to pass the guard but LaBelle defending well.
Sotiropoulos keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sotiropoulos prevents LaBelle from improving his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos looks to land a strike but LaBelle avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sotiropoulos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sotiropoulos got a little sloppy there for a moment and LaBelle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sotiropoulos has managed to get both his arms back between LaBelle's legs - danger averted.
Sotiropoulos won't allow LaBelle to sweep him here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sotiropoulos postures up.
LaBelle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sotiropoulos's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sotiropoulos throwing strikes but missing.
That's four 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.
Sotiropoulos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
LaBelle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
LaBelle working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sotiropoulos has passed into half guard!
Sotiropoulos tries to pass to full mount but LaBelle defends it.
LaBelle pushes Sotiropoulos off looking to stand but Sotiropoulos dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
George Sotiropoulos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Sotiropoulos fails to land the takedown.
Sotiropoulos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sotiropoulos stuffs the takedown.
LaBelle shoots and misses
and Sotiropoulos holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
LaBelle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sotiropoulos walks away with a smile on his face. LaBelle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
George Sotiropoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael LaBelle.
Nice sprawl there from LaBelle as Sotiropoulos shoots in.
LaBelle tries to land a body kick
and Sotiropoulos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in LaBelle's guard.
George Sotiropoulos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sotiropoulos tries to free his leg and advance position but LaBelle is retaining full guard.
Sotiropoulos wants to control from the top but LaBelle keeps moving.
LaBelle wants to stand but Sotiropoulos is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
LaBelle has his foot on Sotiropoulos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sotiropoulos works his way back into a safe position though.
LaBelle trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
LaBelle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sotiropoulos is one step ahead there.
LaBelle wants to stand and escape but Sotiropoulos is having none of it.
Sotiropoulos looking to pass the guard.
Sotiropoulos postures up.
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.
Sotiropoulos wants to control from the top but LaBelle keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sotiropoulos looking to pass the guard.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
LaBelle is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sotiropoulos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sotiropoulos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from LaBelle.
LaBelle tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sotiropoulos counters by moving into the clinch.
Sotiropoulos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sotiropoulos wants to control but LaBelle passes easily into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaBelle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sotiropoulos keeps working.
LaBelle prevents Sotiropoulos from improving his position.
Sotiropoulos wants to get back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
LaBelle is looking to take a break and control but Sotiropoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michael LaBelle wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sotiropoulos shoots in for a double leg but LaBelle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
LaBelle tries to grapple but his opponent circles
so Sotiropoulos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
LaBelle trying to control the position.
LaBelle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sotiropoulos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
George Sotiropoulos dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Sotiropoulos leaves LaBelle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
LaBelle misses with an attempted mid kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos is trying hard to land a takedown here. LaBelle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
LaBelle misses with a takedown attempt
and Sotiropoulos moves into the clinch.
Sotiropoulos stalling the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaBelle tries to pull guard but Sotiropoulos holds him up against the cage and eventually LaBelle drops back down to his feet.
George Sotiropoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael LaBelle.
Sotiropoulos pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sotiropoulos keeping full guard, as LaBelle tries to pass.
That's one minute gone in the round.
LaBelle preventing the sweep.
LaBelle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sotiropoulos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sotiropoulos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
LaBelle looking to pass the guard.
Sotiropoulos throws his legs up looking for a submission but LaBelle uses it to pass to side control.
LaBelle trying to control the action but Sotiropoulos is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sotiropoulos wants to get back to his feet.
Sotiropoulos is looking to reverse the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotiropoulos can't do much from the bottom here.
Sotiropoulos is looking for a sweep.
LaBelle in side control, throwing shots but Sotiropoulos defends.
LaBelle tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
LaBelle stands up and beckons Sotiropoulos to his feet.
LaBelle thows a body shot but no joy.
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.
A lazy body kick from LaBelle
and Sotiropoulos moves into the clinch.
Sotiropoulos tries for a takedown but LaBelle manages to get underhooks.
LaBelle wants to break free but Sotiropoulos has control.
LaBelle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
LaBelle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
LaBelle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sotiropoulos walks away with a smile on his face. LaBelle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
LaBelle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sotiropoulos scores with a head kick. LaBelle tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Horrible takedown by LaBelle or perhaps it was just good defense by Sotiropoulos which made him look bad.
LaBelle shoots in and drives through. Sotiropoulos sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sotiropoulos misses with a jab to the body
and LaBelle counters with a big head kick but Sotiropoulos shrugs it off.
Michael LaBelle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Sotiropoulos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
LaBelle throws a chopping leg kick but Sotiropoulos manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to George Sotiropoulos.
Well Sotiropoulos 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Sotiropoulos!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
34% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
