PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julio Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tycho Kostopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Criminal Minded. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Kostopoulos

179 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

188 cm
19
192 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Julio Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tycho Kostopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Smith.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kostopoulos.
Kostopoulos fails with the takedown.
Kostopoulos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Kostopoulos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Julio Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tycho Kostopoulos.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kostopoulos is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Smith.

It looks like Tycho Kostopoulos has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kostopoulos. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kostopoulos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kostopoulos wants it to stay on the feet.

Smith lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Kostopoulos sprawling to the canvas. Smith follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Kostopoulos hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Smith is keen to just control but Kostopoulos is a slippery customer.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kostopoulos wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostopoulos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Kostopoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kostopoulos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kostopoulos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control. Kostopoulos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Kostopoulos is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kostopoulos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kostopoulos's guard.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Kostopoulos is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
Kostopoulos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith trying to control but Kostopoulos is working from the bottom.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Kostopoulos is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith won't allow Kostopoulos to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Julio Smith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kostopoulos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith leaves Kostopoulos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
Kostopoulos fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Kostopoulos backing up. Kostopoulos nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
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!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kostopoulos.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kostopoulos looks gassed!
Smith struggling a bit here.
Kostopoulos slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tycho Kostopoulos's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith thumps Kostopoulos with a low kick.
Kostopoulos shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith misses with the combination.
Kostopoulos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kostopoulos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kostopoulos misses with a jab, cross combination.
No luck for Kostopoulos with that takedown attempt.
Julio Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tycho Kostopoulos.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Julio Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left and a right from Kostopoulos both land. Nice combination.
A combination from Smith does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Kostopoulos's ribs.
Kostopoulos is breathing heavily.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That has opened up Tycho Kostopoulos's cut even more.
Smith misses with the combination.
Kostopoulos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Kostopoulos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Kostopoulos has a takedown stuffed.
Smith throws a series of strikes that have Kostopoulos backpedaling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Julio Smith is winning the standup battle so far.

Smith throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kostopoulos tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Smith is in Kostopoulos's guard.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith advances position into side control!
Smith wants to control but Kostopoulos is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostopoulos wants to control but Smith postures up.
Smith cracks Kostopoulos with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Smith goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kostopoulos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smith but great work by Kostopoulos.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kostopoulos trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kostopoulos prevents Smith from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith gets back to full guard.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kostopoulos is aware though and is defending well.
Kostopoulos looking to pass the guard.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kostopoulos can do to turn this around?
Kostopoulos trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kostopoulos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kostopoulos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Kostopoulos pushes him off.
Smith misses with a straight left.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kostopoulos.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is not content to let Kostopoulos control the position.
Smith manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tycho Kostopoulos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kostopoulos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Kostopoulos dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Kostopoulos's head and hops out.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kostopoulos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kostopoulos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Kostopoulos blocks a jab.
Kostopoulos misses with a double jab.
Kostopoulos throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kostopoulos shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Julio Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tycho Kostopoulos.

Kostopoulos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kostopoulos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kostopoulos content to stall in guard here.
Kostopoulos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kostopoulos from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tycho Kostopoulos hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Kostopoulos. Kostopoulos gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Kostopoulos fails to land the takedown.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Kostopoulos on that attempt.
Smith wants to clinch.
Kostopoulos tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kostopoulos circles away quickly and effectively.
Kostopoulos dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith tries to bum rush Kostopoulos with a series of wild strikes but Kostopoulos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kostopoulos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kostopoulos keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith looks to land a combination but Kostopoulos avoids it well.

Kostopoulos gets a takedown into half guard.
Julio Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kostopoulos in particular looking to stall.

Smith makes his way to full guard, as Kostopoulos worked for a kimura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kostopoulos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tycho Kostopoulos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julio Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kostopoulos looking to pass the guard.
Kostopoulos sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith controlling the position.

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 Julio Smith.
Well Smith 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Smith!
Post fight, an emotional Julio Smith said 'Fear is the mind killer... Galactic alignment all day, train all night.. all day! '.