PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leonidas Papadopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Papadopoulos
vs
Machine

175 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leonidas Papadopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Machine!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Machine jumps guard and drags Papadopoulos to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Papadopoulos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Machine's guard.

Machine is working an open guard so Papadopoulos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Machine decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Machine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Papadopoulos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Papadopoulos is trying to stand up here but Machine is controlling him well.
Machine controlling the action here.
Papadopoulos looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is not content to let Machine control the position.
Machine is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Machine is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Machine lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Machine is tying to control. Papadopoulos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two 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.
Machine stops Papadopoulos from getting back to his feet.
Machine trying to control the action but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos is breathing heavily.
Machine is taking a breather. Papadopoulos says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
I looks like Machine might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, George Machine just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machine moves into the clinch successfully.
Papadopoulos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Machine is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Papadopoulos can't fight it off and eventually Machine manages to take the fight to the floor. Papadopoulos looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Machine decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Papadopoulos, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Papadopoulos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Papadopoulos lands in his opponent's guard.
Papadopoulos postures up.

Machine has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Papadopoulos off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Machine has his takedown stuffed

and Papadopoulos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machine!
Machine is desperately trying to improve his position but Papadopoulos has a good base and remains in mount.
Papadopoulos avoids the attempt from Machine to control.

Papadopoulos is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Papadopoulos circles away.
Leonidas Papadopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Machine.
Papadopoulos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Machine.
Machine looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Papadopoulos is fending him off so far but Machine persists. Nope, Papadopoulos circles away and we're back to standing.
Papadopoulos's corner calls for a 1-2. Papadopoulos obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut.
Papadopoulos blocks a head kick by Machine.
Papadopoulos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Machine counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Papadopoulos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Machine gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but George Machine will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Machine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Papadopoulos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Machine moves away.
Papadopoulos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Machine dodges the punch combination from Papadopoulos.

Machine scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Machine trying to control the action but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos is trying to escape the position but Machine is controlling the position.
Papadopoulos is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Papadopoulos explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Machine drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machine works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Machine is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Machine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Papadopoulos pushes Machine off looking to stand but Machine dives back in and keeps control.
Machine stalling.

That's two 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.
Machine is trying to control the action in half guard but Papadopoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Papadopoulos tries to kick Machine off but Machine keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Machine slows the pace down in half guard.
Papadopoulos is not content to let Machine control the position.
Machine content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, George Machine just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machine connects with a high kick.

It looks like Leonidas Papadopoulos has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine with a poor takedown

so Papadopoulos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Machine scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Papadopoulos shoots and misses

and Machine moves into the clinch.
Machine fails to pull guard.
Machine tries to score a body lock takedown but Papadopoulos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Leonidas Papadopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Machine.

Papadopoulos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Papadopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.

Machine has Papadopoulos up against the cage in a clinch.

Machine is trying to trip Papadopoulos. He has hold of a leg but Papadopoulos is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Machine persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Papadopoulos can't keep his opponent in guard - Machine advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
George Machine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machine tries to pass to full mount but Papadopoulos defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machine seems to be working for a kimura but Papadopoulos defends the submission attempt.
Papadopoulos is looking to escape.
Machine content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Machine is trying to control the action in half guard but Papadopoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machine looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Machine is tying to control. Papadopoulos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Machine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leonidas Papadopoulos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Papadopoulos lands a high kick!
Machine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Machine shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Papadopoulos as he jumps to the side.
Machine avoids the body shot from Papadopoulos.
Machine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Papadopoulos counters with a head kick. That will keep Machine thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Machine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Papadopoulos counters by moving into the clinch.
Leonidas Papadopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Machine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Machine lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machine looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine stops Papadopoulos from getting back to his feet.
Machine not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Papadopoulos is trying to stand back up but Machine is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Machine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Papadopoulos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Papadopoulos tries to kick Machine off but Machine keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Papadopoulos moves in looking to clinch but Machine pushes him off.
Papadopoulos throws a head kick but Machine moves out of range.
Machine looks for a takedown but Papadopoulos sprawls well.
Machine uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Machine counters with a series of strikes that really hurt Papadopoulos! The ref looks into his eyes and sees nobody home - he's called the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). George Machine!