PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kostantis Varikos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Varikos might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Now or Never. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Varikos
vs
Smith

180 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
19
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kostantis Varikos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Smith!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Varikos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Varikos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Varikos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Varikos lands with a kick to the temple. Smith shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sam Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Varikos fails to land the takedown.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Varikos wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

Smith decides to stand and escape the position.
Varikos fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostantis Varikos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Varikos keeps moving.
Varikos looking to control.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Varikos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Varikos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varikos trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Varikos is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varikos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Varikos won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Varikos throws a big right hand that misses.

Varikos stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Varikos, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Smith looking to score a takedown here. Varikos is defending well but Smith drives through and ends up in Varikos's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Varikos blocks nicely.
Smith trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Varikos manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.
Smith looks winded!
Varikos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varikos trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Varikos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Varikos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kostantis Varikos.
Varikos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Varikos scores with a body shot.
Varikos fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Varikos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Varikos avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith trying to control the action but Varikos is working from the bottom.
Varikos is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Varikos desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Varikos moves into full guard.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Varikos wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Varikos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Varikos wants to hit a switch here but Smith passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Varikos there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids the attempt from Varikos to control.
Varikos is working to get back to half guard.
Varikos is working hard here to advance position.
Varikos is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Varikos is looking to get to half guard.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Varikos bucks and avoids them well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the attempt from Varikos to control.
Smith breaks from Varikos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Varikos is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smith trying to control but Varikos is having none of it.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Varikos is looking to escape.
Varikos flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Varikos is looking to escape.

Varikos bucks Smith off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varikos ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Varikos closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Varikos pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Varikos lands a high kick!
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Varikos sprawls well. Varikos wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Varikos shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Varikos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Varikos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Varikos shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostantis Varikos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Varikos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sam Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Varikos slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Varikos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Varikos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Varikos wants it to stay on the feet.
Varikos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Kostantis Varikos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Smith.
Varikos shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith 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.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Varikos but Varikos pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Varikos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Varikos catches Smith right on the button with a cross.
Varikos has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.

Varikos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith wants a takedown.

Varikos gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Varikos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Varikos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Varikos has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varikos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith has control of Varikos's left arm, preventing Varikos from doing any damage.
Varikos 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.
Varikos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sam Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kostantis Varikos just wasn't active enough.
Varikos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varikos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Varikos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith shoots in but Varikos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Varikos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Varikos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith throws a head kick that misses
and Varikos counters with a nice uppercut.
Varikos lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varikos shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Varikos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Varikos looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Varikos swivels and escapes.
Varikos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.

Varikos tries to sprawl but Smith drives through with a 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!
Smith takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kostantis Varikos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Varikos is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.

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 Kostantis Varikos.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sam Smith!