PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikos Stalikas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zero has chosen Fozzy's "Shine Forever" as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stalikas
vs
Zero

183 cm
20
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
193 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikos Stalikas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Zero!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zero tries for a takedown but Stalikas circles away easily
and Stalikas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zero has his takedown stuffed
and Stalikas counters with a straight right hand.
Zero with a poor takedown
and Stalikas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nikos Stalikas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Zero.

Zero shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stalikas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Stalikas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stalikas holds on and takes a little breather.
Zero with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zero is looking to stand up but Stalikas won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalikas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stalikas is proving hard to escape from.
Zero wants to control from the top but Stalikas keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ray Zero wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stalikas throws a shot from downtown. Zero moves away and avoids it.
Zero has his takedown stuffed
and Stalikas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalikas misses with a hook.
Zero fails with the takedown
and Stalikas counters with a left and a right that stings Zero.
Zero misses with a takedown attempt
and Stalikas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stalikas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stalikas with a nice cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zero with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stalikas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stalikas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stalikas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Zero shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stalikas's guard.
Zero wants to stand but Stalikas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zero controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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.
Zero trying to control the position from guard on top but Stalikas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stalikas wants to stand but Zero is controlling the position.
Zero tries to stand but Stalikas is controlling from the bottom.
Stalikas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stalikas tries to get out of the position.

Ray Zero has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Zero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero wants to stand and escape but instead Stalikas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Stalikas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stalikas preventing the sweep.
Zero controlling Stalikas's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stalikas is standing up over Zero. Zero looks to escape but Stalikas dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikos Stalikas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zero doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stalikas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zero's guard.
Zero is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stalikas preventing the sweep.
Zero trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stalikas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zero is trying to control the position but Stalikas postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ray Zero.
Zero throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stalikas counters with a two punch combo.
Zero shoots and misses

and Stalikas counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalikas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stalikas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stalikas stopping the sweep attempt from Zero.
Zero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zero wants to get back to his feet but Stalikas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stalikas looks to land a left hand but Zero moved out of range nicely.
Zero takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stalikas scores with a shot to the body.
Ray Zero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stalikas lands a nice shot that snaps Zero's head back.
Zero shoots and misses
and Stalikas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nikos Stalikas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Zero.
Stalikas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stalikas dips to his left and cracks Zero with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalikas throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zero on the side of the head.
Zero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stalikas.
Stalikas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zero dodges the punch combination from Stalikas.
Stalikas throws a looping overhand right but Zero ducks down to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Stalikas.
Zero with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stalikas counters with a right hand to the body.
Stalikas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zero doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stalikas counters with a one-two to the body.
Zero is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stalikas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nikos Stalikas is winning the standup battle so far.
Zero gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zero takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stalikas lands a body shot.
Zero tries for a takedown but Stalikas circles away easily
and Zero takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zero takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stalikas cracks Zero with a good jab.

Zero is rocked!
Stalikas closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Zero! Stalikas dives in looking to finish! Zero is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikos Stalikas!