PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jere Spence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostas Paparas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Spence
vs
Paparas

154 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jere Spence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kostas Paparas!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spence tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paparas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Paparas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Spence is concentrating on defense, preventing Paparas from advancing position.
Paparas trying to control the action but Spence is working from the bottom.
Paparas wants to free his trapped foot but Spence is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Paparas tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Paparas wants to pass to mount but Spence is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paparas is working for a kimura but Spence is defending it quite comfortably.
Spence is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence regains full guard. Nicely done.
Paparas trying to control the position from guard on top but Spence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spence tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paparas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Paparas has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Spence is proving hard to escape from.
Spence really is a fat lump.
Spence is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Paparas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paparas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Paparas trying to control the position from guard on top but Spence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Spence throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Spence misses with a few strikes there.

That's two 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.
Spence darts in looking for a takedown but Paparas gets double underhooks and turns Spence into the cage.

Paparas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paparas showed some decent athleticism there.
Paparas is looking to advance position but Spence won't allow it.
Spence trying to control but Paparas postures up.
Spence keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Spence controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Spence is trying to maintain the position but Paparas is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paparas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Spence is staying active underneath Paparas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Spence slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Spence keeping moving, preventing Paparas from controlling successfully.
Spence looking for a sweep. Not yet Spence, not yet.
Paparas trying to control the position from guard on top but Spence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spence is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Paparas trying to control the position from guard on top but Spence is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Paparas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Spence to the mat! Spence manages to get full guard.
Paparas looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paparas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spence manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Paparas has Spence in his guard.

Spence is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Spence trying to control but Paparas is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spence controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Paparas dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Spence shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paparas tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Paparas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Paparas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Paparas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spence does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spence is positioning himself well to prevent Paparas advancing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spence is staying active underneath Paparas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spence is trying to control but can't.
Spence is refusing to be controlled, as Paparas sits in half guard.
Paparas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kostas Paparas has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spence wants to control but Paparas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Paparas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Paparas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence is trying desperately to improve position.
Paparas scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Spence sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Spence is defending against the submission attempts here by Paparas.
Spence is looking to control Paparas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Spence avoid being mounted?
Paparas trying to control the action but Spence is working from the bottom.
Paparas trying to mount his opponent but Spence defends it.
Paparas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spence is trying to stand back up but Paparas is controlling him
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Paparas in particular looking to stall.
Paparas is thwarting Spence's attempts to control the position.
Paparas is looking to take a break and control but Spence is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paparas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Spence gets full guard.

Paparas has gone for a leg lock! Spence slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paparas's guard.

Spence trying to control but Paparas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spence postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Paparas pushes Spence off and scrambles back to his feet.
Paparas avoids the head kick by Spence.

Spence gets caught flat footed, as Paparas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Spence working a defensive guard here.
Spence wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Paparas is looking to stand up but Spence won't let him.
Spence working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paparas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spence pulls Paparas in close to prevent any damage.
Spence wants to stand and escape but Paparas is having none of it.
Spence keeping moving, preventing Paparas from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Paparas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Spence!

Paparas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Paparas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Paparas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paparas showed some decent athleticism there.
Paparas throws a strike but Spence avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Paparas trying to control but Spence is working from the bottom.
Spence might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spence has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Paparas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spence throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence keeping moving, preventing Paparas from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Paparas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Paparas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Paparas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Paparas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Spence is adopting a defensive guard.
Spence avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spence keeping moving, preventing Paparas from controlling successfully.
Paparas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spence works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Paparas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Spence's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paparas postures up in Spence's guard and throws a big left but Spence blocks it.
Spence has a closed guard, preventing Paparas from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Spence gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Paparas stopping the sweep attempt from Spence.
Spence is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spence is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Spence trying to control the position.

Paparas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Spence dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spence controlling from the top position.
Spence trying to control but Paparas is working from the bottom.
Paparas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spence trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spence won't allow Paparas to get back to his feet.
Paparas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Paparas working for a triangle but Spence defends it easily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Spence is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spence uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Paparas has time to react.
Jere Spence has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kostas Paparas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kostas Paparas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spence scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kostas Paparas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Paparas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kostas Paparas!