PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alekos Papadopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and bryce ahr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). bryce ahr is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Papadopoulos
vs
ahr

165 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alekos Papadopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, bryce ahr!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Papadopoulos scores with a takedown into ahr's guard.
Papadopoulos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Papadopoulos wanted to stand there but ahr had control of the position.
Papadopoulos passes into half guard.
ahr is not content to let Papadopoulos control the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Papadopoulos is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. ahr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Papadopoulos.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Papadopoulos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but ahr sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed ahr's head.
Papadopoulos wants to take a breather but ahr is having none of it.
ahr makes his way to full guard. A much better position for ahr.
Papadopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but ahr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Papadopoulos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
ahr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Papadopoulos but Papadopoulos pushes him off and we're back to square one.

ahr forces Papadopoulos back against the ropes and clinches.
Papadopoulos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Papadopoulos successfully pulls guard.
Papadopoulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Papadopoulos is breathing heavily.
ahr trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
ahr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Papadopoulos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Papadopoulos is looking for a triangle but ahr pushes his legs off easily.
ahr slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos wants to get back to full guard.
ahr 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 referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - ahr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - ahr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

ahr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
ahr trying to control the action but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
ahr is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Papadopoulos flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Papadopoulos tries to regain full guard. Instead though, ahr has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Papadopoulos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
ahr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Papadopoulos tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Papadopoulos tries to lock up and control but ahr gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Papadopoulos is working to get back to half guard.
Papadopoulos tries to improve his position but instead ahr has taken his back!
ahr trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
ahr somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Papadopoulos turns into ahr and is now in his guard.
ahr looking to 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 Alekos Papadopoulos will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Papadopoulos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and ahr counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by ahr.
Papadopoulos tries to strike from the bottom.

Papadopoulos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
ahr wants to stand but Papadopoulos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Papadopoulos is trying to keep ahr in close.

Papadopoulos looking for submissions from the bottom but instead ahr passes into side control.
Papadopoulos looks to move to half guard but instead ahr has passed into mount! Damn!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
ahr breaks from Papadopoulos's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ahr trying to control but Papadopoulos is having none of it.
Papadopoulos is wriggling around trying to escape.
Papadopoulos tries to hold on but ahr pushes him away.
Papadopoulos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Papadopoulos is squirming around, avoiding ahr's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Papadopoulos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Papadopoulos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Papadopoulos tries to get out of the position.
Papadopoulos regains half guard.
Papadopoulos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Papadopoulos throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Papadopoulos keeping moving, preventing ahr from controlling successfully.
Papadopoulos throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

ahr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ahr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Papadopoulos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Papadopoulos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for ahr!
Papadopoulos throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for ahr because Papadopoulos loaded up on that one.
Papadopoulos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
ahr is looking to improve his position but Papadopoulos isn't that keen on the idea.
Papadopoulos lands a heavy elbow.

That's four 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.
ahr is working to get back to half guard.
Papadopoulos throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
ahr avoids a series of strikes thrown by Papadopoulos.
ahr is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Papadopoulos looking to finish with strikes here!
Papadopoulos looking to control but ahr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Papadopoulos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papadopoulos raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

bryce ahr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Papadopoulos changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. ahr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
ahr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Papadopoulos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Papadopoulos tries to score with some ground and pound. ahr controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Papadopoulos swings around for an armbar but ahr sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Papadopoulos's guard.
Papadopoulos tries to strike from the bottom.

Papadopoulos has his foot on ahr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. ahr works his way back into a safe position though.
ahr trying to control the position from guard on top but Papadopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Papadopoulos looking for a guillotine here but ahr defends easily.
Papadopoulos will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Papadopoulos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on ahr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Papadopoulos tries to advance to mount but ahr denies him.
Alekos Papadopoulos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Papadopoulos working away.
ahr is not content to let Papadopoulos control the position.
Papadopoulos tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
ahr is trying to buck Papadopoulos off.
Papadopoulos working the ground and pound but ahr is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ahr is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Papadopoulos doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Papadopoulos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Papadopoulos working over ahr with some ground and pound. ahr looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
ahr moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Papadopoulos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! ahr is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Papadopoulos, into his guard.
Papadopoulos trying to keep a closed guard but ahr is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos wants to sweep but no luck.
Papadopoulos trying to strike off his back.
ahr stands and throws Papadopoulos's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Papadopoulos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but ahr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
ahr working away.
Papadopoulos is pushing ahr's head away, looking to escape. ahr manages to hold on to the position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
ahr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Papadopoulos paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Papadopoulos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and ahr counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Papadopoulos is looking to improve his position.
Papadopoulos is trying to control but can't.
Papadopoulos manages to get to full guard.
ahr trying to control the position from guard on top but Papadopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Papadopoulos striking off his back but it's not causing ahr any problems.
Papadopoulos throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
ahr pushing down on Papadopoulos's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

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 Alekos Papadopoulos.
I think Papadopoulos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alekos Papadopoulos!