PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Avraam Papadopoulos (ranked 441 p4p, 71 weight class) and Polliisi Partio (ranked 459 p4p, 73 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Papadopoulos
vs
Partio

187 cm
24
181 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
179 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Kimura Klothing

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Avraam Papadopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Polliisi Partio!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papadopoulos lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Partio at a distance.
Papadopoulos takes a swing at Partio's ribcage but misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Partio misses with an attempted mid kick.
Papadopoulos lands with a right hand.
Papadopoulos throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Partio on the side of the head.
Papadopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.
Partio throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Partio has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Partio throws a right and a left that Papadopoulos avoids nicely.
Partio blocks a leg kick.
Partio drops his hands momentarily and Papadopoulos takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Papadopoulos cracks Partio with a right hand to the side of the head.
Papadopoulos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Partio walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Papadopoulos checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Papadopoulos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Partio was well out of range. Poor timing from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Partio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papadopoulos missing with a left hand there. Partio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Partio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Papadopoulos.
Partio walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Partio cracks Papadopoulos with a right hand to the side of the head.
Papadopoulos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Partio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Partio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Papadopoulos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Partio slips under a jab.
Partio has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Partio there as he acknowledges the shot.
Papadopoulos steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Partio. That one must have hurt.
Papadopoulos looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Partio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papadopoulos moves away.
Partio is looking to land body kicks.
Papadopoulos loads up on a big right hand but Partio slips the punch.
Papadopoulos scores with a punch to the head.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut. Partio saw that one coming.
Papadopoulos throws a jab but it's blocked by Partio.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut. Partio saw that one coming.
Papadopoulos stuns Partio with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Papadopoulos throws a body punch but Partio moves out of range.
Papadopoulos thows a body kick. Partio tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Partio lands a glancing blow to the side of Papadopoulos's head.
A swing and a miss from Partio.
Partio throws a jab when Papadopoulos was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Partio takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Partio throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Papadopoulos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Papadopoulos is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Partio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Papadopoulos lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Partio takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Papadopoulos has Partio up against the cage in a clinch.
Papadopoulos lands a nice shot to the body.
Papadopoulos tries a body shot but Partio blocks it.
Papadopoulos has a couple of punches blocked by Partio.

Papadopoulos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Papadopoulos pushing down on Partio's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Papadopoulos is pressing down on Partio's thigh, looking to free his foot. Partio is holding on for now.
Papadopoulos is working hard here to advance position.
Papadopoulos is looking to take a break and control but Partio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Papadopoulos wants to pass the guard but Partio is defending well.
Partio looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Partio wants to get back to his feet.
Papadopoulos works his foot free and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Partio is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Papadopoulos is working for a guillotine from mount but Partio frees his head quite easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Papadopoulos seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Partio is holding on tight.
Partio wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos fails to take his opponent's back.
Papadopoulos takes Partio's back.
Partio is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Partio is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Papadopoulos gets his way!
Partio is trying to stand back up.

Papadopoulos looking for the choke but no joy.

Partio is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Partio feints a jab promting Papadopoulos to slip. Partio then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Papadopoulos slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avraam Papadopoulos dominated that round.
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.

Papadopoulos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A shot to the liver by Papadopoulos. Beautiful body shot.
Papadopoulos moves out of range of the body kick from Partio.
Partio misses with a body shot.
Papadopoulos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Partio scores with a leg kick.
Papadopoulos lands an overhand right.
Papadopoulos throws out a loose jab but Partio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Papadopoulos checks the leg kick nicely there.
A quick step to the side and Papadopoulos tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Papadopoulos tries to clinch but Partio is having none of it.
Papadopoulos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Papadopoulos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Partio can do to turn this around?
Papadopoulos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Crunch! Partio slams his shin into Papadopoulos's torso.
Papadopoulos scores with a sloppy right hand. Partio should have avoided that one.
Partio scores with a shot to the body.
Partio looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Papadopoulos, as that shot connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Partio slips a jab from Papadopoulos.
Partio takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Partio.
Partio throws a body kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Papadopoulos misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Partio.
Partio throws a half hearted mid kick.
Partio avoids the body shot from Papadopoulos.
Partio moves away from the strike by Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Papadopoulos takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Partio stalks Papadopoulos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Papadopoulos's face. Papadopoulos staggers backwards, shaken.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook. Partio ducked under it nicely.
Partio keeps the fight on the outside.
Avraam Papadopoulos is winning the standup battle so far.
Papadopoulos works Partio's body with a nice hook.
Papadopoulos lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Papadopoulos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheers as Papadopoulos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Partio doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Papadopoulos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Partio throws a jab when Papadopoulos was well out of range.
Papadopoulos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Partio only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Papadopoulos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Partio.
Papadopoulos cracks a nice hook into Partio's ribs.
Papadopoulos is looking to clinch but Partio is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Partio takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Papadopoulos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Partio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Papadopoulos throws a jab but it's blocked by Partio.
Papadopoulos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Papadopoulos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Papadopoulos scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Partio.
Nice shot lands for Papadopoulos.
Partio goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Papadopoulos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Partio manages to avoid it.
Good work by Papadopoulos as he checks the leg kick.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut.
Partio misses with an attempted mid kick.
Partio connects with a looping right hand.
Partio swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Partio catches Papadopoulos with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Papadopoulos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Papadopoulos tries to clinch up but Partio circles away and keeps his distance.
Papadopoulos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Partio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos lands a body shot.
Partio scores with a punch to the head.
Partio takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Partio misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Partio.
Papadopoulos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Papadopoulos avoids the head kick by Partio.
Nice defenses there by Partio.
Papadopoulos looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Partio staying out of range there.
Partio cracks Papadopoulos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Partio will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Partio takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Partio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice defenses there by Partio.
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!
Papadopoulos scores with a jab. Partio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Partio catches Papadopoulos with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Partio blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Partio swings for the body but Papadopoulos moves out of range.
Papadopoulos swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Papadopoulos lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Partio throws out a loose jab but Papadopoulos uses good head movement to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Papadopoulos checks a leg kick.
Papadopoulos scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Partio has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Papadopoulos thuds his right hand into Partio's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Partio shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Papadopoulos moves away from the strike by Partio.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut
and Partio counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Partio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Papadopoulos seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Papadopoulos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Papadopoulos misses with a wild body shot.

Papadopoulos clinches up against the cage.
Papadopoulos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Partio takes a shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Partio lands a nice uppercut.

Partio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Partio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Partio with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Papadopoulos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Avraam Papadopoulos will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Papadopoulos takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Papadopoulos tries to land a front kick but Partio steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Partio throws a series of punches but Papadopoulos avoids them all with ease.
Partio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Papadopoulos, as that shot connected.
Partio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Papadopoulos wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Partio looks to land a body kick but Papadopoulos moved away.
Partio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Papadopoulos looks to land a right hand but Partio moved out of range.
Partio looks to land a body kick but Papadopoulos moved away.
Papadopoulos takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Papadopoulos punishes Partio's body with a nice straight punch.
Partio takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Partio.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Papadopoulos clinches.

Partio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Partio.
Papadopoulos checks a low kick from Partio.
Partio attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Partio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Papadopoulos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Partio.
Partio ducks under a wild hook from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws a body punch but Partio moves out of range.
Papadopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.
Papadopoulos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Papadopoulos misses with a straight left.
Partio on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Partio tries to bum rush Papadopoulos with a series of wild strikes but Papadopoulos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slow jab from Papadopoulos misses its intended target.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but Partio sees it coming and moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Partio darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Papadopoulos is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Partio throws a body kick that misses.
Partio walks into a stiff left hand from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws out a loose jab but Partio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Partio throws a low kick but Papadopoulos avoids it.

Papadopoulos pushes Partio up against the cage in a clinch.
Polliisi Partio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papadopoulos lands a right hand.
Papadopoulos jumps guard but Partio stands there with Papadopoulos around his waist. Papadopoulos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Papadopoulos working aggressively here.
Papadopoulos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Papadopoulos jumps guard but Partio turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Papadopoulos lands a body shot in the clinch.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Papadopoulos misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Avraam Papadopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Papadopoulos lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Partio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Partio scores with a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Partio. That's going to slow Papadopoulos down.
Papadopoulos tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Papadopoulos connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Partio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Partio doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Partio slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Partio checks a low kick from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Papadopoulos takes a swing at Partio's ribcage but misses.
Papadopoulos throws a hook but Partio blocks it.
Partio throws a body shot but no joy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Partio.
Papadopoulos misses with a body shot.
Partio throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Papadopoulos was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Papadopoulos loads up on a big right hand but Partio slips the punch.
Partio is trying to counter with his kicks.
Papadopoulos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Partio. That's going to slow Papadopoulos down.
Papadopoulos throws a shot from downtown. Partio moves away and avoids it.
Partio appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Partio throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Partio throws a nice outside leg kick.
Papadopoulos misses with a wild body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Partio misses.
Partio is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Papadopoulos.
Partio scores with a kick to the midsection.
Papadopoulos throws a front kick that sends Partio stumbling back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Papadopoulos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Partio appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos swings for the body but Partio moves out of range.
Partio tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Partio tries to move into range but Papadopoulos moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Partio throws a wild body kick that Papadopoulos sees coming a mile off.
Papadopoulos avoids a kick to the body.
Papadopoulos scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Partio will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Papadopoulos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Partio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That kick from Papadopoulos tenderised Partio's leg. Partio is trying to keep his angry face on.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Papadopoulos delivers a nice body kick.
Papadopoulos takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Papadopoulos drops his hands momentarily and Partio takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Partio lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Partio takes a swing at Papadopoulos's ribcage but misses.
Partio fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Papadopoulos checks it well.
Papadopoulos tries to counter by clinching up but Partio breaks away and moves out of range.
Partio slips under a jab.
Partio scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Papadopoulos fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Polliisi Partio.
Well Papadopoulos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avraam Papadopoulos!
A victorious Avraam Papadopoulos thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.