PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 581 p4p, 872 weight class) and Hellas Pankratios (ranked 19 p4p, 33 weight class). Smith comes into the arena with Song 2 blaring out of the sound system. Hellas Pankratios has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with John Smith's chin.

Smith
vs
Pankratios

200 cm
34
299
28 - 22 - 0

200 cm
38
291
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
Hardcore Sports Nutrition

Hardcore Sports Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hellas Pankratios!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Pankratios tries to counter with a clinch but Smith shakes him off and moves away.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Hellas Pankratios has been cut.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pankratios was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith throws a body punch but Pankratios moves out of range.

Pankratios forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
A knee to the head by Smith.
Smith lands with a right to the head.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pankratios avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith avoiding damage as Pankratios throws knees to the body.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Pankratios blocks with his arms.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lands with a right to the head.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Pankratios's head.
Pankratios blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pankratios backwards.

Pankratios turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Pankratios manages to end up in side control.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Pankratios keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pankratios.
Pankratios fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Pankratios tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pankratios has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pankratios working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The ground and pound from Pankratios seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smith is trying to control Pankratios's posture but Pankratios avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pankratios throws an elbow but Smith slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pankratios fails to land a wild elbow strike.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face as Pankratios controls the position.
Pankratios fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Smith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pankratios misses with a head shot. Smith uses the momentum to regain guard.
Pankratios missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pankratios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pankratios postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pankratios slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pankratios postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Pankratios seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith throws a jab when Pankratios was well out of range.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Pankratios looks winded!
Pankratios shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hellas Pankratios.
Smith scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith lands a big uppercut and Pankratios crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Pankratios looks OK. Smith waves Pankratios back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith Throws a clean left jab. Smith Twirls his body and connects with a Spinning Back Fist that connects flush with Pankratios's chin! Pankratios crumbles to the ground and Smith follows up with some unanswered strikes. It's all over!! Nice standup skills displayed by Smith!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:13 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). John Smith!
John Smith managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Hardcore Sports Nutrition, into his post fight interview.