PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Tulikoura (ranked 2098 p4p, 2769 weight class) and Avraam Papadopoulos (ranked 294 p4p, 366 weight class). Avraam Papadopoulos will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tulikoura
vs
Papadopoulos

175 cm
33
172
20 - 13 - 1

187 cm
36
183
27 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear

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 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johannes Tulikoura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Avraam Papadopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tulikoura looks to score with a jab to the body but Papadopoulos is just out of range.
A lazy left from Papadopoulos finds it's target.
Papadopoulos lands a lovely overhand right.
Papadopoulos bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tulikoura's head backwards.
Papadopoulos lands a really nice looking cross but Tulikoura seems unphased.
Tulikoura ducks right into an uppercut from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos misses with a few strikes there.
Papadopoulos lands with an overhand left.
Papadopoulos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tulikoura.
A looping hook to the body misses from Papadopoulos. Tulikoura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice body kick there by Tulikoura.
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 rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tulikoura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Papadopoulos is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Papadopoulos missing with a left hand there. Tulikoura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tulikoura thinks about countering with a body kick.
A lazy left from Papadopoulos finds it's target.
Tulikoura's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Papadopoulos connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tulikoura scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Tulikoura misses.
Papadopoulos scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tulikoura in his tracks.
Tulikoura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos thuds his right hand into Tulikoura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Papadopoulos has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Papadopoulos tries to clinch but Tulikoura is having none of it.
It looked like Tulikoura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tulikoura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Papadopoulos! But no joy.
Papadopoulos has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Tulikoura takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tulikoura slips a straight right by Papadopoulos.
Nice defenses there by Tulikoura.
An attempted straight right counter from Tulikoura misses the target.
A low kick from Tulikoura is predictable there
and Papadopoulos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Papadopoulos might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Papadopoulos has Tulikoura up against the cage in a clinch.
Papadopoulos misses with the head strike.

Papadopoulos breaks from the clinch.
Tulikoura ducks under a wild hook from Papadopoulos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Papadopoulos tests Tulikoura's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tulikoura takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Papadopoulos fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheers as Papadopoulos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tulikoura doesn't seem phased though.
Tulikoura lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tulikoura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Papadopoulos.
It looked like Tulikoura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Papadopoulos throws a poor cross that misses
and Tulikoura counters with a left to the body.
A nice combination there by Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos moves in looking to clinch but Tulikoura pushes him off.
Papadopoulos tries to score with a low kick but Tulikoura moves his leg out of the way.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Papadopoulos avoided it.
Papadopoulos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tulikoura walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Papadopoulos dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tulikoura. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura walks into a left hand.
Tulikoura ducks under a wild hook from Papadopoulos.
Avraam Papadopoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Papadopoulos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tulikoura.
It seemed like Papadopoulos was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Papadopoulos throws a jab when Tulikoura was well out of range.
Tulikoura tried to score with a low kick but Papadopoulos checks it.
Papadopoulos lands with a nice body punch.
Tulikoura slips under a jab.
Tulikoura lands an overhand right.

It looks like Avraam Papadopoulos has been cut.
Papadopoulos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tulikoura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tulikoura throwing a counter right hand but Papadopoulos manages to avoid it.
Tulikoura takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Papadopoulos is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Tulikoura had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Tulikoura ducks under a wild hook from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos tries to work over Tulikoura's front leg with a kick but Tulikoura checks it.
Papadopoulos misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos scores with a hook.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook.
A little feinted left hand from Tulikoura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Papadopoulos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tulikoura is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Papadopoulos's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papadopoulos walks into a straight right hand from Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos lands with a hook. Tulikoura tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Papadopoulos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice cross by Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos throws a lazy uppercut
and Tulikoura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tulikoura's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Papadopoulos connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tulikoura scrambles back to his feet.
Papadopoulos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice uppercut there from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws a lazy uppercut
and Tulikoura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tulikoura is looking to land body kicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Avraam Papadopoulos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Avraam Papadopoulos's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A left lands for Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws a hook to the side of Tulikoura's head but Tulikoura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tulikoura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A punch lands to the side of Tulikoura 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice defenses there by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura scores with a sloppy right hand. Papadopoulos should have avoided that one.
Tulikoura on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Papadopoulos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tulikoura gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Papadopoulos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Papadopoulos misses.
Tulikoura fires out a quick counter leg kick but Papadopoulos just manages to avoid it.
Papadopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tulikoura lands a nice shot that snaps Papadopoulos's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Papadopoulos scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tulikoura doesn't seem bothered though.
Papadopoulos throws a poor cross that misses
and Tulikoura counters with a nice low kick that buckles Papadopoulos's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura moves away from the strike by Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tulikoura half committed to a counter leg kick.
Papadopoulos looks to throw the jab but Tulikoura is out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Tulikoura checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tulikoura is looking to counter punch.
Tulikoura just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Papadopoulos! But no joy.
Papadopoulos looks to clinch
and Tulikoura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Papadopoulos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Papadopoulos lands a jab to the nose.
Papadopoulos misses with a body shot.
Papadopoulos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but Tulikoura moved away.
A little feinted left hand from Tulikoura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tulikoura connects with a single shot there.
Papadopoulos with a nice cross.
Tulikoura needs to keep his hands up - Papadopoulos had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tulikoura.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tulikoura throws a hook but Papadopoulos blocks it.
Papadopoulos throws a jab but it's blocked by Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos is looking to land body kicks.
Tulikoura half committed to a counter leg kick.
Papadopoulos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tulikoura looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tulikoura is looking to score with low kicks.
Papadopoulos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Papadopoulos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tulikoura looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Papadopoulos thuds his right hand into Tulikoura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tulikoura ducks under a wild hook from Papadopoulos.
Tulikoura was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A telegraphed right hand from Papadopoulos misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos defending well as Tulikoura loads up on a big left hand.
Papadopoulos looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut
and Tulikoura makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tulikoura clobbers Papadopoulos with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A big left from Papadopoulos misses.
Papadopoulos moves out of range as Tulikoura strikes.
Papadopoulos throws out a counter right but Tulikoura avoids it with no problem.
Papadopoulos throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A jab from Papadopoulos misses.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick that misses.

Papadopoulos darts in and clinches Tulikoura up against the cage.
Tulikoura has a couple of punches blocked by Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos breaks the clinch.
Tulikoura swats away the attempt to clinch by Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos takes one to the chin there.
Tulikoura scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papadopoulos swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tulikoura counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big right from Tulikoura misses.
Tulikoura misses the shot to the body.
Tulikoura looks to score with a jab to the body but Papadopoulos is just out of range.
Papadopoulos misses with a two punch combination.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Papadopoulos avoided it.
Papadopoulos throws a hook to the side of Tulikoura's head but Tulikoura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Tulikoura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tulikoura keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Tulikoura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tulikoura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Papadopoulos at a distance.
Papadopoulos jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tulikoura lands a jab.
Papadopoulos sizes up Tulikoura with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Avraam Papadopoulos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Avraam Papadopoulos's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Nice defenses there by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Papadopoulos.
Tulikoura quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Papadopoulos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tulikoura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Papadopoulos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tulikoura swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tulikoura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Papadopoulos was well out of range. Poor timing from Tulikoura.
It seemed like Papadopoulos was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Papadopoulos throws a hook but Tulikoura blocks it.
A swing and a miss from Papadopoulos.
A combination from Papadopoulos does no damage.
It looked like Tulikoura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tulikoura throws an overhand right that lands on Papadopoulos's shoulder, as Papadopoulos tries to avoid the shot.
Tulikoura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Papadopoulos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut. Tulikoura saw that one coming.
Papadopoulos fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Papadopoulos swinging wildly here.
Tulikoura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos lands a jab to the nose.
Papadopoulos throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tulikoura on the side of the head.
Papadopoulos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As Tulikoura backs off Papadopoulos throws a huge counter combo but Tulikoura manages to avoid it all.
Tulikoura connects with a single shot there.
Tulikoura takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Papadopoulos thuds his right hand into Tulikoura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Some wild striking there from Papadopoulos.
Tulikoura takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Papadopoulos sizes up Tulikoura with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Papadopoulos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tulikoura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook.
Tulikoura slips a straight right by Papadopoulos.
It looked like Tulikoura was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Papadopoulos.
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!
Tulikoura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Papadopoulos connects with a looping right hand.
Papadopoulos stalks Tulikoura and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tulikoura's face. Tulikoura staggers backwards, shaken.
Papadopoulos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tulikoura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tulikoura is looking to counter punch.
Tulikoura throws a big shot that misses.
Papadopoulos darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Papadopoulos misses with a left hand
and Tulikoura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Danga de danga de dang - Papadopoulos scores with a four punch combination!
Papadopoulos lands a jab to the nose.
Papadopoulos misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Papadopoulos looks to land a combination. Tulikoura sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A lazy left from Tulikoura finds it's target.
Papadopoulos is looking to clinch.
Tulikoura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Papadopoulos avoided it.
Johannes Tulikoura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Papadopoulos scores with a decent looking hook.
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 takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Papadopoulos throws a poor cross that misses
letting Tulikoura counter with a right hand.
Tulikoura misses with an uppercut.
Papadopoulos throws out a loose jab but Tulikoura uses good head movement to avoid it.
Papadopoulos misses with a looping right.
A little feinted left hand from Tulikoura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tulikoura throws a jab but it's blocked by Papadopoulos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tulikoura appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papadopoulos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tulikoura pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Papadopoulos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Papadopoulos moves out of range as Tulikoura throws a body kick.
Tulikoura takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Papadopoulos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Papadopoulos takes a swing at Tulikoura's ribcage but misses.
Papadopoulos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tulikoura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Papadopoulos slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Papadopoulos lands a glancing blow to the side of Tulikoura's head.
Tulikoura takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Avraam Papadopoulos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Papadopoulos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avraam Papadopoulos!
Post fight, an emotional Avraam Papadopoulos said 'It's time to leave my gloves in the cage, thanks for the support on my journey, it was all a dream when i started'.