PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Apostolos Angelopoulos (ranked 4093 p4p, 3253 weight class) and Zhan Dhelan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Angelopoulos
vs
Dhelan

170 cm
25
145
7 - 5 - 0

150 cm
38
145
27 - 18 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

PWNAGE™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Apostolos Angelopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zhan Dhelan!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dhelan shoots in but no luck this time.
Dhelan scores with a jab to the head.
Dhelan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Angelopoulos.
Angelopoulos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Dhelan looking to score a takedown here. Angelopoulos is defending well but Dhelan drives through and ends up in Angelopoulos's guard.

Angelopoulos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dhelan is aware though and is defending well.

Angelopoulos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dhelan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dhelan wants to pass the guard but Angelopoulos is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Angelopoulos controls Dhelan momentarily but Dhelan frees himself.
We've been hearing good reports from Angelopoulos's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan is pushing down on Angelopoulos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Angelopoulos is fighting to maintain full guard but Dhelan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dhelan trying to control from half guard but Angelopoulos is working away.
Angelopoulos is looking for a sweep. Dhelan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Dhelan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angelopoulos has a hand on Dhelan's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Dhelan takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Dhelan fails to take his opponent's back.
Dhelan tries to control but Angelopoulos wriggling away.
Angelopoulos wants to control but Dhelan is having none of it.
Dhelan wants to control the pace but Angelopoulos is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Angelopoulos bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Angelopoulos gets to his feet - Dhelan follows without any prompting.
Angelopoulos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dhelan misses with a takedown attempt - Angelopoulos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Angelopoulos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dhelan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dhelan shoots in looking for a takedown. Angelopoulos tries to sprawl out of it but Dhelan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Angelopoulos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Apostolos Angelopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhan Dhelan.
Dhelan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Dhelan takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dhelan fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Angelopoulos.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick misses from Angelopoulos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angelopoulos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Angelopoulos misses with the combination.
Dhelan with the counter takedown but Angelopoulos avoids it easily.
Dhelan dives in for a single leg takedown but Angelopoulos sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Angelopoulos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dhelan jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Dhelan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Angelopoulos's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dhelan wants to control from the top but Angelopoulos keeps moving.

Angelopoulos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dhelan defends it easily.

Angelopoulos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dhelan defends it easily.
Angelopoulos being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angelopoulos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Angelopoulos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dhelan defends well.
Dhelan is pushing down on Angelopoulos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Angelopoulos is fighting to maintain full guard but Dhelan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Angelopoulos wants to control but Dhelan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dhelan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dhelan wants to pass the guard but Angelopoulos is defending well.

Dhelan is working for a submission of some sort.

Angelopoulos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Apostolos Angelopoulos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dhelan goes for a double leg but Angelopoulos avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Angelopoulos continues to drive forward.
Dhelan misses with a straight left.
It looked like Angelopoulos was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Angelopoulos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Angelopoulos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dhelan misses with an uppercut.
Dhelan shoots in for a double leg but Angelopoulos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Angelopoulos looks to land a body kick but Dhelan moved away.
Angelopoulos scores with a nice body kick.
Dhelan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Angelopoulos is looking to counter the offense by Dhelan and move into the clinch.
Apostolos Angelopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhan Dhelan.
Dhelan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Angelopoulos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Angelopoulos lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Angelopoulos.
Angelopoulos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dhelan.
Angelopoulos slips a straight right by Dhelan.
Angelopoulos misses with a series of wild punches.
Angelopoulos lands with a kick to the temple. Dhelan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
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!
Angelopoulos scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angelopoulos throws a nice looking combination but Dhelan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Apostolos Angelopoulos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dhelan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dhelan showed some decent athleticism there.
Dhelan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Angelopoulos!
Angelopoulos is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dhelan seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Angelopoulos is holding on tight.
Angelopoulos tries to hold on but Dhelan pushes him away.
Angelopoulos looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Dhelan is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Angelopoulos is defending well though. Dhelan let's go of the attempt for now.

Angelopoulos showing good submission defense here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Angelopoulos tries to roll but Dhelan sticks to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhelan working for a choke but Angelopoulos is defending well.
Dhelan is not going to allow Angelopoulos to sit and survive in this position.

Dhelan is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Angelopoulos taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Dhelan.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zhan Dhelan!
After winning the bout, Zhan Dhelan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.