PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Kawulski (ranked 1882 p4p, 1710 weight class) and Avraam Papadopoulos (ranked 262 p4p, 236 weight class). Kawulski comes into the arena with DMX - Slippin blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Papadopoulos's choice of entrance music: Lil Uzi Vert - That's A Rack. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kawulski
vs
Papadopoulos

181 cm
50
180
24 - 13 - 0

187 cm
40
183
33 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA

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 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aleksander Kawulski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Avraam Papadopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Chris Dean and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but Kawulski moved away.
Kawulski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Kawulski closes the distance and clinches.
Papadopoulos stalling against the cage.
Papadopoulos scores with a shoulder strike.
Papadopoulos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kawulski.
Kawulski has Papadopoulos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Papadopoulos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Papadopoulos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kawulski is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadopoulos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kawulski up against the cage.
Kawulski lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos has Kawulski pressed against the cage.

Papadopoulos is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kawulski is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Papadopoulos to the mat. Papadopoulos regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kawulski tries to free his leg and advance position but Papadopoulos is retaining full guard.
Kawulski trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos is controlling Kawulski's posture.
Kawulski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Papadopoulos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Papadopoulos pulls Kawulski in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Papadopoulos keeping moving, preventing Kawulski from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That kick from Papadopoulos tenderised Kawulski's leg. Kawulski is trying to keep his angry face on.
A jab from Papadopoulos misses.
Kawulski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Papadopoulos sprawls and moves away.
Kawulski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kawulski tries to counter with a takedown but Papadopoulos is quick to defend against it.
Papadopoulos throws a shot to the body.
Kawulski checks a low kick from Papadopoulos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos swats away the attempt to clinch by Kawulski.
Papadopoulos throws a nice outside leg kick.
Papadopoulos misses with a wild body shot.
Kawulski takes one on the button.
Papadopoulos lands a head shot.
Kawulski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kawulski manages to avoid it.
Kawulski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Papadopoulos throws a body shot but no joy.
Kawulski attempts a counter takedown but Papadopoulos avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos looks to land a left hand but Kawulski moved out of range nicely.
Papadopoulos thuds a left hand into Kawulski's body.
Kawulski on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Papadopoulos connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kawulski blocks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Papadopoulos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kawulski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kawulski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick

and Kawulski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papadopoulos is controlling Kawulski's trapped leg to prevent Kawulski from advancing to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Avraam Papadopoulos dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kawulski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Papadopoulos.
Kawulski changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Papadopoulos with a nice calf kick.
Kawulski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Papadopoulos.
Kawulski staying out of range there.
Kawulski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Papadopoulos sprawls and moves away.
Papadopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Papadopoulos connects with a body shot.
Kawulski stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Papadopoulos.
Kawulski throws a series of punches but Papadopoulos moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadopoulos falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kawulski counters with a takedown into side control.

Kawulski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Kawulski crashes against the mat.
Kawulski trying to control the position but Papadopoulos is working away.
Kawulski tries to advance to mount but Papadopoulos denies him.
Kawulski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Papadopoulos keeps working.
Papadopoulos manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kawulski's best efforts.
Kawulski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Papadopoulos defending well though.
Papadopoulos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Papadopoulos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two 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.
Kawulski trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kawulski trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Kawulski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kawulski is pushing down on Papadopoulos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Papadopoulos is fighting to maintain full guard but Kawulski has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kawulski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Papadopoulos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos trying to keep a closed guard but Kawulski is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawulski trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Aleksander Kawulski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Papadopoulos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Papadopoulos is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Papadopoulos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kawulski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kawulski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Papadopoulos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Papadopoulos throws a jab but it's blocked by Kawulski.
Kawulski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Papadopoulos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kawulski tries to counter with a takedown but Papadopoulos is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Papadopoulos lands with a right hand.
Papadopoulos misses with a looping left.
Papadopoulos with a jab.
Kawulski fails in his attempt to clinch.
A jab from Papadopoulos misses.
Kawulski feinted with a counter takedown.
Kawulski walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kawulski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Papadopoulos fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kawulski has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Papadopoulos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Papadopoulos's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Papadopoulos duly obliges.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Avraam Papadopoulos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Papadopoulos looks to land a right hand but Kawulski moved out of range.
Avraam Papadopoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawulski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Papadopoulos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but Kawulski sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kawulski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Papadopoulos wants to slow Kawulski down by chopping away at his legs.
Papadopoulos throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kawulski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kawulski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Papadopoulos sprawls and moves away.
Kawulski checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawulski is looking to clinch but Papadopoulos is avoiding it.
Papadopoulos throws out a counter right but Kawulski avoids it with no problem.
Papadopoulos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kawulski moves away.
Papadopoulos misses with a jab to the body

and Kawulski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Papadopoulos kicks Kawulski off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Papadopoulos misses

and Kawulski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kawulski.
Kawulski throws an elbow that misses. Papadopoulos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kawulski's guard. Nice move by Papadopoulos!

Kawulski wants to sweep but no luck.
Kawulski keeping moving, preventing Papadopoulos from controlling successfully.
Kawulski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Papadopoulos is one step ahead there.
Kawulski is working hard here to advance position.
Papadopoulos showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos passes Kawulski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Papadopoulos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kawulski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Papadopoulos is fighting to break Kawulski's control of his arms but Kawulski is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Papadopoulos wants to control from the top but Kawulski keeps moving.
Kawulski punching from the bottom.
Kawulski controls Papadopoulos momentarily but Papadopoulos frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawulski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Papadopoulos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kawulski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kawulski is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papadopoulos keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kawulski seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Papadopoulos wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawulski lands strikes from half guard.
Papadopoulos controlling the position well.
Kawulski wants to pass the guard but Papadopoulos is defending well.
Kawulski stalling away here and it's allowed Papadopoulos to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Aleksander Kawulski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kawulski throwing strikes from guard but Papadopoulos blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kawulski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Avraam Papadopoulos.
I've got Papadopoulos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avraam Papadopoulos!
After the fight, Avraam Papadopoulos was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.