PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prokopos comes to the cage accompanied by Deep River Blues - Doc Watson. Denny Prokopos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Prokopos
vs
Balboa

180 cm
24
142 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
134 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

[MMABR]FALCON CLOTHING[†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa throws a shot to the body.

Prokopos feints and as Balboa raises his hands in defense, Prokopos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but Prokopos is having none of it.
Prokopos is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Prokopos wants to pass the guard but Balboa is keeping the position.
Prokopos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet but Prokopos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prokopos looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Prokopos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos moves into full mount! Balboa won't be happy about that!
Balboa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Prokopos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Prokopos has control of Balboa's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Balboa regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Prokopos looking to control and managing it successfully.

Prokopos is working for a guillotine from mount but Balboa frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos controlling the pace for now.
Balboa is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Prokopos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Balboa is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Prokopos is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Balboa can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Balboa really wants to buck Prokopos off and get back to his feet.

Prokopos working for a guillotine from mount but Balboa is in no mood to give up.
Balboa prevents Prokopos from taking his back.
Balboa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Prokopos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Prokopos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
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.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Balboa is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Prokopos working for a guillotine from mount but Balboa is in no mood to give up.
Prokopos controlling from the full mount.
Balboa wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Prokopos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos 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.

Balboa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Balboa looks to land a right hand but Prokopos moved out of range.
Prokopos shoots for a double leg takedown but Balboa sprawls well. He's pushed Prokopos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balboa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Prokopos.

Prokopos gets a takedown into half guard.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet.
Prokopos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Prokopos trying to mount his opponent but Balboa defends it.
Prokopos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Balboa!
Prokopos controlling his opponent.
Balboa is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa stops Prokopos from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Balboa really wants to buck Prokopos off and get back to his feet.

Prokopos looking to secure an arm triangle but Balboa defends it well.

Prokopos has control of Balboa's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Balboa regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Prokopos controlling the pace for now.
Balboa trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Prokopos forces the positional change into back control.
Prokopos has good solid back control here.

Prokopos working for a choke but Balboa reverses nicely into Prokopos 's guard.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but instead Prokopos has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Prokopos wants to pass the guard but Balboa is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to stand but Prokopos is controlling the position.
Prokopos stands and throws Balboa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Prokopos controlling the position from side mount.

Prokopos is trying to get an arm triangle but Balboa is defending well.
Prokopos trying to control the action but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Prokopos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Balboa's legs.

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.

Prokopos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balboa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Balboa tries to escape but Prokopos is in control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa is being controlled here.
Balboa tries to escape but Prokopos is in control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balboa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Balboa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

Prokopos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Balboa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Prokopos.
Balboa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Prokopos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balboa sprawls well. Balboa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Prokopos gets slowly back to his feet.
Balboa misses with an uppercut. Prokopos saw that one coming.
Balboa lands a head shot.

Prokopos feints and as Balboa raises his hands in defense, Prokopos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet but Prokopos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Balboa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Prokopos controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but Prokopos is having none of it.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Prokopos is working hard here to advance position.
Prokopos wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Prokopos dives in and grabs Balboa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes down on Prokopos's head and hops out.
Balboa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Prokopos. Prokopos circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Prokopos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Prokopos prevents Balboa from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos 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.
Balboa is staying active underneath Prokopos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balboa tries to kick Prokopos off but Prokopos keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Prokopos is working for a submission of some sort.
Prokopos stops Balboa from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos slows the pace down in half guard.
Balboa is staying active underneath Prokopos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Prokopos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balboa tries to avoid it but Prokopos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balboa to the ground. Balboa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Prokopos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Prokopos moves out of range as Balboa strikes.
No joy there for Balboa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Balboa stuffs the takedown attempt from Prokopos. Prokopos gets slowly back to his feet.

Prokopos shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Prokopos was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Prokopos won't let Balboa get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Prokopos controlling from the full mount.
Prokopos trying to control but Balboa is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos takes Balboa's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Balboa is in trouble.

Balboa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Prokopos.

Prokopos is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos clearly takes 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.

Prokopos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balboa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Balboa throws a right hand that Prokopos ducks under and follows up with a left that Prokopos also avoids with ease.
Balboa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Prokopos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Balboa is looking to stand up but Prokopos isn't so interested in that idea.
Prokopos controls from within his opponent's guard.
Prokopos has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Denny Prokopos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Prokopos from controlling successfully.
Prokopos looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Balboa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Prokopos is controlling him.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Prokopos passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Prokopos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Prokopos works to advance to full mount. Balboa defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Balboa is surviving well by controlling Prokopos's body position as best he can.
Prokopos controlling from mount.
Balboa is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Prokopos looking to control and managing it successfully.

Prokopos is going olschool here, as he tries to force Balboa to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Balboa shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Balboa is trying to stand up.

Prokopos swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Balboa is now in Prokopos's guard. A big mistake from Prokopos there, giving up the dominant position!

Prokopos has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Balboa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Prokopos.
Balboa wants to stand but Prokopos has his arm trapped.

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.
Prokopos is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Prokopos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Prokopos is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa wants to stand but Prokopos has his arm trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos had his way with Rafael Balboa in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Balboa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Prokopos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Prokopos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Balboa's legs.
Prokopos has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Balboa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Prokopos controlling from the full mount.
Balboa is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Prokopos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Prokopos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Balboa is trying to stand up.

Prokopos is working for a guillotine from mount but Balboa frees his head quite easily.

Balboa defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Prokopos.

That's two 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.
Prokopos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balboa is looking to escape.
Balboa is trying to stand.
Prokopos looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Denny Prokopos just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Prokopos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Balboa is trying to defend but Prokopos finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Balboa tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Prokopos manages to move to mount!
Balboa stops Prokopos from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Balboa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Prokopos controlling the pace for now.

Prokopos working for a submission but Balboa is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rafael Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Prokopos mounts Balboa! Really nice guard pass there!

Balboa throws a strike off his back but Prokopos has locked in an arm triangle as a counter!! Prokopos gives up his back to escape but now Prokopos has transitioned to a rear naked choke! That looks tight - Balboa has tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Denny Prokopos!
Denny Prokopos retains his bantamweight title!