PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Kourlios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Thigpen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kourlios comes to the cage accompanied by Self Esteem - Offspring. Kostas Kourlios had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kourlios
vs
Thigpen

188 cm
23
211 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
217 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

[AIM] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kostas Kourlios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Thigpen!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thigpen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Tommy Thigpen has been cut.
Thigpen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thigpen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Kourlios.
Thigpen looks to land a right hand but Kourlios moved out of range.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Kourlios and Thigpen goes tumbling to the canvas! Kourlios follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Thigpen is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kourlios controlling the action here.
Thigpen is still in real trouble! Can Kourlios finish him?
Kourlios is looking to advance position but Thigpen won't allow it.
Thigpen seems to have recovered his senses.
Kourlios seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thigpen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kourlios seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Kourlios is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thigpen is just riding it out for now. Kourlios eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourlios slows the pace down in half guard.
Thigpen tries to roll over but Kourlios keeps him under control.

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.
Kourlios not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kourlios wants to pass to mount but Thigpen is defending the position.
Kourlios wants to advance to full mount but Thigpen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kourlios looking to sit in guard and control but Thigpen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kourlios looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourlios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kourlios keeping moving, preventing Thigpen from controlling successfully.
Thigpen preventing the sweep.

Kourlios is looking for a triangle but Thigpen pushes his legs off easily.

That's four 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.

Kourlios working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thigpen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thigpen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thigpen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Thigpen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kourlios is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Kourlios dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Thigpen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thigpen misses with a straight left.
Kourlios misses with a double jab.
Thigpen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thigpen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kourlios cracks Thigpen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Thigpen looks to throw the jab but Kourlios is out of range.
Kostas Kourlios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kourlios gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Thigpen misses with an uppercut. Kourlios saw that one coming.

Nice combo by Kourlios! Oh, that's hurt him - Thigpen falls to the canvas and Kourlios follows him into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kourlios taking a break here but Thigpen is having none of it and regains half guard.
Kourlios content to control rather than advance.
Kourlios trying to control the action but Thigpen is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourlios is pressing down on Thigpen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thigpen is holding on for now.
Kourlios trying to control from Thigpen's half guard. Thigpen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kourlios tries to free his leg and advance position but Thigpen is retaining full guard.
Kourlios slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kourlios seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Thigpen for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kostas Kourlios.
Kourlios uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thigpen.
Thigpen missing with a left hand there. Kourlios was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kourlios swats away the attempt to clinch by Thigpen.
Kourlios throws a big shot that misses.
Kourlios ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kourlios bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kourlios takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kourlios lets loose with a powerful body kick. Thigpen will feel that in the morning.
Thigpen is breathing heavily.
Thigpen slips a jab and a cross from Kourlios.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kourlios.

Kourlios catches Thigpen napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Thigpen to the canvas!
Kourlios passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kourlios is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thigpen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kourlios.
Kourlios trying to pass the guard but Thigpen defending well.
Thigpen is refusing to be controlled, as Kourlios sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Kourlios is looking for a kimura but Thigpen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kourlios to get the leverage.
Kourlios is looking to take a break and control but Thigpen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kourlios is just content to waste time from the top position. Thigpen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kourlios trying to control the position from guard on top but Thigpen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Kourlios dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Thigpen's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Kourlios fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thigpen avoids it really well and circles away.
Thigpen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kourlios sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thigpen lands a lovely overhand right.
Thigpen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A telegraphed right hand from Thigpen misses the target.
Thigpen 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.
Thigpen wants to clinch up but Kourlios keeps it at a distance.
Kourlios scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thigpen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kourlios uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thigpen.
Thigpen looks to land a left hand but Kourlios moved out of range nicely.
Thigpen throws a hook to the side of Kourlios's head but Kourlios sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kourlios ducks under a wild hook from Thigpen.
Kostas Kourlios is winning the standup battle so far.
Thigpen lands the left hand.

Kourlios drops Thigpen with a left and a right! Oh, Thigpen is hurt - Kourlios dives into side control looking to finish!
Thigpen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kourlios wants to control but Thigpen is keeping him busy.

Kourlios wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thigpen, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourlios trying to control the position but Thigpen is working away.

Kourlios is trying to get an arm triangle but Thigpen is defending well.

Kourlios working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tommy Thigpen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kourlios taking a breather here.

Kourlios tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Kourlios has an Americana. Thigpen didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Kourlios is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Kourlios hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Kostas Kourlios!