PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wrestle Wrestle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Stephanopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephanopoulos comes into a darkened arena with his song building. ABC News Theme Song kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! George Stephanopoulos will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Wrestle
vs
Stephanopoulos

170 cm
21
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
138 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Outback Jack's House of Crack

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wrestle Wrestle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Stephanopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wrestle has Stephanopoulos up against the cage in a clinch.

Wrestle jumps guard.
Stephanopoulos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Wrestle is working an open guard so Stephanopoulos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Stephanopoulos connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Wrestle's hands.

Wrestle closes the distance and clinches.
Nice elbow from Wrestle.
Stephanopoulos lands a shoulder strike.
Stephanopoulos holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stephanopoulos tries to stall but Wrestle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Wrestle tries to score a body lock takedown but Stephanopoulos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stephanopoulos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Stephanopoulos manages to break the clinch.
Wrestle tries to clinch there but Stephanopoulos circles away.

Stephanopoulos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wrestle prevents Stephanopoulos from getting back to his feet.
Stephanopoulos will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Wrestle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stephanopoulos keeping full guard, as Wrestle tries to pass.
Wrestle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephanopoulos is looking to stand up but Wrestle isn't so interested in that idea.
Wrestle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stephanopoulos is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Wrestle dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Stephanopoulos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stephanopoulos is trying to get back to his feet.

Wrestle thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wrestle is breathing heavily.
Wrestle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stephanopoulos keeps working.
Wrestle working the ground and pound.
Wrestle throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Wrestle is looking to take a break and control but Stephanopoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wrestle prevents Stephanopoulos from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stephanopoulos is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stephanopoulos tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Wrestle looking to control but Stephanopoulos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Stephanopoulos defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Wrestle.
Stephanopoulos tries to buck Wrestle off but he can't manage it.
Wrestle landing strikes, looking to finish!
Stephanopoulos manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Stephanopoulos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wrestle.
Wrestle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wrestle is keen to just control but Stephanopoulos is a slippery customer.
Stephanopoulos wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestle is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Wrestle'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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wrestle frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Wrestle working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Stephanopoulos turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Wrestle off and cradles Stephanopoulos's limp body as Wrestle celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Wrestle Wrestle!
Wrestle Wrestle retains his bantamweight title!