PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerson Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prokopos comes into the arena with Deep River Blues - Doc Watson blaring out of the sound system. Antunes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bully. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Prokopos
vs
Antunes

180 cm
31
144 lbs
21 - 5 - 0

176 cm
23
153 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gerson Antunes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antunes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Prokopos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Prokopos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Prokopos throws a right hand that Antunes ducks under and follows up with a left that Antunes also avoids with ease.
Antunes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gerson Antunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Prokopos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Prokopos wants it to stay on the feet.
Denny Prokopos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerson Antunes.
Prokopos throws a right and a left that both miss.

Antunes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Prokopos tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Antunes is in Prokopos's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Antunes trying to control but Prokopos is working from the bottom.
Prokopos being controlled here, momentarily.

Antunes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Prokopos dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Antunes is keeping the position for now.
Prokopos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Antunes keeping full guard, as Prokopos tries to pass.
Prokopos passes Antunes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Antunes is looking to improve his position.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Antunes defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos wants to work for an arm triangle but Antunes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Antunes defends it well.
Prokopos works his foot free and advances to mount.

Prokopos jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Antunes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Antunes and Prokopos has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
You can see the frustration on Antunes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Prokopos tries to advance position but instead Antunes slips a leg back in to half guard.

Prokopos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Antunes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Antunes managing to control the position.
Prokopos slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Prokopos has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Prokopos lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Antunes looks for a takedown but Prokopos sprawls well.
Antunes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
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 throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Prokopos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Prokopos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Antunes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Prokopos steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Antunes. That one must have hurt.
Prokopos fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Antunes on the side of the head.
Prokopos sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Prokopos throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Antunes was covering up waiting for the punch and Prokopos finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Prokopos tries to free his leg and advance position but Antunes is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Prokopos is one step ahead there.
Prokopos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Antunes holds on and takes a little breather.
Prokopos sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Prokopos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Denny Prokopos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Prokopos misses with a few strikes there.
Prokopos scores with a jab to the jaw.
Antunes lands a head kick!

Prokopos drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Prokopos looking to pass the guard.
Antunes controlling Prokopos's posture.
Prokopos trying to move into half guard but instead Antunes has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes wants to control from the top but Prokopos keeps moving.
Antunes wants to get up but he can't break Prokopos's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Prokopos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Antunes defends it easily.

Antunes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Prokopos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Antunes has Prokopos in his guard.
Prokopos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Antunes can't keep his opponent in guard - Prokopos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura here.
Prokopos moves nicely into side control.

Prokopos has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Antunes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Antunes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Antunes thumps Prokopos with a low kick.
Prokopos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Antunes throws a head kick but Prokopos moves out of range.
Antunes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Prokopos as he avoids it easily.
Prokopos shoots in but no luck this time.

Prokopos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Prokopos showed some decent athleticism there.
Antunes trying to control here.
Antunes tries to roll over but Prokopos keeps him under control.

Prokopos is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Prokopos is working away from the top position though.
Antunes wants to get back to full guard.
Prokopos is looking to pass Antunes's guard but actually Antunes recovers to full guard.
Antunes is trying to keep Prokopos in close.
Prokopos wants to pass the guard but Antunes is keeping the position.
Gerson Antunes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos stopping the sweep attempt from Antunes.
Prokopos looking to pass the guard.
Prokopos pushing down on Antunes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Prokopos trying to mount his opponent but Antunes defends it.
Prokopos is looking to stall here but Antunes recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos stopping the sweep attempt from Antunes.
Prokopos passes into half guard.

Prokopos gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Antunes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Prokopos. That did some damage!
Antunes shoots in for a takedown but Prokopos shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos moves out of range of the body kick from Antunes.
Prokopos blocks the body kick.

Prokopos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Prokopos is looking to take a break and control but Antunes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Prokopos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Antunes's legs.
Denny Prokopos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Prokopos has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Prokopos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Antunes throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Denny Prokopos.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Prokopos, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denny Prokopos!
Post fight, Denny Prokopos took to the microphone: 'I always thought the removal of toes with a bolt cutter was rather humane '.