PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Guillermo Espada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stelios Raptis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Espada comes to the cage accompanied by Greedy Fly. Raptis has chosen Deviser - Threnody as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Espada
vs
Raptis

185 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
191 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Guillermo Espada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stelios Raptis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raptis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Espada.

It looks like Stelios Raptis has been cut.
Espada connects with a body shot that sends Raptis's belly button to the back.
Raptis tries for a takedown but Espada sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Espada lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Left hook, right uppercut from Espada.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raptis fails with the takedown.
Espada throws a body punch but Raptis moves out of range.
Raptis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Espada lands a body shot.
Espada comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Espada lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espada fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Raptis is looking to land body kicks.
Espada is looking to wear down Raptis with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Raptis gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That has opened up Stelios Raptis's cut even more.
Espada lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Espada.

Raptis is rocked!
Sloppy strikes from Espada. Those never looked like landing.
Espada lands with a nice combination. Raptis backs away looking to recover.
Espada misses with a few strikes there.
Raptis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Espada pinned against the cage. Espada gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Guillermo Espada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stelios Raptis.

Raptis shoots in and bounces Espada off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espada wants to stand up but Raptis is controlling him.

Raptis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Raptis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Espada is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Raptis wants to pass the guard but Espada is keeping the position.
Raptis stops Espada from standing up.

Raptis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Espada has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Raptis off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raptis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Espada throws a combination. Raptis tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Raptis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Espada dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Espada looks to land a combination. Raptis sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Espada throws a right and a left that Raptis avoids nicely.
Espada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espada fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Espada throws a right and a left that both miss.
Raptis lands with a kick to the temple. Espada shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raptis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raptis takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Espada fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Espada jabs at Raptis's body.
Guillermo Espada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raptis on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guillermo Espada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stelios Raptis's cut.
That's time! Espada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Raptis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Raptis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Raptis has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Espada defend it? Raptis steps over the head and cranks it - Espada is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Raptis!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Stelios Raptis!
Stelios Raptis thanked the fans post fight for their support.