PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Du Plessis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and el Greko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Du Plessis
vs
Greko

200 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Du Plessis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, el Greko!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Roberts and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Du Plessis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Du Plessis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Greko as Du Plessis shoots in.
Greko fails with a takedown attempt.
Greko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Du Plessis is fending him off so far but Greko persists. Nope, Du Plessis circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Du Plessis as Greko shoots in.
Craig Du Plessis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of el Greko.
Nice sprawl there from Du Plessis as Greko shoots in.
Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Greko but Greko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Greko misses with a takedown attempt - Du Plessis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Du Plessis cracks the inside of Greko's front leg.
Greko dives in and grabs Du Plessis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Du Plessis pushes down on Greko's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Plessis lands a glancing blow to the side of Greko's head.
Greko dives in and grabs Du Plessis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Du Plessis pushes down on Greko's head and hops out.
Greko looks winded!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Greko is defended easily by Du Plessis.
Greko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Du Plessis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Greko is trying to defend but Du Plessis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Du Plessis in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis'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.
Du Plessis wants to pass the guard but Greko is defending well.
Du Plessis controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Craig Du Plessis wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Du Plessis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Greko, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Greko is fighting off a takedown attempt but Du Plessis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Greko to the mat. Greko regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Du Plessis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Greko on the ground.

Du Plessis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Greko, up you get!
Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Greko as he jumps to the side.

Du Plessis rushes Greko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Greko works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Du Plessis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Du Plessis wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Greko shoots for a takedown but Du Plessis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Greko takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like el Greko has been cut.
Du Plessis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Greko swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Du Plessis. Those never looked like landing.
Du Plessis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Du Plessis scores with a three punch combo!
Du Plessis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Greko is fending him off so far but Du Plessis persists. Nope, Greko circles away and we're back to standing.
Greko fails to land the takedown.
Du Plessis plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice sprawl there from Greko as Du Plessis shoots in.
Du Plessis slaps away a takedown attempt from Greko, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Du Plessis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Greko is trying to defend but Du Plessis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Du Plessis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on el Greko'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.

Du Plessis tries for a takedown but Greko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Du Plessis has managed to clinch.
Greko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Greko looking for a takedown.
Greko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Du Plessis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Greko dives in and grabs Du Plessis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Du Plessis pushes down on Greko's head and hops out.
Craig Du Plessis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of el Greko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Greko slaps away a takedown attempt from Du Plessis, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Greko 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 absolutely exhausted here.
Du Plessis is trying to stand back up but Greko is controlling him

Greko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Greko is looking to advance position but Du Plessis won't allow it.
Du Plessis keeping hold of Greko's head, controlling as best he can.

Greko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Du Plessis has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis wants to get back to his feet.

Greko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Du Plessis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Du Plessis won't allow Greko to pass to mount.
Du Plessis has his hands clasped together around Greko's back. He's all about the action.
Greko tries to pass to full mount but Du Plessis defends it.
Du Plessis tries to roll over but Greko keeps him under control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Greko is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Du Plessis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Du Plessis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Greko is looking for a sweep. Du Plessis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Du Plessis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Du Plessis tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Greko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Greko knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Du Plessis seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Greko is positioning himself well to prevent Du Plessis advancing to mount.
Du Plessis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Greko defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Du Plessis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Craig Du Plessis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on el Greko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Du Plessis shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Greko's guard.
Du Plessis wants to pass the guard but Greko is keeping the position.
Greko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Du Plessis trying to control the position from guard on top but Greko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Du Plessis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Du Plessis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Greko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Du Plessis defends it easily.
Greko looking to control.
Greko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Du Plessis forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Greko actively working from the bottom here.
Du Plessis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Greko is looking for a sweep. Du Plessis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Greko wants to control but Du Plessis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Du Plessis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Greko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Greko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Du Plessis.
Du Plessis uses his free foot to push down on Greko's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Greko.
Du Plessis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Du Plessis is working for a guillotine from mount but Greko frees his head quite easily.
Du Plessis unloads with some shots from mount but Greko bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Greko holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Du Plessis tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Du Plessis moves to the back position.

Greko fending off the submission attempt from Du Plessis.
Du Plessis misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Greko is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Du Plessis throwing sloppy strikes.
Du Plessis just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Greko tries to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
el Greko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Du Plessis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Du Plessis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Du Plessis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Du Plessis!