PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thalonius Agorakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jussi Apila has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Apila
vs
Agorakis

182 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Apila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thalonius Agorakis!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Agorakis scores with a takedown into Apila's guard.
Agorakis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Apila looking for a sweep. Not yet Apila, not yet.
Agorakis content to stall in guard here.
Agorakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Agorakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Apila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apila not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Agorakis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Apila controls Agorakis momentarily but Agorakis frees himself.
Apila keeping full guard, as Agorakis tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Apila has his takedown stuffed

and Agorakis counters with a nice double leg into side control. Apila won't be happy with that.
Apila tries to bench press Agorakis off him but Agorakis keeps the position.

Agorakis stands up and beckons Apila to his feet.
Apila shoots and misses

and Agorakis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Apila's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Agorakis postures up.

Apila throws his legs up looking for a submission but Agorakis uses it to pass to side control.
Apila trying to control but Agorakis flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Agorakis is not going to allow Apila to sit and survive in this position.
Agorakis controlling well, preventing Apila from escaping the position.
Apila trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
What can Apila do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Agorakis is hanging on to Apila's back as he tries to escape.

Agorakis tightening his grip on Apila, looking for the choke.
Agorakis is trying to stick to Apila's back but Apila is turning into Agorakis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Agorakis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Apila.
Agorakis looks gassed!
Agorakis looking to control.
Agorakis keeping moving, preventing Apila from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila is working Agorakis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Apila in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Agorakis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Apila preventing the sweep.
Apila is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Apila wants to control from the top but Agorakis keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Agorakis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Apila closes the distance and clinches.
Apila has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Agorakis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Apila. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Apila jumps into guard, dragging Agorakis to the mat.
Apila looking to hit a scissor sweep but Agorakis is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila working a defensive guard here.
Apila tries to strike from the bottom.
Apila will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Apila is trying to control the position but Agorakis postures up.

Apila manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Apila tries for a takedown but Agorakis circles away easily

so Agorakis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apila looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Agorakis is stalling in the full guard.
Apila looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thalonius Agorakis dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Apila throws a one two combo.
Apila checks the leg kick.
Agorakis wants to clinch up but Apila keeps it at a distance.
Apila dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Agorakis. That did some damage!

Apila has Agorakis up against the cage in a clinch.
Agorakis tries to pull guard but Apila won't allow it.
Apila wants a takedown but no success here.
Apila scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Apila has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Agorakis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Apila is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Apila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Agorakis lands with a left to the head.
Apila goes for a takedown in the clinch but Agorakis prevents it.
Agorakis lands a right hand.

Agorakis successfully pulls guard.
Agorakis throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila trying to control but Agorakis is working from the bottom.
Apila is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Apila lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Apila wants to control from the top but Agorakis keeps moving.
Agorakis is breathing heavily.
Apila slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Apila postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Apila passes Agorakis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Agorakis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Agorakis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Apila is tying to control. Agorakis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Apila lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Agorakis is trying to maintain the position but Apila is very close to passing his half guard.
Apila stalling.
Agorakis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apila.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila prevents Agorakis from standing back up.
Thalonius Agorakis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Apila seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Agorakis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Apila has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Apila doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Agorakis counters with a takedown into side control.
Apila is looking for a sweep.
Apila manages to get back to half guard.
Apila is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apila gets full guard.
Agorakis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Apila. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Agorakis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Apila is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Apila is looking for a triangle but Agorakis pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Agorakis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Apila looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Agorakis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Apila's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Apila with a lazy takedown attempt

and Agorakis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Apila's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Apila manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Apila dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thalonius Agorakis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A good leg kick by Apila.
Apila doesn't manage to clinch there - Agorakis circles away.

Apila shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Apila looking to control but Agorakis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Agorakis working to try and regain half guard.
Apila punishing his opponent with strikes.
Agorakis wants to control but Apila is having none of it.
Agorakis is trying to escape the mount.
Apila landing punches.
Agorakis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila lands a heavy elbow.
Apila lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Agorakis is bucking up trying to escape but Apila cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The referee warns Agorakis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Apila in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Agorakis in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Apila tries to control but Agorakis wriggling away.
Agorakis tries to lock up and control but Apila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Apila is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Agorakis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Apila scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Agorakis taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila lands a big shot there that rocks Agorakis but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Apila has hold of Agorakis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Agorakis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Apila looking to control but Agorakis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Apila is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Agorakis is trying to escape the mount.
Agorakis is bucking up trying to escape but Apila cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Apila connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Agorakis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Apila lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Apila landing punches.
Apila working Agorakis over with strikes here.
Apila landing strikes from the mount and Agorakis is in trouble!
Apila working the ground and pound effectively.
Apila punishing his opponent with strikes.
Apila looking to control but Agorakis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Apila has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Agorakis's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila controlling his opponent.
Apila putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Apila takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Agorakis is looking to improve his position but Apila isn't that keen on the idea.
Agorakis is squirming around, avoiding Apila's attempts to control the action.
Jussi Apila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Apila is in the full mount, landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jussi Apila showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Agorakis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!