PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kermit Earlandson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostas Charalabous (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Earlandson comes to the cage accompanied by the theme from titanic. This should be a great matchup!

Earlandson
vs
Charalabous

185 cm
33
201 lbs
24 - 33 - 0

180 cm
37
195 lbs
33 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 24 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kermit Earlandson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kostas Charalabous!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charalabous leaves Earlandson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Charalabous throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Earlandson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Charalabous's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Earlandson postures up.

Earlandson drops back looking for a leg! Charalabous is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Charalabous manages to kick Earlandson off! Earlandson jumps back into Charalabous's guard.
Earlandson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Earlandson trying to control but Charalabous is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Earlandson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charalabous is keeping the position for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Earlandson 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 referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Charalabous.

Earlandson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Earlandson pushing down on Charalabous's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Charalabous trying to hold on to Earlandson's head to control him but Earlandson postures up.

Earlandson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Charalabous is just riding it out for now. Earlandson eventually gives up the hold.

Earlandson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Charalabous doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Earlandson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Earlandson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Earlandson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Charalabous's thigh. Charalabous counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Earlandson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charalabous is keeping the position for now.
Earlandson being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Earlandson stands and throws Charalabous's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Charalabous tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Earlandson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Earlandson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Earlandson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Earlandson is trying to get an arm triangle but Charalabous is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Earlandson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Charalabous has escaped the position, nice work there.
Charalabous manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Earlandson trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Charalabous misses with an uppercut.
Earlandson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Charalabous sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Charalabous misses with an attempted mid kick.
Earlandson slips under a jab from Charalabous.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Earlandson fails with the takedown
and Charalabous cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kermit Earlandson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Earlandson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Charalabous.
Charalabous has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Charalabous waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Earlandson.
Charalabous throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kostas Charalabous will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Charalabous throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No joy there for Charalabous, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Earlandson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Charalabous tried to score with a low kick but Earlandson checks it.
Charalabous throws a front kick aimed at Earlandson's knee but Earlandson avoids it well.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Earlandson!
Earlandson shoots in but no luck this time.
Charalabous stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Charalabous wants it to stay on the feet.
Earlandson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Charalabous pinned against the cage. Charalabous gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kermit Earlandson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charalabous throws a looping overhand right but Earlandson ducks down to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Earlandson.

Charalabous closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Earlandson drags the fight down to the ground.

Earlandson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Charalabous gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Charalabous trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Earlandson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Charalabous uses it to pass to side control.
Charalabous works to advance to full mount. Earlandson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Earlandson is working to get back to half guard.
Earlandson tries to lock up and control but Charalabous gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Earlandson working to try and regain half guard.
Charalabous controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Earlandson is looking to get to half guard.
Earlandson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Charalabous gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Earlandson wants to control from the top but Charalabous keeps moving.
Earlandson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charalabous is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Earlandson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Earlandson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Earlandson slips nicely into half guard.
Charalabous is controlling Earlandson's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Earlandson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Charalabous is just riding it out for now. Earlandson eventually gives up the hold.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Earlandson is working for a kimura but Charalabous is defending it quite comfortably.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Earlandson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Charalabous sprawls well initially but Earlandson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Earlandson is trying to work for a kimura but Charalabous is defending well.

Charalabous is defending against the submission attempts here by Earlandson.

Earlandson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Charalabous sees it coming and defends easily.
Kermit Earlandson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Earlandson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kermit Earlandson dominated that second round.
That's time! Earlandson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Charalabous jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Charalabous throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Charalabous leaves Earlandson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Charalabous thuds a left hand into Earlandson's body.
A jab lands there for Charalabous.
Earlandson misses with a looping left.
Charalabous throws a leg kick but Earlandson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Earlandson throws a hook but Charalabous blocks it.
Charalabous avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Earlandson motions for Charalabous to come forward. Earlandson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Charalabous is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Earlandson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Charalabous throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Charalabous.
Charalabous tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Earlandson was well out of range. Poor timing from Charalabous.
Kermit Earlandson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Earlandson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Charalabous.
Earlandson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Earlandson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Charalabous connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Earlandson scrambles back to his feet.
Earlandson dives in and grabs Charalabous's left leg, looking for a takedown. Charalabous pushes down on Earlandson's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charalabous does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Earlandson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Charalabous to the mat! Charalabous manages to get full guard.
Charalabous keeping moving, preventing Earlandson from controlling successfully.

Earlandson 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.
Charalabous is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Earlandson tries to free his leg and advance position but Charalabous is retaining full guard.
Earlandson trying to control but Charalabous is working from the bottom.
Charalabous controls Earlandson momentarily but Earlandson frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Earlandson wants to pass the guard but Charalabous is keeping the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Earlandson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Earlandson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Earlandson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Charalabous sprawls well. Charalabous wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Earlandson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kermit Earlandson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charalabous scores with a nice right hand.
Charalabous misses the shot to the body.
Earlandson doesn't manage to clinch there - Charalabous circles away.
Earlandson misses with a few strikes there.
Earlandson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Earlandson fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Earlandson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Charalabous is trying to get back to half guard.
Charalabous struggling a bit here.

Earlandson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Charalabous, who protects the arm well.

Earlandson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Charalabous rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Earlandson's guard! Nice work there by Charalabous!

Earlandson is looking for a triangle here but Charalabous uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Earlandson is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earlandson is trying to work for a sweep but Charalabous has mounted him!
Earlandson tries to lock up and control but Charalabous gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Charalabous controlling from the full mount.
Earlandson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Charalabous controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Earlandson is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kostas Charalabous comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Charalabous 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Kostas Charalabous!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Kermit Earlandson!

The fight ends as a draw!