PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evangelos Ergazakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Panther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ergazakis
vs
Panther

187 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
34
205 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evangelos Ergazakis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Panther!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ergazakis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Panther has one foot on Ergazakis's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ergazakis closes the distance and clinches.
Ergazakis throws a head punch that misses.

Ergazakis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Panther regains guard immediately.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ergazakis tries to free his leg and advance position but Panther is retaining full guard.
Ergazakis advances to half guard.
Panther won't allow Ergazakis to pass to mount.
Ergazakis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Panther's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Panther can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ergazakis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ergazakis is looking to pass Panther's guard but actually Panther recovers to full guard.
Panther working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ergazakis.
Ergazakis looking to pass the guard.
Panther keeping moving, preventing Ergazakis from controlling successfully.
Ergazakis slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Panther wants to stand but Ergazakis is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ergazakis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ergazakis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Panther swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ergazakis has gone for a leg lock! Panther slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ergazakis's guard.

Panther is working Ergazakis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Panther throwing strikes but missing.
Ergazakis 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.
Panther working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ergazakis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Panther stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ergazakis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Panther looking to sit in guard and control but Ergazakis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ergazakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Panther is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ergazakis stops Panther from standing up.
Ergazakis throws a big elbow that misses.

Ergazakis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Panther manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ergazakis has Panther in his guard.

Panther must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ergazakis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Panther manages to get himself to full guard.

Ergazakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Panther is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panther is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Panther keeping moving, preventing Ergazakis from controlling successfully.
Ergazakis looking to pass the guard.
Ergazakis with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ergazakis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Panther works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ergazakis trying to move into half guard but instead Panther has managed to sweep!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Evangelos Ergazakis will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ergazakis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Panther circles away quickly and effectively.
Ergazakis lands with a nice body kick.
Ergazakis is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Panther swats away the attempt to clinch by Ergazakis.
Ergazakis scores with a decent looking hook.
Whack! Ergazakis lands a heavy head kick that drops Panther. The ref tackles Ergazakis to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Panther was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Evangelos Ergazakis!