PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heliodoro Zuberi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prokopos comes into the arena with Deep River Blues - Doc Watson blaring out of the sound system. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Prokopos
vs
Zuberi

180 cm
22
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
19
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Powerful

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heliodoro Zuberi!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuberi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Prokopos circles away.

Prokopos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zuberi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Prokopos throwing shots but missing, from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Prokopos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zuberi keeps working.
Zuberi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zuberi looks to move to half guard but instead Prokopos has passed into mount! Damn!
Prokopos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Prokopos is trying to take his opponent's back.
Prokopos looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuberi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Prokopos controlling his opponent.
Zuberi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Prokopos wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Prokopos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Prokopos is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Zuberi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Zuberi!
Prokopos wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Prokopos is trying to keep Zuberi in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Prokopos holds on and takes a little breather.

Zuberi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Prokopos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Prokopos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Prokopos!
Zuberi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Prokopos's best efforts.
Still in half guard, Prokopos seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Denny Prokopos just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Zuberi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Prokopos counters with a single leg into guard. Zuberi didn't expect that.

Zuberi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Prokopos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zuberi looks gassed!
Prokopos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuberi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prokopos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Prokopos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuberi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos tries to free his leg and advance position but Zuberi is retaining full guard.
Zuberi keeping moving, preventing Prokopos from controlling successfully.
Prokopos wants to pass the guard but Zuberi is keeping the position.

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

and Prokopos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zuberi!
Denny Prokopos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heliodoro Zuberi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Prokopos throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Prokopos is trying to take his opponent's back.
Zuberi sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Zuberi is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Prokopos pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zuberi misses with a takedown attempt

and Prokopos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zuberi's guard.
Prokopos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Prokopos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Zuberi is looking for a triangle here but Prokopos uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Prokopos staying calm.
Prokopos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zuberi keeps working.
Prokopos controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuberi is looking to regain half guard here but Prokopos keeps moving and retains side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Zuberi tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Prokopos presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Prokopos takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zuberi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Prokopos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zuberi on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Prokopos trying to control but Zuberi is having none of it.
Zuberi stops Prokopos from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Zuberi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Prokopos.
Prokopos looking to control but Zuberi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Denny Prokopos just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Zuberi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Prokopos sprawls well initially but Zuberi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zuberi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Prokopos tries to reverse the position but Zuberi maintains control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Zuberi with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Zuberi avoids the attempt from Prokopos to control.
Prokopos is trying desperately to improve position.
Zuberi avoids the attempt from Prokopos to control.

Zuberi working for a guillotine from mount but Prokopos is in no mood to give up.

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

Zuberi goes for an armbar but Prokopos turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Prokopos.
Prokopos trying to control but Zuberi is working from the bottom.
Prokopos wants to pass the guard but Zuberi is keeping the position.

Prokopos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zuberi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Prokopos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Prokopos feints and as Zuberi raises his hands in defense, Prokopos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Zuberi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Prokopos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Prokopos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Prokopos is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Prokopos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuberi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Prokopos's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Zuberi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zuberi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zuberi keeping moving, preventing Prokopos from controlling successfully.

Zuberi has his foot on Prokopos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Prokopos works his way back into a safe position though.
Prokopos controlling from the top position.

Zuberi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Prokopos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Denny Prokopos just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Prokopos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zuberi but Zuberi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Denny Prokopos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zuberi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Prokopos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prokopos content to stall in guard here.
Zuberi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zuberi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Prokopos passes into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Prokopos.
Zuberi is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Prokopos is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zuberi working to try and regain half guard.
Prokopos controlling his opponent.
Heliodoro Zuberi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Prokopos wants to control the pace but Zuberi is squirming around nicely.
Prokopos mounts Zuberi! Really nice guard pass there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Denny Prokopos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Prokopos 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denny Prokopos!