PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Konstantinos Katsouranis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimmo Slaissi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Konstantinos Katsouranis has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Konstantinos Katsouranis seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Katsouranis
vs
Slaissi

178 cm
23
176 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

177 cm
21
174 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Konstantinos Katsouranis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kimmo Slaissi!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slaissi lands a really nice looking cross but Katsouranis seems unphased.

Katsouranis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Slaissi keeping full guard, as Katsouranis tries to pass.
Slaissi tries to strike from the bottom.
Katsouranis is pushing down on Slaissi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Slaissi is fighting to maintain full guard but Katsouranis has managed to sneak the leg through.

Katsouranis is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Slaissi to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

Slaissi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Katsouranis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Slaissi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Katsouranis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Slaissi keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Katsouranis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Katsouranis stands and throws Slaissi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Slaissi is trying to get back to half guard.
Slaissi misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaissi is looking to regain half guard here but Katsouranis keeps moving and retains side control.
Slaissi tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Slaissi looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Slaissi misses.
Slaissi throws a good cross that connects.
Slaissi cracks Katsouranis with a right hand to the side of the head.
Katsouranis shoots in for a takedown but Slaissi shows good takedown defense.
Katsouranis shoots in but Slaissi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Katsouranis closes the distance and clinches up with Slaissi, looking for a takedown. Katsouranis pushes Slaissi against the cage but Slaissi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Konstantinos Katsouranis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katsouranis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Slaissi as he avoids it easily.

Katsouranis gets caught flat footed, as Slaissi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Katsouranis is on top in guard.
Slaissi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Katsouranis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Slaissi gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsouranis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Slaissi wants to improve his position but Katsouranis is controlling well.
Slaissi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Slaissi is trying to get back to full guard.
Slaissi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Katsouranis passes to side control.
Slaissi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Katsouranis shoots and misses

and Slaissi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsouranis is trying to get back to full guard.

Katsouranis looking for submissions off his back.
Katsouranis taking some punishment here, with Slaissi in his half guard.
Slaissi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are battling for position here. Katsouranis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Slaissi stands up over Katsouranis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Slaissi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Katsouranis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Katsouranis wants to sweep here but Slaissi controlling him for the moment.

Katsouranis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Slaissi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Slaissi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Slaissi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Slaissi stopping the sweep attempt from Katsouranis.
Katsouranis is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

Slaissi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Katsouranis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slaissi manages to get himself to full guard.
Katsouranis advances position into side control!
Katsouranis tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Slaissi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Katsouranis is trying to get an arm triangle but Slaissi is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kimmo Slaissi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Katsouranis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Slaissi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Katsouranis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Slaissi landing strikes.
Slaissi lands a few punches from side control.
Katsouranis manages to get back to half guard.
Katsouranis is pressing down on Slaissi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Slaissi stopping the sweep attempt from Katsouranis.
Slaissi throwing strikes from guard but Katsouranis blocks nicely.
Slaissi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Katsouranis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Konstantinos Katsouranis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Slaissi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Katsouranis's head.

Katsouranis looking for a guillotine here but Slaissi defends easily.
Slaissi stands up over Katsouranis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Katsouranis is looking for a triangle but Slaissi pushes his legs off easily.
Katsouranis 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.
Slaissi is looking to work some ground and pound but Katsouranis has wrist control.
Katsouranis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Katsouranis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Katsouranis looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Katsouranis jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Slaissi manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Katsouranis tries for a kimura but Slaissi is defending well.
Slaissi is trying to get back to half guard.
Katsouranis has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Katsouranis looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Slaissi wants to hold on but Katsouranis pushes him away.

Katsouranis working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Slaissi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Katsouranis is going olschool here, as he tries to force Slaissi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Slaissi shrugs it off.

Katsouranis is working for a guillotine from mount but Slaissi frees his head quite easily.
Slaissi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Katsouranis wants to finish this one by submission but Slaissi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Katsouranis.
Slaissi is desperately trying to improve his position but Katsouranis has a good base and remains in mount.

Katsouranis with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Katsouranis has control of Slaissi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Slaissi regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Katsouranis is working for a guillotine from mount but Slaissi frees his head quite easily.

Katsouranis has hold of Slaissi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Slaissi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Slaissi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Katsouranis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slaissi tries to lock up and control but Katsouranis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Slaissi can do anything to dispel that myth.

Katsouranis is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Slaissi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantinos Katsouranis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Katsouranis misses with a takedown attempt - Slaissi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Slaissi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Katsouranis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Slaissi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katsouranis keeps working.
Slaissi lands a few punches from side control.
Slaissi lands a few punches from side control.
Katsouranis is not content to let Slaissi control the position.
Katsouranis sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Katsouranis is trying to get back to full guard.
Katsouranis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Katsouranis.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaissi throwing strikes but missing.
Slaissi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Katsouranis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Katsouranis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Katsouranis has momentary wrist control but Slaissi slips an elbow through the middle.
Katsouranis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slaissi manages to get himself to full guard.

Katsouranis drops back looking for a leg! Slaissi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Slaissi manages to kick Katsouranis off! Katsouranis jumps back into Slaissi's guard.
Slaissi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Katsouranis is pushing down on Slaissi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Slaissi is fighting to maintain full guard but Katsouranis has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsouranis prevents Slaissi from improving his position.
Slaissi wants to get back to his feet.
Katsouranis passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Slaissi!

Katsouranis looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Slaissi can't escape the position.

Katsouranis throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Slaissi has his hands clasped together but Katsouranis breaks the hold and Slaissi is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Katsouranis!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Konstantinos Katsouranis!