PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leeland Lillard (ranked 715 p4p, 104 weight class) and Lefteris Papaioanou (ranked 1569 p4p, 225 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Lillard
vs
Papaioanou

192 cm
28
217 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

190 cm
34
205 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

IniTech Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leeland Lillard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lefteris Papaioanou!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Papaioanou lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lillard doesn't seem phased though.
Lillard staying out of range there.
Lillard dips to his left and cracks Papaioanou with an uppercut!
Lillard blocks a leg kick.
Lillard throws the kick towards the body but Papaioanou avoids it.
As Lillard backs off Papaioanou throws a huge counter combo but Lillard manages to avoid it all.
Papaioanou pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Papaioanou throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lillard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Papaioanou cracks a nice hook into Lillard's ribs.
Papaioanou has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Papaioanou lands with a good body shot.
Papaioanou tried to score with a low kick but Lillard checks it.
Lillard takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Papaioanou looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Papaioanou has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Papaioanou there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papaioanou dodges the punch combination from Lillard.
A little jabbing left from Papaioanou on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lillard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A nice inside leg kick there by Papaioanou. That's going to slow Lillard down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Papaioanou drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Papaioanou swings around for an armbar but Lillard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Papaioanou's guard.
Papaioanou wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Papaioanou looking for a sweep. Not yet Papaioanou, not yet.
Papaioanou managing to control the position.
Lillard won't allow Papaioanou to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lillard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Papaioanou working a defensive guard here.
Lillard sitting in guard here, content to control.

Lillard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Papaioanou pulls Lillard in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou trying to keep a closed guard but Lillard is proving a slippery customer.
Papaioanou tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lillard trying to control but Papaioanou is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lillard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lillard works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou has a takedown stuffed.
Lillard delivers a nice body kick.
Papaioanou on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Papaioanou takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Papaioanou goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Papaioanou throws a combination. Lillard tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lillard lands a jab to the nose.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lillard misses with a hook. Papaioanou ducked under it nicely.

Lillard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Papaioanou, pushing him back against the cage.
Lillard misses with a body punch.
Papaioanou blocking some punches.
Papaioanou swings away with an uppercut that misses.
I was talking to Lillard's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Papaioanou misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lillard has a couple of punches blocked by Papaioanou.
Still in the clinch, Lillard scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lefteris Papaioanou 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.

Papaioanou misses with a looping left.
Lillard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Papaioanou.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lillard.
Papaioanou gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lillard tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Papaioanou uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lillard.
Lillard throws a shot from downtown. Papaioanou moves away and avoids it.
Papaioanou takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Papaioanou loads up on a big right hand but Lillard slips the punch.
Lillard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Leeland Lillard is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papaioanou on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Papaioanou throws a series of punches but Lillard moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Lillard misses its target.
Lillard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lillard throws a body punch but Papaioanou moves out of range.
Papaioanou throws a leg kick
and Lillard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papaioanou fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lillard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lillard chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Papaioanou can pounce on him.
Lillard checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
As Papaioanou looks to move away, Lillard throws a big counter combo but Papaioanou just gets out of the way.
Lillard looks for the body kick but Papaioanou saw that one coming.
Lillard ducks under a wild hook from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lillard in his tracks.
Papaioanou throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lillard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Papaioanou.
Lillard scores with a head kick.
Papaioanou fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lillard manages to avoid it.
Papaioanou lands a jab to Lillard's midsection.
Papaioanou lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lillard throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Lillard rushes Papaioanou and presses him up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lillard misses with the head strike.
Lillard misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou lands a left hand.
Lillard tries a body shot but Papaioanou blocks it.
Lillard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Papaioanou misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lillard is working Papaioanou over against the cage.
Lillard misses with some punches.
Papaioanou is leaning against Lillard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Papaioanou tries a body shot but Lillard blocks it.
Papaioanou lands a nice uppercut.
Lillard misses with the head strike.
Lillard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lillard misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Papaioanou.
Papaioanou tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lillard's elbow.
Papaioanou lands a right hand.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lillard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Papaioanou wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou blocks a body shot from Lillard.
Lillard has a couple of punches blocked by Papaioanou.
Lillard tries to work over Papaioanou's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stalling in the clinch from Papaioanou.
Lillard blocks a body shot from Papaioanou.
Lillard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Papaioanou can't find room to land a body shot as Lillard controls the action.
Papaioanou lands a body shot.
Papaioanou tries a body shot but Lillard blocks it.
Papaioanou leaning his opponent against the cage.
A hook to the body from Papaioanou.
Lillard blocking some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Papaioanou.
Lillard misses with some punches.
Papaioanou is looking for a takedown.
Papaioanou misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lillard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Papaioanou blocking some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Lillard.
Lillard misses with a body punch.
Papaioanou throws a head punch that misses.
Lillard pushes Papaioanou back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Papaioanou misses with a hook to the ribs.
Papaioanou tries to throw a body punch but Lillard avoids it by throwing Papaioanou back against the cage.
Papaioanou struggles to land a body shot inside as Lillard controls his hands.
Papaioanou pushes Lillard back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Papaioanou throws a head punch that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Papaioanou doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lillard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lillard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Lillard.
Lillard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Papaioanou content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lefteris Papaioanou will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lillard slips a straight right by Papaioanou.
Good work by Papaioanou as he checks the leg kick.
That kick from Papaioanou tenderised Lillard's leg. Lillard is trying to keep his angry face on.
Papaioanou takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Papaioanou has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lillard.
Papaioanou cracks Lillard with an open hand slap.
Papaioanou throws a poor cross that misses
and Lillard counters with a nice body kick.
A head kick from Papaioanou lands but Lillard takes it in his stride.
Lillard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lillard throws a lazy uppercut
and Papaioanou counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Papaioanou missing with a left hand there. Lillard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Papaioanou lands the left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papaioanou throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lillard.
Lillard scores with a jab.
Papaioanou takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Papaioanou on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papaioanou shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lillard pinned against the cage. Lillard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leeland Lillard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lillard closes the distance and clinches.
Papaioanou working aggressively here.
Papaioanou struggles to land a body shot inside as Lillard controls his hands.
Lillard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lillard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lillard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lillard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Papaioanou has a couple of punches blocked by Lillard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lillard.
Papaioanou misses with a punch on the inside.
Lillard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lillard is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Papaioanou taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou is working for takedown but Lillard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lillard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Papaioanou lands with a right to the head.
Papaioanou has had enough of the clinch but Lillard keeps him there for the moment.
Lillard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Leeland Lillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lefteris Papaioanou.
Papaioanou lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lillard backwards.
Papaioanou looking to slow down the pace here.
Papaioanou blocks an uppercut.
Papaioanou blocks a body shot from Lillard.
Papaioanou misses with some punches.
Lillard can't find room to land a body shot as Papaioanou controls the action.
Papaioanou swings wildly with an uppercut but Lillard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lillard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
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!
Lillard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Papaioanou.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lillard.
Papaioanou is working for takedown but Lillard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Papaioanou's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lillard presses Papaioanou against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Papaioanou takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lillard lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Lillard.
Lillard stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lillard.
Lillard is working Papaioanou over against the cage.
Lillard lands a body punch.
Lillard lands a right hand.
Lillard misses with a body punch.
Lillard lands with a left to the head.
Lillard pushes Papaioanou back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lillard lands a nice shot to the body.
Leeland Lillard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Papaioanou blocks an uppercut.
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!
Lillard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Papaioanou backwards.
Lillard lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Papaioanou is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papaioanou doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lillard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Papaioanou is still on wobbly legs! Can Lillard finish him?
Lillard has a couple of punches blocked by Papaioanou.
Lillard pushes Papaioanou back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lillard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Papaioanou struggles to land a body shot inside as Lillard controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Lillard.
Lillard gets through Papaioanou's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lillard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Papaioanou blocking some punches.
Papaioanou tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lillard's elbow.
Lillard has a couple of punches blocked by Papaioanou.
Lillard can't find room to land a body shot as Papaioanou controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lillard.
Papaioanou seems to have recovered his senses.
Lillard lands a body punch.
Lillard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Papaioanou or not.
Lillard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lillard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lillard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lillard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leeland Lillard clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lillard looks to throw the jab but Papaioanou is out of range.
Nice body punch from Papaioanou.
Lillard checks a low kick from Papaioanou.
Papaioanou connects with an inside leg kick.
Papaioanou misses the shot to the body.
Papaioanou just misses with a punch to the body.
Papaioanou jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Papaioanou misses with an uppercut
and Lillard counters with a leg kick.
Papaioanou misses with a looping left.
Lillard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Papaioanou misses.
A head kick misses from Lillard.
Lillard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Papaioanou has time to react.
Lillard throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Papaioanou counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Papaioanou misses with a body punch
and Lillard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lillard works the jab nicely.
Lillard misses with a looping right.
Papaioanou stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A big left from Papaioanou misses.
Lillard throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lillard ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Papaioanou throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Papaioanou cracks Lillard with a good jab.
Papaioanou takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Papaioanou throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lillard counters with a nice uppercut.
Papaioanou has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lillard.
Papaioanou is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Lillard thuds his shin into the meat of Papaioanou's side.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Papaioanou slips under a jab.
Papaioanou tries to counter by closing the distance.
Papaioanou lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lillard lands a big head kick that sends Papaioanou tumbling to the mat! Lillard takes a step backwards and waves Papaioanou back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Lillard lands with a precision combination! Left, right, uppercut and Papaioanou falls flat on his face, eyes wide open but he's out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:14 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Leeland Lillard!
Leeland Lillard retains his light heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Leeland Lillard made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.