PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richie Rich (ranked 6375 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christos Eskenpopoludopulos (ranked 3747 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rich
vs
Eskenpopoludopulos

185 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Free Bands inc.

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richie Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christos Eskenpopoludopulos!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Eskenpopoludopulos is struggling to control the position.
Eskenpopoludopulos swings wildly with an uppercut but Rich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rich blocking some punches.
Rich tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Eskenpopoludopulos just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Eskenpopoludopulos.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eskenpopoludopulos throws a head punch that misses.
Eskenpopoludopulos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Eskenpopoludopulos working aggressively here.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a hook from the clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos has a couple of punches blocked by Rich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Eskenpopoludopulos.
Rich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Eskenpopoludopulos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Eskenpopoludopulos.

Eskenpopoludopulos has Rich up against the cage in a clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos has Rich pressed against the cage.
Eskenpopoludopulos throws a punch but it's blocked by Rich.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands with a short shot to the head.
Eskenpopoludopulos looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Eskenpopoludopulos pushes Rich back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Eskenpopoludopulos swings wildly with an uppercut but Rich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Eskenpopoludopulos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eskenpopoludopulos has a couple of punches blocked by Rich.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a punch on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos swings wildly with an uppercut but Rich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a left hand.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a body shot in the clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A short right from Eskenpopoludopulos.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rich goes for a takedown attempt but Eskenpopoludopulos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richie Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries to clinch but Rich is having none of it.
Rich is looking for a counter combo.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries to close the distance and clinch but Rich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rich scores with a nice strike.

Eskenpopoludopulos forces Rich back against the cage and clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Eskenpopoludopulos takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rich is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Eskenpopoludopulos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Eskenpopoludopulos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos gets through Rich's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Eskenpopoludopulos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos throws a punch but it's blocked by Rich.
Rich blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Eskenpopoludopulos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a shoulder strike.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a nice 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!
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands an uppercut.
Rich being controlled against the cage.
A short uppercut from Eskenpopoludopulos.
A head punch on the inside from Eskenpopoludopulos fails to land.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rich backwards.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christos Eskenpopoludopulos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rich stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries to clinch
and Rich counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rich looks to land a right hand but Eskenpopoludopulos moved out of range.
Richie Rich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eskenpopoludopulos defending well as Rich loads up on a big left hand.
Rich swats away the attempt to clinch by Eskenpopoludopulos.

Eskenpopoludopulos has Rich up against the cage in a clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a hook that snaps the head of Rich backwards.
Rich avoids a wild elbow strike from Eskenpopoludopulos.
A head punch on the inside from Eskenpopoludopulos fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with a hook from the clinch.
Christos Eskenpopoludopulos seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Eskenpopoludopulos pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a shot to the body.
Eskenpopoludopulos misses with the head strike.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a body shot in the clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands with a light punch inside.
Rich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rich blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rich.
Eskenpopoludopulos scores with a shoulder strike.

Rich pulls guard effortlessly.
Rich on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rich tries to get out of the position.
Eskenpopoludopulos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eskenpopoludopulos throws a strike but Rich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eskenpopoludopulos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rich is controlling him.
Rich is standing up over Eskenpopoludopulos. Eskenpopoludopulos looks to escape but Rich dives into side control.

Rich stands up and beckons Eskenpopoludopulos to his feet.
Eskenpopoludopulos is looking to clinch.
Eskenpopoludopulos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Richie Rich has been cut.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries to clinch but Rich is having none of it.
Rich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Eskenpopoludopulos wants to clinch but Rich slips to the side
enabling Rich to counter with a crisp jab.
Eskenpopoludopulos tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rich counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eskenpopoludopulos drops Rich with a big left hand! Rich is injured, injured bad! Eskenpopoludopulos jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Christos Eskenpopoludopulos!
Christos Eskenpopoludopulos very nearly forgot to thank Free Bands inc. amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.