PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Panagiotis Christoforou (ranked 2331 p4p, 1783 weight class) and KT Panda (ranked 80 p4p, 56 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Christoforou
vs
Panda

203 cm
20
275
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
300
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Panagiotis Christoforou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, KT Panda!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christoforou misses with an uppercut.
Christoforou ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Panda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Christoforou throws out the jab.
Christoforou throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Panda throws a body shot but no joy.
Panda throws a combination that misses
and Christoforou connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like KT Panda has been cut.
Panda misses with the body kick

and Christoforou counters with a big uppercut that knocks Panda off his feet! Christoforou dives into side control looking to finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Panda is trying to improve his position.
Christoforou will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Christoforou working away.
Panda is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Christoforou is staying active.
Panda tries to bench press Christoforou off him but Christoforou keeps the position.
Panda manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Panda manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panda is controlling Christoforou's posture.
We've been hearing good reports from Christoforou's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Panda is continuing to stall.
Christoforou stopping the sweep attempt from Panda.
Christoforou being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Panda with the inside leg kick.
Panda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Christoforou wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Panda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Christoforou moves away.
Christoforou is looking to counter punch.
Christoforou throws a looping overhand right but Panda ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Panda misses with a straight right.
Panda throws a head kick but Christoforou moves out of range.
Christoforou misses with a hook
and Panda counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Panda explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nice body kick there by Panda.
Panda lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from Christoforou misses.
Panda slips a jab from Christoforou.
Christoforou tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Panda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Christoforou.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda throws a jab when Christoforou was well out of range.
It looked like Christoforou wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Panda slips under a jab.
Panda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Panda. Christoforou does a little dance to reset his feet.
Christoforou was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Christoforou blocks a jab.
Christoforou throwing a counter right hand but Panda manages to avoid it.
That kick from Panda tenderised Christoforou's leg. Christoforou is trying to keep his angry face on.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christoforou lands a jab.
Panda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Christoforou.
KT Panda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Panda is looking to slow Christoforou down with leg kicks.
Panda misses with a body shot
enabling Christoforou to counter with a crisp jab.
Panda cracks a nice hook into Christoforou's ribs.
Christoforou fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Panda is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Christoforou rather than just go for the knockout.
Christoforou misses with an uppercut. Panda saw that one coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Panagiotis Christoforou dominated that round.
The cut man is working on KT Panda's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Christoforou misses with an uppercut
and Panda counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Christoforou moves away from the strike by Panda.
Panda lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Panda throws a series of punches but Christoforou moves out of range.
Panda misses with a hook

and Christoforou counters with a right hand that sends Panda tumbling to the canvas! Can Christoforou finish him? He dives into Panda's guard looking to do just that!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panda 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.
Christoforou tries to stand but Panda is controlling from the bottom.
Panda seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The adventures of Panda the control monster continue. Boring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A decent looking cross lands there for Panda.
Christoforou is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Christoforou on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
That kick from Panda tenderised Christoforou's leg. Christoforou is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jab from Christoforou.
Christoforou misses with a hook
and Panda makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Panda looks to score with a jab to the body but Christoforou is just out of range.
Panda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Christoforou.
An attempted straight right counter from Christoforou misses the target.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Panda in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Panda gets a clinch.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Christoforou looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Panda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Christoforou is trying to break the clinch but Panda is controlling him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Christoforou.
Panda struggles to land a body shot inside as Christoforou controls his hands.
Christoforou prevents a body shot from Panda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Panda - that landed with a thud.
A body shot lands from Panda.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Christoforou takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Panda creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Panda throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Christoforous head.

It looks like Panagiotis Christoforou has been cut.
Panda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Christoforou's elbow.
Christoforou's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Panda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Christoforou's efforts to push away.
Christoforou wants to break free but Panda has control.
Panda lands a right hand.
A hook to the body from Panda.
Panda digs a right hand into Christoforou's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Christoforou's gas tank.
Panda lands with a left to the head.
Panda lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Panda lands a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Panda lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Panda scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Christoforou's elbow.
Panda lands a right hand that snaps the head of Christoforou backwards.
Panda lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Panda.
Panda scores with a shoulder strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Panda.
Panda lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Panda.
Panda works on Christoforou's body with a couple of short punches.
Panda lands with a light punch inside.
Panda lands a left hand that snaps the head of Christoforou backwards.
Panda working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Panda digs a right hand into Christoforou's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Christoforou's gas tank.
Panda working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Panda.
Panda lands a left hand.
Panda misses with some punches.
Christoforou prevents a body shot from Panda.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

KT Panda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Panda lands a big head kick that sends Christoforou tumbling to the mat! Panda takes a step backwards and waves Christoforou back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Panda ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Panda swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Christoforou on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Panda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Panda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Christoforou throwing a counter right hand but Panda manages to avoid it.
Panda scores with a body shot.
Christoforou takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice body kick from Panda.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Panda scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Panda misses with a body shot.
Christoforou was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Panda sizes up Christoforou with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Panda scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Christoforou doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda cracks a nice hook into Christoforou's ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Panda fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Christoforou has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Christoforou is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Panda changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Panda has Christoforou up against the cage in a clinch.
Panda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Panda.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Panda creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Panda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Christoforou blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda lands a hook that snaps the head of Christoforou backwards.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Panda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Panda.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Christoforou tries to circle away but Panda has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Panda.
Panda lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Christoforou.
Panda lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Panda.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Panda.

Panagiotis Christoforou's cut is getting worse.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Panda.
Panda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Christoforou is rocked!
Panda cracks Christoforou with a nice body shot.
A short uppercut from Panda.
Oh Christoforou is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A short left from Panda.
Panda pushes Christoforou against the cage and as Christoforou bounces back, Panda cracks him with a massive overhand right that sends him crashing to the mat! Panda follows up with more strikes but Christoforou was out from that first, devastating punch! Wow!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). KT Panda!