PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Tulikoura (ranked 731 p4p, 1073 weight class) and Avraam Papadopoulos (ranked 105 p4p, 148 weight class). Papadopoulos has chosen Lil Uzi Vert - That's A Rack as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tulikoura
vs
Papadopoulos

175 cm
36
172
28 - 15 - 1

187 cm
39
183
32 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Grunge Nutrition

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 28 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Johannes Tulikoura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Avraam Papadopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tulikoura bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Papadopoulos throws a chopping leg kick but Tulikoura manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tulikoura seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tulikoura does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tulikoura's corner calls for a 1-2. Tulikoura obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Papadopoulos tries a low kick but Tulikoura avoids it.
Tulikoura takes one on the button.
Papadopoulos scores with a jab. Tulikoura acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Good shot there by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Papadopoulos.
A little jabbing left from Papadopoulos on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Papadopoulos attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Papadopoulos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos loads up on a big right hand but Tulikoura slips the punch.
Tulikoura slips under a jab.
Tulikoura pivots, looking for a leg kick but Papadopoulos is out of range and Tulikoura settles back down.
Papadopoulos throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tulikoura. That did some damage!
Papadopoulos will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Papadopoulos throws a hook but Tulikoura avoids it easily.
A jab from Tulikoura misses.
Tulikoura lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tulikoura throws out a loose jab but Papadopoulos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tulikoura misses with a low kick.
Papadopoulos throws an overhand right that lands on Tulikoura's shoulder, as Tulikoura tries to avoid the shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Tulikoura blocks the leg kick.

Tulikoura gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Papadopoulos takes a shot to the head.
Tulikoura has a couple of punches blocked by Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos stalling.
Papadopoulos blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Papadopoulos's elbow.
Papadopoulos blocking some punches.
Tulikoura misses with a punch to the body.
Papadopoulos misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Tulikoura fails to land.
Papadopoulos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tulikoura misses with a body punch.
Tulikoura misses with a punch to the body.
Tulikoura lands a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tulikoura prevents a body shot from Papadopoulos.
Tulikoura misses with a punch to the body.
Tulikoura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Papadopoulos lands with a short shot to the head.
Papadopoulos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Papadopoulos has had enough of the clinch but Tulikoura keeps him there for the moment.
Papadopoulos is leaning against Tulikoura and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice body punch from Tulikoura - that landed with a thud.
Papadopoulos scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tulikoura tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tulikoura lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos blocks a body shot from Tulikoura.

Papadopoulos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Papadopoulos lands a leg kick that knocks Tulikoura off balance momentarily.
Avraam Papadopoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Papadopoulos. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tulikoura manages to avoid it.
Tulikoura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tulikoura tries to work over Papadopoulos's front leg with a kick but Papadopoulos checks it.
Tulikoura misses with a straight left.
Tulikoura avoids the body shot from Papadopoulos.
Tulikoura misses with an uppercut. Papadopoulos saw that one coming.
Tulikoura misses with a body kick.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Papadopoulos lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura scores with a hook to the body. Papadopoulos takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Papadopoulos ducks under a wild hook from Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tulikoura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Papadopoulos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tulikoura.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papadopoulos throws a front kick aimed at Tulikoura's knee but Tulikoura avoids it well.
Papadopoulos swings widly with a right hand
and Tulikoura counters with a stiff right hand.
Papadopoulos defending well as Tulikoura loads up on a big left hand.
Papadopoulos staying out of range there.
Papadopoulos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tulikoura throws a lazy right hand but Papadopoulos sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos misses with a right hand
and Tulikoura counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tulikoura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Papadopoulos can pounce on him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johannes Tulikoura dominated that round.
That's time! Tulikoura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tulikoura throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Tulikoura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Papadopoulos can do to turn this around?
Papadopoulos misses the shot to the body.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Papadopoulos avoided it.
Tulikoura blocks a leg kick.
Papadopoulos throws a big shot that misses.
Papadopoulos moves out of range of the strikes.
Johannes Tulikoura is winning the standup battle so far.
Tulikoura looks to land a right hand but Papadopoulos moved out of range.
Papadopoulos moves out of range of the strikes.
Papadopoulos only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Papadopoulos misses with a lunging right hand
and Tulikoura counters with a nice low kick that buckles Papadopoulos's knee momentarily.
Papadopoulos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tulikoura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tulikoura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadopoulos fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tulikoura moves into range and connects with a jab.
Papadopoulos 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.
Tulikoura lands with a nice body kick.
Tulikoura swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Papadopoulos feints a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura staying out of range there.
Papadopoulos finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Crunch! Tulikoura slams his shin into Papadopoulos's torso.
Papadopoulos misses with a low kick.
A low kick lands for Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos blocks a low kick nicely.
Papadopoulos throws a counter combo.
Tulikoura throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Papadopoulos on the side of the head.
Tulikoura missing with a left hand there. Papadopoulos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut.
Papadopoulos throws a big shot that misses.
Papadopoulos throws out a leg kick but Tulikoura moves out of range and Papadopoulos only half commits.
Papadopoulos throws a nice looking combination but Tulikoura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tulikoura digs a good body shot into Papadopoulos's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Papadopoulos tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tulikoura is able to avoid easily.
Tulikoura fires out a quick counter leg kick but Papadopoulos just manages to avoid it.
Tulikoura throws a low kick, looking for Papadopoulos's leg but Papadopoulos calmly moves out of range.
Tulikoura misses with a looping right.
A jab from Papadopoulos misses.
Tulikoura slips under a jab from Papadopoulos.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tulikoura. That's going to slow Papadopoulos down.
Tulikoura throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
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!
Papadopoulos swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tulikoura counters with a stiff right hand.
Papadopoulos with a hook.
Papadopoulos swings for the body but Tulikoura moves out of range.
Papadopoulos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tulikoura.
Papadopoulos moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Papadopoulos at a distance.
Tulikoura misses with an uppercut
and Papadopoulos counters with a left to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Papadopoulos scores with a sloppy right hand. Tulikoura should have avoided that one.
Papadopoulos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tulikoura throws out the jab.
Papadopoulos throws an overhand right that lands on Tulikoura's shoulder, as Tulikoura tries to avoid the shot.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Papadopoulos avoided it.
Papadopoulos walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tulikoura checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Papadopoulos lands a nice hook to Tulikoura's body. Tulikoura takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tulikoura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tulikoura throws out a leg kick but Papadopoulos moves out of range and Tulikoura only half commits.
Tulikoura is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Papadopoulos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Papadopoulos checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Tulikoura.
Tulikoura connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tulikoura throws a looping overhand right but Papadopoulos ducks down to avoid it.
Papadopoulos looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Papadopoulos defending well as Tulikoura loads up on a big left hand.
Papadopoulos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Papadopoulos avoided it.
Papadopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.
Papadopoulos finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Papadopoulos throws out a leg kick but Tulikoura moves out of range and Papadopoulos only half commits.
Tulikoura tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Papadopoulos misses with an uppercut
and Tulikoura counters with a nice uppercut.
Tulikoura attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johannes Tulikoura will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tulikoura tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Papadopoulos is able to avoid easily.
Tulikoura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tulikoura digs a good body shot into Papadopoulos's ribs.
Tulikoura misses with a leg kick.
Papadopoulos walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tulikoura checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Papadopoulos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Papadopoulos swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tulikoura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Tulikoura does it's job there.
Papadopoulos scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tulikoura has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadopoulos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Papadopoulos lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Papadopoulos throws a low kick but Tulikoura avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura lands a nice looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Papadopoulos. Tulikoura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Papadopoulos takes a swing at Tulikoura's ribcage but misses.
Papadopoulos throws a big shot that misses.
Tulikoura moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Papadopoulos is predictable there
and Tulikoura counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Papadopoulos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tulikoura moves away.
Tulikoura misses with a lunging right hand
and Papadopoulos counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tulikoura's knee momentarily.
Tulikoura is looking to chop away at Papadopoulos's legs.
Tulikoura backing away here, and Papadopoulos unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Tulikoura throws the left hand but Papadopoulos avoids the punch easily.
Tulikoura lands the left hand.
Papadopoulos throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A counter left hand to the body from Tulikoura misses its target.
Tulikoura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Avraam Papadopoulos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Tulikoura.
Tulikoura throws a looping overhand right but Papadopoulos ducks down to avoid it.
Papadopoulos misses with a left hand
and Tulikoura counters with a low kick, right behind Papadopoulos 's knee.
Papadopoulos throws a leg kick but Tulikoura sees it coming and moves out of range.
A low kick from Papadopoulos misses
and Tulikoura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Papadopoulos throws a big shot that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Tulikoura misses the target.
Tulikoura throws a leg kick which misses Papadopoulos's front leg but catches the back leg as Papadopoulos tries to avoid it.
Papadopoulos tries to land a leg kick but Tulikoura saw it coming and moves away.
Papadopoulos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tulikoura manages to avoid it.
Tulikoura scores with a nice strike.
Tulikoura connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tulikoura checks a leg kick.
Papadopoulos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tulikoura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos throws a shot from downtown. Tulikoura moves away and avoids it.
Tulikoura fires out a quick counter leg kick but Papadopoulos just manages to avoid it.
Papadopoulos missing with a left hand there. Tulikoura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tulikoura lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Tulikoura scores with a decent looking hook.
Tulikoura checks a low kick from Papadopoulos.
Johannes Tulikoura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A big right from Papadopoulos misses.
Tulikoura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Papadopoulos throws a hook to the side of Tulikoura's head but Tulikoura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tulikoura connects with a looping right hand.
Tulikoura throws a sloppy body shot
and Papadopoulos counters with an outside leg kick.
Tulikoura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Papadopoulos.
Tulikoura lands a nice looking body kick.
Papadopoulos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Papadopoulos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Papadopoulos misses.
Papadopoulos walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tulikoura checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tulikoura takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A shot to the body from Papadopoulos misses
and Papadopoulos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slow jab from Tulikoura misses its intended target.
Papadopoulos now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Papadopoulos misses with a low kick.
Tulikoura pushes Papadopoulos away with a front kick.
Tulikoura takes one to the chin there.
Tulikoura swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Papadopoulos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tulikoura with the inside leg kick.
Tulikoura loads up on a big right hand but Papadopoulos slips the punch.
Papadopoulos appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johannes Tulikoura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tulikoura 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johannes Tulikoura!
After the fight, Johannes Tulikoura was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
In defeat, Avraam Papadopoulos stepped up to the mic, saying 'It's time to leave my gloves in the cage, thanks for the support on my journey, it was all a dream when i started'.