PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Valdo Calamari (ranked 477 p4p, 1042 weight class) and Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos (ranked 56 p4p, 134 weight class). Calamari comes to the cage accompanied by Bellini - Samba Do Brasil. Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Calamari
vs
Xanthopoulos

177 cm
26
170
13 - 7 - 0

183 cm
27
180
11 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conquer

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Valdo Calamari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xanthopoulos looking to score a takedown here. Calamari is defending well but Xanthopoulos drives through and ends up in Calamari's guard.
Xanthopoulos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Calamari is on top in guard.

Calamari tries to free his leg and advance position but Xanthopoulos is retaining full guard.
Xanthopoulos wants to sweep but no luck.
Calamari wants to control from the top but Xanthopoulos keeps moving.
Xanthopoulos controlling Calamari's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xanthopoulos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Calamari's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xanthopoulos being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Calamari pulls Xanthopoulos in close to prevent any damage.
Calamari is looking to sweep but instead, Xanthopoulos has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Calamari tries to get to full guard but Xanthopoulos has control of the leg.
Xanthopoulos is taking a breather. Calamari says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Xanthopoulos's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
My spies in Steel Penn Training Den inform me that Xanthopoulos has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Calamari is looking to get back to full guard here but Xanthopoulos has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calamari is looking for a sweep.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Calamari being controlled for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Xanthopoulos or perhaps it was just good defense by Calamari, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Calamari dips to his left and cracks Xanthopoulos with an uppercut!
Calamari seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Xanthopoulos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Calamari is looking for a sweep.
Calamari is working hard here to advance position.
Calamari struggling a bit here.
Calamari is looking to reverse the position.
Calamari wants to control but Xanthopoulos postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xanthopoulos happy to just control the position for now.
Calamari is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Xanthopoulos's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Calamari throws a lazy right hand but Xanthopoulos sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Calamari looks to land a left hand but Xanthopoulos moved out of range nicely.
Calamari lands a jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos with a poor takedown
and Calamari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xanthopoulos avoids the body shot from Calamari.
Xanthopoulos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Calamari's waist but Calamari gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Xanthopoulos off to one side.
It looked like Calamari was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Xanthopoulos.
Valdo Calamari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos.
Calamari throws a looping overhand right but Xanthopoulos ducks down to avoid it.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calamari throws a hook but Xanthopoulos avoids it easily.
Xanthopoulos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Calamari avoids it really well and circles away.
Calamari swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calamari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos with the counter takedown but Calamari avoids it easily.
Calamari jabs at Xanthopoulos's body.
Xanthopoulos ducks under a wild hook from Calamari.
Calamari scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Calamari takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Calamari stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Calamari wants it to stay on the feet.
Xanthopoulos fails with the takedown.
Valdo Calamari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Calamari lands a nice shot that snaps Xanthopoulos's head back.
Xanthopoulos fails with the takedown
and Calamari counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown attempt
and Calamari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calamari with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Calamari. Xanthopoulos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xanthopoulos drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Calamari defends it well.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown
and Calamari counters with a left to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xanthopoulos tries to clinch but Calamari moves out of range.
Calamari defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Xanthopoulos.
Calamari swings for the body but Xanthopoulos moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Xanthopoulos 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Xanthopoulos closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Calamari - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Calamari seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Calamari misses with a short punch on the inside.

Calamari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calamari works the jab nicely.
Xanthopoulos doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Calamari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Calamari lands a glancing blow to the side of Xanthopoulos's head.
Calamari bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Xanthopoulos's head backwards.
Xanthopoulos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Calamari cracks a nice hook into Xanthopoulos's ribs.
Calamari throws a looping overhand right but Xanthopoulos ducks down to avoid it.
Xanthopoulos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Calamari.
Calamari lands with a cross.
Xanthopoulos closes the distance and clinches up with Calamari, looking for a takedown. Xanthopoulos pushes Calamari against the cage but Calamari circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Xanthopoulos closes the distance and clinches up with Calamari, looking for a takedown. Xanthopoulos pushes Calamari against the cage but Calamari circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calamari looks to throw the jab but Xanthopoulos is out of range.
Xanthopoulos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xanthopoulos darts in looking for a takedown but Calamari gets double underhooks and turns Xanthopoulos into the cage.
Calamari is looking to counter punch.
Calamari works Xanthopoulos's body with a nice hook.
Xanthopoulos walks into a jab.
Calamari lands a nice shot to the body.
Xanthopoulos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Calamari throws out the jab.
Valdo Calamari is winning the standup battle so far.
Calamari cracks Xanthopoulos with a good jab.
Xanthopoulos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Calamari sprawls well. Calamari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Xanthopoulos gets slowly back to his feet.
Calamari lands a jab to Xanthopoulos's midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valdo Calamari dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Calamari wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheers as Calamari lands an impressive looking overhand right. Xanthopoulos doesn't seem phased though.
Calamari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Calamari jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Calamari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xanthopoulos can do to turn this around?
Sloppy strikes from Calamari. Those never looked like landing.
Xanthopoulos is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Calamari throws a jab but it's blocked by Xanthopoulos.
Calamari wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Calamari misses with a straight left.
Calamari works Xanthopoulos's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calamari lands with a straight right. Xanthopoulos didn't see that one coming.
Calamari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Xanthopoulos throws a series of punches but Calamari avoids them all with ease.
Xanthopoulos fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Xanthopoulos slips a jab from Calamari.
Xanthopoulos shoots and misses
and Calamari counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown
letting Calamari counter with a right hand.
Valdo Calamari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos.
Calamari scores with a jab to the jaw.
Xanthopoulos takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Xanthopoulos fails with a takedown attempt.
Calamari throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xanthopoulos scores with a takedown into Calamari's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calamari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Calamari has his hands on Xanthopoulos's head, controlling the position.
Calamari has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Xanthopoulos has passed into side control.
Xanthopoulos takes a little break here. Calamari wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calamari struggling a bit here.
Calamari is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Xanthopoulos off and has taken his back!
Xanthopoulos is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Calamari trying to control momentarily.
Calamari is trying to stick to Xanthopoulos's back but Xanthopoulos is turning into Calamari. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Calamari's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Xanthopoulos.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calamari working a defensive guard but Xanthopoulos manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Xanthopoulos politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Xanthopoulos prefers to stall for the moment though.
Calamari wants to control but Xanthopoulos postures up.
Calamari sneaks back into half guard.
Xanthopoulos not doing much here.
Calamari is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valdo Calamari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Calamari has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdo Calamari!
Valdo Calamari spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.