PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denny Prokopos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Plutonio Napalm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Prokopos might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Deep River Blues - Doc Watson. Denny Prokopos has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Prokopos
vs
Napalm

180 cm
23
142 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

165 cm
19
144 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denny Prokopos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Plutonio Napalm!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Napalm leaves Prokopos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Prokopos.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A lull in the action here.

Prokopos wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Napalm, who protects the arm well.
Napalm manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Napalm is not content to let Prokopos control the position.
Napalm is looking to improve his position.
Prokopos wants to free his trapped foot but Napalm is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Prokopos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Napalm looking for submissions off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Prokopos bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Napalm's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Prokopos wants to control but Napalm is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Napalm's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Napalm manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Napalm gets back to full guard.

Prokopos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Prokopos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Prokopos showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Prokopos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Napalm is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Prokopos is stalling in the full guard.
Prokopos advances to half guard.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prokopos seems to be working for a kimura but Napalm defends the submission attempt.

Napalm looking for submissions off his back.
Prokopos performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Napalm has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Prokopos escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Prokopos!
Napalm tries to improve position but can't.

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.
Napalm is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Prokopos is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Napalm looks gassed!
Napalm wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Prokopos controls the position.

Prokopos is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Prokopos struggling to keep hold of the position.
Napalm trying to control but not successfully.
Prokopos is looking to control Napalm but Napalm is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Prokopos controlling well, preventing Napalm from escaping the position.
Prokopos biding his time, looking for the opening.
Napalm trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Prokopos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Napalm pinned against the cage. Napalm gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Prokopos shoots in and bounces Napalm off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Napalm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prokopos won't allow Napalm to sweep him here.
Prokopos passes Napalm's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Napalm regains full guard. Nicely done.
Prokopos slips nicely into half guard.

Prokopos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Prokopos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prokopos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Napalm actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Prokopos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Napalm keeps working.

Napalm looking for submissions off his back.
Napalm is refusing to be controlled, as Prokopos sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Prokopos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Prokopos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Napalm keeps working.

Prokopos is working for a kimura but Napalm is defending it quite comfortably.
Prokopos tries to pass the half guard into mount. Napalm knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Napalm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Napalm looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Prokopos stalling.
The fighters are battling for position here. Napalm manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Prokopos content to stall in guard here.
Prokopos stands and throws Napalm's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Prokopos wants to control but Napalm is keeping him busy.

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.
Napalm looking for a sweep but Prokopos has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Prokopos tries to control but Napalm wriggling away.
Napalm is working to get back to half guard.
Prokopos trying to control but Napalm is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Napalm is trying to reverse the position but instead Prokopos has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Prokopos dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Napalm gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Prokopos passes Napalm's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Prokopos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Napalm sees it coming and defends easily.
Prokopos wants to control but Napalm is keeping him busy.

Napalm is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Prokopos pulls his head out easily.

Prokopos moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Napalm.
Prokopos happy to just control the position for now.

Prokopos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Napalm has escaped the position, nice work there.
Napalm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prokopos looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Prokopos is looking to take a break and control but Napalm is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Prokopos is trying to get an arm triangle but Napalm is defending well.

Prokopos thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Prokopos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Napalm is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Napalm gets back to half guard.
Prokopos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Napalm does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Prokopos trying to pass the guard but Napalm defending well.
Napalm trying to control from the bottom.
Prokopos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Napalm does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Napalm is defending against the submission attempts here by Prokopos.
Prokopos trying to control from half guard but Napalm is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Napalm shoots for a double leg takedown but Prokopos sprawls well. He's pushed Napalm's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Napalm doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Prokopos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Napalm keeping moving, preventing Prokopos from controlling successfully.

Prokopos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Prokopos trying to control the position from guard on top but Napalm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Napalm wants to sweep here but Prokopos controlling him for the moment.
Prokopos is pushing down on Napalm's leg trying to pass to half guard. Napalm is fighting to maintain full guard but Prokopos has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Napalm wants to improve his position but Prokopos is controlling well.
Napalm trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Napalm doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Prokopos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Napalm!
Denny Prokopos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Plutonio Napalm.

Prokopos is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Prokopos extends the arm and Napalm is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Denny Prokopos!
Denny Prokopos is the new bantamweight champion!