PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Padva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Spyridon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Padva
vs
Spyridon

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
187 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Padva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leon Spyridon!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spyridon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spyridon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Spyridon drops back, looking for a kneebar! Padva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Padva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Padva!
Spyridon is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Padva is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Spyridon is desperately trying to improve his position but Padva has a good base and remains in mount.
Padva wants to control the pace but Spyridon is squirming around nicely.
Spyridon tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spyridon is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Spyridon regains half guard.
Spyridon is pressing down on Padva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Padva wanted to stand there but Spyridon had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padva trying to control the position from guard on top but Spyridon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Spyridon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Spyridon has his foot on Padva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Padva works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spyridon is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Spyridon thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Padva wants to stand and escape but instead Spyridon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Spyridon wants to pass the guard but Padva is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Spyridon dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spyridon shoots in looking for a takedown. Padva tries to sprawl out of it but Spyridon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Padva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Spyridon.
Sloppy strikes from Padva. Those never looked like landing.
Spyridon shoots in for a double leg but Padva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Antonio Padva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Spyridon.
Spyridon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horrible takedown by Spyridon or perhaps it was just good defense by Padva which made him look bad.
Padva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spyridon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spyridon shoots in for a double leg but Padva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Spyridon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Padva avoids it really well and circles away.

Spyridon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Spyridon is breathing heavily.

Padva explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Padva tries to clinch up.
Spyridon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Spyridon looks for a takedown but Padva sprawls well.
Spyridon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Padva's waist but Padva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Spyridon off to one side.
Padva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Spyridon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Padva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Padva lands with a kick to the temple. Spyridon shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Leon Spyridon has been cut.

Padva moves into range and clinches up with Spyridon.

Padva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Padva gets a clinch.

Padva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Padva rushes Spyridon and presses him up against the cage.
Spyridon fails to pull guard.

Padva manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Padva throws a good cross that connects.
Padva scores with a sloppy right hand. Spyridon should have avoided that one.
Spyridon avoids the body shot from Padva.
Padva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Padva keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Padva tries to clinch up but Spyridon circles away and keeps his distance.

Spyridon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Padva is looking to reverse the position.
Padva wants to get back to his feet but Spyridon drags him back down.
Padva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spyridon on the ground.

Spyridon tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spyridon has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spyridon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Padva tries to escape but Spyridon is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

Spyridon tries for a kimura but Padva is defending well.

Spyridon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Padva, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Spyridon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antonio Padva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leon Spyridon's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Padva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Spyridon doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Padva counters with a stiff right hand.
Padva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spyridon paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Spyridon tries to keep at a distance but Padva has taken the fight into the clinch.

Padva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Padva swings for the body but Spyridon moves out of range.

Padva clinches with his opponent.

Padva decides to pull guard.
Spyridon prevents Padva from getting back to his feet.
Spyridon tries to free his leg and advance position but Padva is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spyridon drops back looking for a leg! Padva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Padva manages to kick Spyridon off! Spyridon jumps back into Padva's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Padva 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.
Padva can't keep his opponent in guard - Spyridon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Spyridon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Padva has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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

Padva is defending against the submission attempts here by Spyridon.

Spyridon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Padva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Spyridon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spyridon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Padva is looking to control Spyridon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Padva avoid being mounted?

That's four 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.
Spyridon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Spyridon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Padva has managed to free his arm - good work.
Spyridon prevents Padva from standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leon Spyridon.
I think Spyridon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Spyridon!