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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darren Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Costa Ioannou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 186 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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161 cm
27
186 lbs
3 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power |
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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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darren Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Costa Ioannou!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels throws a sloppy head kick and Ioannou moves out of range easily.
Daniels with a hook.
No luck for Ioannou with that takedown attempt.
Daniels throws a wild body kick that Ioannou sees coming a mile off.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ioannou has eaten all the pies!
Ioannou is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Daniels's half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ioannou is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Daniels sees it coming and defends easily.
Ioannou is looking to take a break and control but Daniels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ioannou is looking for a kimura here.
Ioannou looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ioannou is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Daniels is just riding it out for now. Ioannou eventually gives up the hold.
Daniels is trying to escape back to his feet but Ioannou uses the scramble to pass into side control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Daniels is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ioannou has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ioannou is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Daniels is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daniels is looking to get back to his feet here but Ioannou is keeping cool and he's managed to take Daniels's back.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou working for a choke but Daniels is defending well.
Ioannou is persistently looking for the submission but Daniels is defending it well.
Ioannou somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Ioannou is looking to control Daniels but Daniels is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Daniels is taking damage to the body and head.
Daniels rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ioannou thows a huge punch but Daniels dodges it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ioannou is nestled in close to Daniels, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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!
Ioannou is taking a breather. Daniels 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.
Ioannou is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Daniels sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Costa Ioannou dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Daniels works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Daniels lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Daniels scores with a jab. Ioannou acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Daniels misses with a body shot.
Ioannou stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ioannou wants it to stay on the feet.
Daniels misses with an attempted mid kick.
Daniels with a hook.
Daniels tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ioannou counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ioannou postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Daniels to stand up.
Ioannou moves out of range of the body kick.
Daniels tries to clinch up but Ioannou circles away and keeps his distance.
Daniels misses with an uppercut. Ioannou saw that one coming.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ioannou shoots in for a takedown but Daniels shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ioannou closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Daniels did well to prevent Ioannou getting side control.
Daniels is refusing to be controlled, as Ioannou sits in half guard.
Daniels is controlling Ioannou's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Costa Ioannou has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ioannou prevents Daniels from standing back up.
Still in half guard, Ioannou seems content to control.
Ioannou is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Daniels is defending against the submission attempts here by Ioannou.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou is taking a breather. Daniels 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.
Ioannou looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ioannou is looking to pass Daniels's guard but actually Daniels recovers to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels wants to sweep here but Ioannou controlling him for the moment.
Ioannou content to stall in guard here.
Daniels will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ioannou stands and steps away. Daniels gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels misses with a kick to the body.
Ioannou takes one on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daniels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ioannou moves into the clinch.
Daniels is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ioannou gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ioannou has hold of one of Daniels's legs. Daniels is fighting the takedown attempt but Ioannou gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Daniels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ioannou is one step ahead there.
Ioannou drops back looking for a leg! Daniels is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Daniels manages to kick Ioannou off! Ioannou jumps back into Daniels's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Costa Ioannou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Daniels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Daniels slaps away a takedown attempt from Ioannou, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Daniels connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ioannou tries for a takedown but Daniels sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ioannou defending well as Daniels loads up on a big left hand.
Ioannou displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Daniels.
Daniels doesn't manage to clinch there - Ioannou circles away.
We've been informed that Ioannou has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Daniels ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ioannou moves away.
Daniels tries to clinch there but Ioannou circles away.
A big left from Daniels misses.
Darren Daniels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Costa Ioannou is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ioannou displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Daniels.
Ioannou decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ioannou wants to take a breather but Daniels is having none of it.
Ioannou tries to pass to full mount but Daniels defends it.
Ioannou is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Daniels doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ioannou.
Ioannou is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou trying to control from Daniels's half guard. Daniels has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Daniels kicks Ioannou off and gets to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou moves out of range of the body kick.
Daniels scores with a three punch combo!
Ioannou fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Daniels to the ground. Ioannou is now in Daniels's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ioannou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Daniels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ioannou is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ioannou trying to control but Daniels is working from the bottom.
Ioannou is stalling in the full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Costa Ioannou was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Daniels tries to clinch
and Daniels takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circle momentarily. Daniels darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nice jab there from Daniels.
Ioannou will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Daniels clobbers Ioannou with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Costa Ioannou is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ioannou looking to score a takedown here. Daniels is defending well but Ioannou drives through and ends up in Daniels's guard.
Ioannou wants to control from the top but Daniels keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that's the end of the fight!
Costa Ioannou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ioannou winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Costa Ioannou!
A determined Costa Ioannou didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
54% |
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