PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Dudley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Persos Kantos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dudley has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. 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.

Dudley
vs
Kantos

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Dudley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Persos Kantos!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kantos has managed to clinch.
Dudley misses with some punches.
Kantos lands with a short shot to the head.

Dudley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dudley or perhaps it was just good defense by Kantos, which made it look bad.

Kantos rushes Dudley and presses him up against the cage.

Kantos pulls guard successfully.
Dudley wanted to stand there but Kantos had control of the position.
Dudley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dudley preventing the sweep.

Dudley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dudley is breathing heavily.

Kantos working for a triangle but Dudley defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Kantos pushes Dudley off and gets back to his feet.
Dudley tries to clinch but Kantos is having none of it.
Kantos is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kantos dodges the punch combination from Dudley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dudley lands a lovely overhand right.
Kantos throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kantos lands with a shot to the body.
Dudley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kantos circles away.
Kantos is looking for the big counter here.

Dudley gets tackled into the cage by Kantos. Kantos maintains the clinch.
Dudley tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kantos smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Dudley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kantos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kantos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dudley is trying to defend but Kantos finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dudley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kantos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dudley!
Kantos thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kantos looking to ground and pound but Dudley is blocking nicely.
Kantos lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Dudley hang on?
Dudley takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Kantos is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Dudley is surviving well by controlling Kantos's body position as best he can.
Kantos scoring with strikes but Dudley is staying in there.
Kantos thowing shots but they're missing.
Kantos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantos controlling from mount.
Kantos's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Kantos has control of Dudley's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Dudley regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kantos putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kantos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Persos Kantos dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kantos fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dudley sprawls well initially but Kantos persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kantos is trying to work for a kimura but Dudley is defending well.
Kantos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Kantos is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kantos keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kantos is looking for a kimura but Dudley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kantos to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kantos decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kantos scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kantos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dudley defending well though.
Kantos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kantos has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kantos is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kantos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantos punching from mount but Dudley doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kantos controlling the pace for now.
Kantos unloads with some shots from mount but Dudley bucks and avoids them well.

Kantos is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Dudley has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kantos takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
More stalling from Kantos.
Kantos with the ground and pound from mount.
Dudley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kantos on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kantos controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Persos Kantos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dudley moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kantos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kantos has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Dudley wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A head kick from Dudley lands but Kantos takes it in his stride.

Kantos moves into the clinch successfully.
Dudley throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dudley is trying to pull guard but Kantos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kantos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dudley prevents it.
Tom Dudley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Persos Kantos.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantos can't break the clinch.

Kantos has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dudley is trying to keep an underhook but Kantos manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kantos is controlling the pace.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Kantos.
Kantos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kantos thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantos with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Persos Kantos has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kantos is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dudley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kantos drops an elbow to the side of Dudley's head.
Kantos not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kantos is trying to work for a kimura but Dudley is defending well.
Well, if Kantos is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kantos shoots in looking for a takedown. Dudley tries to sprawl out of it but Kantos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dudley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kantos rushes Dudley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dudley is trying to force a seperation but Kantos has the dominant position.

Kantos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dudley manages to get himself to full guard.

Kantos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kantos pushes down on Dudley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kantos controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tom Dudley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Persos Kantos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Persos Kantos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kantos 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Persos Kantos!