PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikos Giannopoulos (ranked 1712 p4p, 248 weight class) and Robert McKenna (ranked 1171 p4p, 172 weight class). McKenna has chosen Freedom as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Robert McKenna enters the cage!

Giannopoulos
vs
McKenna

184 cm
23
207 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
22
212 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Riner Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikos Giannopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert McKenna!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenna fails with a takedown attempt.
Giannopoulos slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Robert McKenna has been cut.
Giannopoulos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

McKenna closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenna tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Giannopoulos's elbow.

McKenna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McKenna wants to clinch.
Giannopoulos throwing a counter right hand but McKenna manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenna on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

McKenna gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Giannopoulos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McKenna's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Giannopoulos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McKenna is leaning against Giannopoulos and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

McKenna's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McKenna fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenna fails with the takedown.
Nikos Giannopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert McKenna.
McKenna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McKenna looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
McKenna tries to clinch but Giannopoulos is having none of it.
McKenna tries to close the distance and clinch up but Giannopoulos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McKenna fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Giannopoulos jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenna tries to clinch but Giannopoulos moves out of range.
Giannopoulos scoring well with a low kick there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McKenna is defended easily by Giannopoulos.

McKenna shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than McKenna was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giannopoulos prevents McKenna from moving into mount.
McKenna grinds an elbow into Giannopoulos's temple.
Giannopoulos tries to buck McKenna off but McKenna is having none of it.
Giannopoulos is not content to let McKenna control the position.
Giannopoulos wants to control but McKenna postures up.
Giannopoulos is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Top Dawg, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Giannopoulos tries to bench press McKenna off him but McKenna keeps the position.
McKenna throws a strike aimed at the side of Giannopoulos's head but Giannopoulos avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giannopoulos is trying to get back to half guard.
McKenna misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
You can see the frustration on Giannopoulos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikos Giannopoulos will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Robert McKenna's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McKenna tries to score a power double leg takedown but Giannopoulos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McKenna somewhat.
McKenna tries for a takedown but Giannopoulos circles away easily
and Giannopoulos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McKenna shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Giannopoulos as he jumps to the side.
Giannopoulos looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Nikos Giannopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert McKenna.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenna tries for a takedown but Giannopoulos circles away easily
and Giannopoulos counters with a left and a right that stings McKenna.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McKenna closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Giannopoulos to the mat! Giannopoulos manages to get full guard.
Giannopoulos being controlled here, momentarily.
Giannopoulos 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.
Giannopoulos is trying to control the position but McKenna postures up.
Giannopoulos looking to hit a scissor sweep but McKenna is one step ahead there.
Giannopoulos pulls McKenna in close to his closed guard and prevents McKenna from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giannopoulos controls McKenna momentarily but McKenna frees himself.
McKenna working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Giannopoulos's head.
McKenna trying to control but Giannopoulos is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKenna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Giannopoulos pulls McKenna in close to prevent any damage.
McKenna is looking to advance position but Giannopoulos has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

McKenna tries to hold on but Giannopoulos postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenna tries to reverse the position but Giannopoulos maintains control.
McKenna trying desperately to get to his feet.

McKenna tries to control Giannopoulos's head but Giannopoulos pushes him back down and moves quickly to lock up an arm here - he's swung around for an armbar! Will he get it??? Yes! McKenna is tapping out! Lovely Jiu Jitsu there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (armbar). Nikos Giannopoulos!
Nikos Giannopoulos decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.