PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sotiris Kakoullis (ranked 814 p4p, 114 weight class) and Andy Shifter (ranked 1162 p4p, 166 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Shifter's choice of entrance music: Lützenkirchen- Nutcracker . Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kakoullis
vs
Shifter

184 cm
46
206 lbs
55 - 22 - 0

200 cm
27
216 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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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 55 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sotiris Kakoullis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Shifter!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kakoullis darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kakoullis lands with a nice body punch.
A swing and a miss from Kakoullis.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shifter or perhaps it was just good defense by Kakoullis, which made it look bad.
Shifter shoots in and drives through. Kakoullis sprawls well.
Kakoullis throws a looping overhand right but Shifter ducks down to avoid it.
Shifter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kakoullis missing with a left hand there. Shifter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shifter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kakoullis is fending him off so far but Shifter persists. Nope, Kakoullis circles away and we're back to standing.
An attempted straight right counter from Kakoullis misses the target.
Sotiris Kakoullis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Shifter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kakoullis swivels and escapes.
A big right from Kakoullis misses.
Kakoullis stuffs the takedown attempt from Shifter. Shifter gets slowly back to his feet.
Sotiris Kakoullis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakoullis sizes up Shifter with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shifter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kakoullis cracks Shifter with a right hand to the side of the head.
Shifter fails with a takedown attempt.
Shifter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kakoullis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakoullis circles away from the clinch attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Kakoullis on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kakoullis misses with a hook. Shifter ducked under it nicely.
Shifter dives in for a single leg takedown but Kakoullis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kakoullis throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Kakoullis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shifter takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kakoullis is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Shifter fails to land the takedown.
Kakoullis slaps away a takedown attempt from Shifter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kakoullis cracks Shifter with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakoullis stuffs the takedown attempt from Shifter. Shifter gets slowly back to his feet.
Shifter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kakoullis.
Shifter drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kakoullis defends it well.
Shifter has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shifter there as he acknowledges the shot.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kakoullis misses with a right hand

and Shifter counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kakoullis is trying to buck Shifter off.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shifter working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kakoullis struggling a bit here.
Shifter tries to score with some ground and pound. Kakoullis controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kakoullis tries to bench press Shifter off him but Shifter keeps the position.

Shifter looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Shifter tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kakoullis is trying to buck Shifter off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sotiris Kakoullis dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kakoullis stuffs the takedown.
Kakoullis throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Kakoullis misses with a straight right.

Shifter gets a double leg takedown into Kakoullis's guard.
Shifter looking to pass the guard.
Kakoullis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shifter on the ground.
Shifter passes into half guard.
Shifter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kakoullis's head.

Shifter is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kakoullis is just riding it out for now. Shifter eventually gives up the hold.
Shifter working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shifter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakoullis is pressing down on Shifter's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shifter works over Kakoullis with some ground and pound from guard.
Shifter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kakoullis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Shifter has gone for a leg lock! Kakoullis slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shifter's guard.

Kakoullis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shifter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Shifter working for a triangle but Kakoullis defends it easily.
Kakoullis trying to control but Shifter is working from the bottom.
Shifter throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Shifter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kakoullis pushes down on Shifter's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakoullis trying to control the action but Shifter is working from the bottom.
Shifter gets back to full guard.
Kakoullis looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kakoullis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shifter can do to turn this around?

Shifter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kakoullis is aware though and is defending well.

Shifter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kakoullis is aware though and is defending well.
Kakoullis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Shifter regains half guard.
Kakoullis uses his free foot to push down on Shifter's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Shifter.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shifter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kakoullis looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Kakoullis prevents Shifter from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kakoullis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shifter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shifter.
Kakoullis forces his way into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kakoullis continues to stall.
Shifter has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shifter tries to roll over but Kakoullis keeps him under control.
Shifter misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shifter is looking for a sweep. Kakoullis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Andy Shifter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kakoullis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kakoullis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kakoullis stalling.

Shifter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kakoullis pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kakoullis stalling.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andy Shifter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shifter shoots in and drives through. Kakoullis sprawls well.
Kakoullis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shifter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kakoullis.
Shifter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kakoullis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kakoullis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Shifter with the counter takedown but Kakoullis avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Kakoullis as Shifter shoots in.
Sotiris Kakoullis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Shifter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakoullis connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kakoullis loads up on a big right hand but Shifter slips the punch.
Shifter dives in and grabs Kakoullis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kakoullis pushes down on Shifter's head and hops out.
Kakoullis was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter slips under a jab from Kakoullis.
Kakoullis throws a big shot that misses.
Kakoullis swings for the body but Shifter moves out of range.
Kakoullis throws a shot from downtown. Shifter moves away and avoids it.
Shifter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shifter with a poor takedown
enabling Kakoullis to counter with a crisp jab.
Kakoullis misses with a looping right.
Shifter shoots in for a double leg but Kakoullis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kakoullis throws a body punch but Shifter moves out of range.

Shifter drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kakoullis pushes Shifter off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kakoullis.
Kakoullis misses with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shifter moves away from the strike by Kakoullis.
Shifter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kakoullis.
Sotiris Kakoullis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kakoullis looks to score with a jab to the body but Shifter is just out of range.
Shifter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kakoullis swivels and escapes.
Kakoullis throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Shifter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt
and Kakoullis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kakoullis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt - Kakoullis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kakoullis throwing a counter right hand but Shifter manages to avoid it.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kakoullis as he jumps to the side.
Kakoullis misses with a straight right.
Shifter drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kakoullis defends it well.
Shifter fails to land the takedown.
Shifter with a poor takedown
and Kakoullis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Shifter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakoullis misses with a wild body shot.
Sotiris Kakoullis is winning the standup battle so far.
Kakoullis takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kakoullis works the jab nicely.
Kakoullis misses the jab.
Shifter has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shifter there as he acknowledges the shot.
Shifter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kakoullis defends it nicely.
Shifter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kakoullis.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sotiris Kakoullis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kakoullis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sotiris Kakoullis!