PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kane Thoupos (ranked 415 p4p, 596 weight class) and Ante Novak (ranked 57 p4p, 80 weight class). Thoupos comes to the cage accompanied by 151 Rum - JID. Ante Novak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thoupos
vs
Novak

177 cm
23
197
10 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
184
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kane Thoupos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ante Novak!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novak throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Thoupos is looking to counter the offense by Novak and move into the clinch.
Thoupos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thoupos connects with a jab.

It looks like Ante Novak has been cut.
Thoupos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Novak. Thoupos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thoupos misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novak throws a leg kick but Thoupos checks it.
Thoupos connects with a body shot that sends Novak's belly button to the back.
Novak tries to land a body kick
and Thoupos counters with a three punch combo that has Novak backing up. Novak nods at Thoupos to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Novak tests Thoupos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Novak swings widly with a right hand
and Thoupos counters with a nice body shot.
Novak jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thoupos swings away with a body shot that misses
and Novak makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thoupos really felt that one!
Thoupos connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Novak's hands.
Thoupos tries to clinch up but Novak circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thoupos misses with a hook
and Novak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Thoupos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little feinted left hand from Thoupos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thoupos's jab looks to have found its range, popping Novak under the eye.
Novak slips a jab from Thoupos.
Thoupos throws a shot from downtown. Novak moves away and avoids it.
Thoupos comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Novak.
Thoupos moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromNovak.
A cross from Novak lands.
Novak is looking to land body kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Novak. Thoupos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thoupos throws a sloppy body shot
and Novak counters with a nice uppercut.
Novak misses the jab.
Thoupos cracks a nice hook into Novak's ribs.
Thoupos moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Thoupos misses the shot to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Novak misses.
Novak lands a slapping body shot.
Novak cracks a nice hook into Thoupos's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Novak ducks right into an uppercut from Thoupos.

That has opened up Ante Novak's cut even more.
Thoupos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Novak fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Thoupos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ante Novak's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Thoupos throws the left hand but Novak avoids the punch easily.
A little jabbing left from Novak on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Novak throws a body punch but Thoupos moves out of range.
Thoupos wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Thoupos closes the distance and pushes Novak back into the cage.
Novak swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thoupos misses with a punch to the body.
Thoupos misses with a punch on the inside.
Thoupos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thoupos lands a right hand.
Thoupos lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thoupos lands an uppercut.
Novak has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Thoupos lands a nice uppercut.
Thoupos lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thoupos swings wildly with an uppercut but Novak uses good head movement to avoid it.
Novak blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thoupos is leaning against Novak and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak working aggressively here.
Novak is trying to break free.
Thoupos stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Novak is breathing heavily.
Novak tries to circle away but Thoupos has him pinned against the cage.
Thoupos cracks Novak with a nice body shot.
Thoupos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Novak's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thoupos has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Thoupos lands a shoulder strike.
Thoupos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Novak backwards.
Thoupos lands with a light punch inside.
Thoupos lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Thoupos.
Thoupos lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Thoupos.
A right hook to the body lands for Thoupos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Novak prevents a body shot from Thoupos.
Novak prevents a body shot from Thoupos.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thoupos creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thoupos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thoupos lands an uppercut.
Thoupos struggles to land a body shot inside as Novak controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thoupos.
Novak misses with some punches.
Novak tries a body shot but Thoupos blocks it.
Thoupos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thoupos misses with a punch to the body.
Novak prevents a body shot from Thoupos.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thoupos.
Thoupos scores with a nice hook to the head.

The cut above Ante Novak's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Thoupos blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thoupos lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Thoupos.
A short left from Thoupos.
Thoupos lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thoupos.
Thoupos lands with a short shot to the head.

Novak is rocked!
Thoupos lands with a right to the head.
Novak is still on wobbly legs! Can Thoupos finish him?
Thoupos lands a shoulder strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thoupos.
Thoupos lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Thoupos working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos misses with a body punch.
Thoupos can't find room to land a body shot as Novak controls the action.
Thoupos lands a shot to the body.
Thoupos lands a body punch.
Novak seems to have recovered his senses.
Thoupos lands with a right to the head.
Thoupos lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Thoupos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thoupos stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thoupos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thoupos working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thoupos tries a body shot but Novak blocks it.
Thoupos struggles to land a body shot inside as Novak controls his hands.
Thoupos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thoupos working aggressively here.
Novak blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Novak doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thoupos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Novak backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Novak blocks a body shot from Thoupos.
Thoupos swings wildly with an uppercut but Novak uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kane Thoupos has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thoupos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Novak misses with a hook to the ribs.
Novak has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thoupos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Novak can do to turn this around?

Novak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kane Thoupos is winning the standup battle so far.
Novak looks to throw the jab but Thoupos is out of range.
A good leg kick by Thoupos.
Novak throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Novak closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Novak slips a straight right by Thoupos.

Thoupos cracks Novak with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Thoupos has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Novak to stand back up!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Thoupos dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ante Novak's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thoupos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thoupos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thoupos misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Novak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thoupos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Novak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thoupos misses with an uppercut.
Thoupos misses with a lunging right hand
and Novak counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Novak moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novak takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Novak misses with a kick to the body.

Thoupos darts in and clinches Novak up against the cage.
Novak tries to work over Thoupos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thoupos lands an uppercut.
Thoupos misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from Thoupos.
Novak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thoupos lands a nice shot to the body.
Thoupos lands a left hand that snaps the head of Novak backwards.
Thoupos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Thoupos.
Thoupos lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ante Novak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thoupos.
Novak's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Novak's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thoupos lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thoupos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Novak blocks a body shot from Thoupos.
Thoupos throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thoupos pushes Novak back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Thoupos throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thoupos lands a nice uppercut.
Novak prevents a body shot from Thoupos.
Thoupos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thoupos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Novak swings wildly with an uppercut but Thoupos uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thoupos.
Thoupos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Thoupos.
Thoupos lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ante Novak's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Novak prevents a body shot from Thoupos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Thoupos.
Thoupos is working Novak over against the cage.
Thoupos presses Novak against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thoupos lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Novak.
A right hook to the body lands for Thoupos.
Thoupos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Novak's elbow.
Thoupos misses with a body punch.
Thoupos scores with a hook to the body.
Thoupos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kane Thoupos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thoupos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Novak backwards.
Thoupos tries to work over Novak's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Novak tries to break free but Thoupos pushes him back against the cage.
Thoupos is leaning against Novak and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Novak misses with a body punch.
Novak has had enough of the clinch but Thoupos keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos prevents a body shot from Novak.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thoupos.
Novak misses with a short punch on the inside.
Novak doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Novak misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Novak.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos prevents Novak from breaking the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Novak fails to land.
Novak tries to throw a body punch but Thoupos avoids it by throwing Novak back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thoupos.
Novak misses with a body punch.
Novak tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kane Thoupos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thoupos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kane Thoupos!
A very excited looking Kane Thoupos made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.