PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ansis Kaupens (ranked 540 p4p, 440 weight class) and Benji Torres (ranked 80 p4p, 57 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Kaupens
vs
Torres

200 cm
30
190
20 - 9 - 1

188 cm
28
186
15 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
NARCOS

Hoarse Pills
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 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ansis Kaupens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benji Torres!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaupens lands a high kick!

It looks like Benji Torres has been cut.
Kaupens throws a body shot but no joy.
Kaupens has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Zero Tolerance in the buildup to the fight.
Kaupens misses with a low kick.
Torres throws a looping overhand right but Kaupens ducks down to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Torres - just one landing.
A low kick from Kaupens misses
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaupens throws a big shot that misses.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick
and Torres counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kaupens misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaupens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice side step and Torres releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kaupens. Torres does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice side step and Torres releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Torres steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kaupens.
Kaupens throws a leg kick but Torres sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres works the jab nicely.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.
Kaupens darts in trying to clinch
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaupens throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Torres to counter with a crisp jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kaupens. That's going to slow Torres down.
Kaupens thows a leg kick but Torres checks it
and Torres connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kaupens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Torres avoids the head kick by Kaupens.
Kaupens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kaupens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Torres moves away.
It seemed like Torres was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kaupens misses with a right hand
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Torres uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaupens.
Torres doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick misses from Kaupens.
Kaupens wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kaupens swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Torres doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kaupens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Torres counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Torres throws a hook but Kaupens blocks it.
Kaupens is looking to counter punch.
Kaupens is looking to land body kicks.
Kaupens tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Kaupens 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kaupens looks to throw a body kick
enabling Torres to counter with a crisp jab.
Kaupens throws a nice looking combination but Torres bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A shot to the body from Kaupens misses
and Torres counters with a straight right hand.
Torres misses with an uppercut.
Kaupens turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kaupens darts in trying to clinch
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice shot by Kaupens.
A low kick from Kaupens is predictable there
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaupens throws a looping overhand right but Torres ducks down to avoid it.
Torres looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Torres.
Torres looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kaupens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kaupens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Torres was well out of range. Poor timing from Kaupens.
It seemed like Torres was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kaupens closes the distance but Torres moves to the side
and Torres counters with a stiff right hand.
Kaupens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Torres moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Torres! But no joy.
Kaupens misses with a hook to the body
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaupens throws a head kick but Torres moves out of range.
Kaupens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Torres dips to his left and cracks Kaupens with an uppercut!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Benji Torres will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Benji Torres'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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Torres breaks from the clinch.
Torres looks to land a left hand but Kaupens moved out of range nicely.
Kaupens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kaupens darts in trying to clinch
and Torres counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick and Torres moves out of range easily.
Benji Torres seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaupens.
Torres doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Torres displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kaupens throws out the jab.
Kaupens scores with a shot to the body.
A big right from Kaupens misses.
Torres appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaupens throws a jab when Torres was well out of range.
Kaupens connects with an inside leg kick.
Kaupens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kaupens slips a straight right by Torres.
Kaupens misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.
Kaupens scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Torres doesn't seem bothered though.
Kaupens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Torres looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kaupens thows a leg kick but Torres checks it
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaupens gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kaupens fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kaupens tries a head kick but it misses.
A little jabbing left from Torres on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens looks to score with a jab to the body but Torres is just out of range.
Kaupens misses the body punch
and Torres counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Torres avoids a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Torres lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Torres throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kaupens.
A telegraphed right hand from Torres misses the target.
Kaupens throws a wild body kick that Torres sees coming a mile off.
Kaupens tries to close the distance and clinch but Torres swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kaupens misses with a head kick.
Torres let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kaupens misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens throws a head kick but Torres moves out of range.
Torres gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kaupens.
Kaupens misses with a right hand
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaupens with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Torres to score with a decent uppercut.
Kaupens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kaupens lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Torres might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Torres lands an overhand right.
Kaupens misses with a body shot.
Kaupens throws a leg kick but Torres checks it.
Torres doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kaupens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Torres manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kaupens.
A nice side step and Torres releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kaupens throws the kick towards the body but Torres avoids it.
Kaupens lands with a hook. Torres tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Torres avoids the head kick by Kaupens.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaupens throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kaupens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Torres swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Torres throws out a counter right but Kaupens avoids it with no problem.
Kaupens takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kaupens throws a predictable looking body shot
and Torres counters with a right hand to the body.
Kaupens throws a half hearted mid kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Torres! But no joy.
Kaupens throws a sloppy body shot
and Torres counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Torres.
Torres looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ansis Kaupens will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Benji Torres's cut.
That's time! Kaupens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kaupens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Torres on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A big right from Torres misses.
Torres with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kaupens throws a hook to the side of Torres's head but Torres sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It seemed like Torres was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Torres uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kaupens.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kaupens. Torres does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kaupens looks to land a combination but Torres avoids it well.
It seemed like Torres was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kaupens walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kaupens looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaupens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Torres swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaupens misses with a shot to the body
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.
Kaupens misses with a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Torres! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres throws a hook to the side of Kaupens's head but Kaupens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick and Torres moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Torres.
Torres throws out a counter right but Kaupens avoids it with no problem.
Kaupens takes a swing at Torres's ribcage but misses.
Kaupens shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Torres works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Torres takes a swing at Kaupens's ribcage but misses.
Kaupens throws a sloppy body shot
and Torres counters with a straight right hand.
A leg kick checked by Torres.
Kaupens tries to land a front kick but Torres steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Torres moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens tries to land a front kick but Torres steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Torres now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kaupens throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Torres to counter with a crisp jab.
A head kick by Kaupens misses
and Torres counters with a straight right hand.
Kaupens tries to clinch but Torres moves away
and Torres counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaupens moves out of range as Torres strikes.

Kaupens forces Torres back against the cage and clinches.

Torres pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from Kaupens misses
enabling Torres to counter with a crisp jab.
Kaupens takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Torres crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kaupens - the referee stops the clock and Torres gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kaupens. Torres manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses.
Torres looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaupens tries a head kick but it misses.
Kaupens doesn't manage to clinch there - Torres circles away.
Kaupens ducks right into an uppercut from Torres.
Kaupens ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kaupens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Torres sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Torres looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kaupens defending well as Torres loads up on a big left hand.
Kaupens seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kaupens lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kaupens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Torres swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kaupens is looking to clinch.
Kaupens swings away with a body shot that misses
and Torres counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens tries to close the distance and clinch but Torres swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Torres lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kaupens circles away quickly and effectively.
Kaupens looks to clinch
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaupens tries to land a front kick but Torres steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Torres looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kaupens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kaupens wants to clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Torres.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benji Torres comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Torres has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benji Torres!