PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kane Thoupos (ranked 282 p4p, 384 weight class) and Dusty Rhodes (ranked 36 p4p, 47 weight class). Thoupos comes to the cage accompanied by 151 Rum - JID. Rhodes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bury My Bones. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thoupos
vs
Rhodes

177 cm
25
196
16 - 4 - 0

178 cm
25
186
9 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
The Pharmacy Phuket

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kane Thoupos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dusty Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Rhodes as he connects with a hook.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches.
Rhodes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thoupos just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rhodes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thoupos or not.
Rhodes wants to take the fight to the mat but Thoupos manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rhodes blocks an uppercut.
Rhodes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thoupos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhodes wants a takedown but no success here.
Kane Thoupos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Rhodes.
Rhodes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rhodes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thoupos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rhodes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rhodes lands with a right to the head.
Thoupos is pressed up against the cage. Rhodes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thoupos down to the mat. Thoupos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Rhodes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rhodes.
Rhodes fails to land the takedown.
Thoupos was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dusty Rhodes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rhodes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rhodes connects with a looping right hand.
Rhodes throws a looping overhand right but Thoupos ducks down to avoid it.
Thoupos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thoupos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rhodes takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thoupos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thoupos moves out of range of the strikes.
Thoupos was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Thoupos on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rhodes fails to land with a series of punches.
Thoupos was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes dodges the punch combination from Thoupos.

Rhodes darts in and clinches Thoupos up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Thoupos.
Thoupos blocks a body shot from Rhodes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos working aggressively here.
Thoupos lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rhodes blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Thoupos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kane Thoupos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rhodes tries for a takedown but Thoupos circles away easily

and Thoupos counters with a head kick that drops Rhodes to the mat! Rhodes scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Thoupos throws a shot from downtown. Rhodes moves away and avoids it.
Thoupos throws a body punch but Rhodes moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Rhodes finds it's way through Thoupos's defenses.
A jab from Thoupos misses.
Rhodes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thoupos moves out of range of the strikes.
Thoupos seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Thoupos swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhodes.
An attempted straight right counter from Thoupos misses the target.
Rhodes misses with a wild body shot.
Rhodes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thoupos's hands.
Thoupos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rhodes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thoupos was well out of range. Poor timing from Rhodes.
Thoupos is looking to counter with a body kick.
Thoupos takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rhodes dives in and grabs Thoupos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thoupos pushes down on Rhodes's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rhodes is able to avoid easily.
Rhodes takes a swing at Thoupos's ribcage but misses.
Thoupos slaps away a takedown attempt from Rhodes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice shot lands for Rhodes.
Thoupos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rhodes.
Thoupos is looking to counter punch.
Rhodes moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rhodes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thoupos circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dusty Rhodes dominated that round.
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.

Thoupos misses with a right hand
and Thoupos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rhodes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thoupos misses with a wild body shot.
Rhodes catches Thoupos with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thoupos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Thoupos. Rhodes shrugs it off though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes moves in looking to clinch but Thoupos pushes him off.
Thoupos was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rhodes wants to clinch.
It looked like Thoupos wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dusty Rhodes seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rhodes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thoupos was well out of range. Poor timing from Rhodes.

Thoupos lands a big head kick that sends Rhodes tumbling to the mat! Thoupos takes a step backwards and waves Rhodes back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Dusty Rhodes has been cut.
Rhodes cracks Thoupos with a good jab.
Rhodes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thoupos counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rhodes moves away from the strike by Thoupos.
Thoupos on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rhodes connects with a right hand. Thoupos shakes it off.
We've been told by Thoupos's head coaches at Xtreme Black House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Thoupos on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Thoupos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rhodes looks to score with a jab to the body but Thoupos is just out of range.
As Rhodes backs away, Thoupos returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Rhodes with a nice cross.
Rhodes closes the distance and clinches up with Thoupos, looking for a takedown. Rhodes pushes Thoupos against the cage but Thoupos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thoupos is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kane Thoupos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Rhodes.
Rhodes lands a jab.
Rhodes moves in looking to clinch but Thoupos pushes him off.
Rhodes just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromThoupos.
Thoupos turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Rhodes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rhodes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thoupos throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rhodes tries to bum rush Thoupos with a series of wild strikes but Thoupos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As Rhodes backs away, Thoupos returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Thoupos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thoupos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhodes blocks the body kick.
Rhodes lands a nice looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rhodes. Thoupos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rhodes scores with a hook.

Rhodes gets a double leg takedown into Thoupos's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thoupos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos keeping moving, preventing Rhodes from controlling successfully.
Rhodes throwing strikes from guard but Thoupos blocks nicely.
Rhodes tries to free his leg and advance position but Thoupos is retaining full guard.
Thoupos can't keep his opponent in guard - Rhodes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thoupos is looking to improve his position.
Rhodes passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dusty Rhodes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dusty Rhodes's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rhodes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thoupos stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rhodes checks the leg kick.
It seemed like Rhodes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rhodes misses with an uppercut. Thoupos saw that one coming.
Thoupos was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Thoupos slips a jab from Rhodes.
Thoupos tries a head kick but it misses.
Rhodes has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes lands with a good body shot.
Rhodes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thoupos in his tracks.
Thoupos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Thoupos misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rhodes closes the distance and clinches up with Thoupos, looking for a takedown. Rhodes pushes Thoupos against the cage but Thoupos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rhodes works Thoupos's body with a nice hook.
Rhodes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Rhodes.
Thoupos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rhodes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thoupos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rhodes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thoupos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thoupos swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhodes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes moves into the clinch.

Thoupos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rhodes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thoupos counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thoupos.
Rhodes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rhodes misses with a takedown attempt - Thoupos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kane Thoupos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Rhodes.
An inside leg kick from Thoupos misses.
Rhodes misses with a hook.
Rhodes cracks Thoupos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes lands a right hook to the body.
Thoupos just misses with a punch to the body.
Rhodes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thoupos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thoupos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rhodes.
Thoupos is looking to counter punch.

Rhodes moves into the clinch.
Rhodes takes a shot to the head.
Rhodes lands a hook that snaps the head of Thoupos backwards.
Rhodes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thoupos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thoupos lands a shot to the body.
Rhodes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thoupos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thoupos cracks Rhodes with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Rhodes looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Thoupos finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thoupos pounces like a tiger and cracks Rhodes with a vicious hook! Rhodes is down but not out! Thoupos follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Kane Thoupos!
Kane Thoupos is the new middleweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Kane Thoupos thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.