PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Thoupos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wrestling Sparing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thoupos
vs
Sparing

182 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Thoupos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Wrestling Sparing!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thoupos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sparing is aware though and is defending well.

Thoupos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sparing defends well.
Sparing cracks Thoupos with a solid left hand.
Sparing wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparing with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sparing postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparing controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thoupos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sparing distracts Thoupos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Thoupos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sparing defends it easily.
Thoupos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sparing is one step ahead there.
Sparing trying to control but Thoupos is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparing makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thoupos keeping full guard, as Sparing tries to pass.
Sparing preventing the sweep.

Thoupos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sparing really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thoupos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sparing scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sparing lands a couple of elbows.
Sparing wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
Sparing connects with a couple of short punches.
Sparing loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Thoupos has his foot on Sparing's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sparing works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sparing thows a big elbow that misses.
Sparing lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparing distracts Thoupos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Thoupos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sparing can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Thoupos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sparing doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sparing manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thoupos is breathing heavily.
Sparing with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sparing scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thoupos keeping moving, preventing Sparing from controlling successfully.
Sparing is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sparing with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Sparing avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thoupos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sparing is aware though and is defending well.
Sparing postures up and lands a big shot to Thoupos's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparing wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
Thoupos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sparing is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sparing chips away with some ground and pound.

Thoupos isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sparing stacks Thoupos on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sparing!
Sparing grinds an elbow into Thoupos's temple.
Sparing working the ground and pound.
Sparing landing strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparing landing a few strikes.
Sparing scoring with punches from side control.
Sparing wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thoupos keeps working.
Sparing in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Thoupos prevents Sparing from moving into mount.
Thoupos is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Thoupos is rocked!
Sparing tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparing grinds an elbow into Thoupos's temple.
Oh Thoupos is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thoupos takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Thoupos can't do much from the bottom here.
Sparing scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sparing wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thoupos keeps working.
Sparing lands an elbow.
Sparing scores with punches from side control.
Sparing is working Thoupos over with some ground and pound from side control.
Thoupos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sparing working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thoupos is looking to regain half guard here but Sparing keeps moving and retains side control.
Sparing scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thoupos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sparing wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thoupos seems to have got his legs back now.
Thoupos sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wrestling Sparing dominated that round.
That's time! Thoupos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sparing decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sparing working the head and body with strikes.
Sparing looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thoupos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Thoupos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sparing postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sparing with a nice head shot there.
Sparing trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sparing wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
Sparing lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos is trying to control the position but Sparing postures up.
Thoupos being controlled here, momentarily.

Sparing avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thoupos keeping full guard, as Sparing tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparing scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sparing is pushing down on Thoupos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Thoupos is fighting to maintain full guard but Sparing has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sparing seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sparing lands a nice short elbow.
Thoupos wants to control but Sparing is keeping busy.
Sparing slips a nice elbow through Thoupos's hands, connecting with Thoupos's forehead.
Thoupos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thoupos has momentary wrist control but Sparing slips an elbow through the middle.
Sparing working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thoupos's head.
Sparing is working Thoupos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sparing postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thoupos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sparing manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thoupos preventing the sweep.
Sparing trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparing tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thoupos wants to pass the guard but Sparing is keeping the position.

Sparing escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thoupos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thoupos stopping the sweep attempt from Sparing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sparing can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thoupos sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sparing's guard.
Sparing tries to get to full guard but Thoupos has control of the leg.
Thoupos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sparing's head.
Sparing gets full guard.
Thoupos is looking to work some ground and pound but Sparing has wrist control.
Sparing has a closed guard, preventing Thoupos from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparing is adopting a defensive guard.
Sparing is trying to keep Thoupos in close.

Sparing is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thoupos is aware though and is defending well.
Sparing 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.
Wrestling Sparing has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sparing controls Thoupos momentarily but Thoupos frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thoupos postures up in Sparing's guard and throws a big left but Sparing blocks it.
Thoupos trying to control but Sparing is working from the bottom.

Sparing has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thoupos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sparing looking for a sweep. Not yet Sparing, not yet.
Thoupos landing with the ground and pound.

Thoupos drops back looking for a leg! Sparing is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sparing manages to kick Thoupos off! Thoupos jumps back into Sparing's guard.
Thoupos throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sparing throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sparing is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thoupos is controlling him.
Sparing working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thoupos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wrestling Sparing showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Thoupos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sparing moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparing throws a leg kick but Thoupos checks it.
Thoupos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sparing.
Sparing tests Thoupos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thoupos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sparing moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparing fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Thoupos checks it well.
Thoupos shoots for a double leg takedown but Sparing sprawls well. He's pushed Thoupos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thoupos looks to land a right hand but Sparing moved out of range.
Sparing lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Sparing throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thoupos was covering up waiting for the punch and Sparing finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Thoupos wants to get back to his feet but Sparing is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sparing wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparing keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thoupos's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparing postures up and lands a big shot to Thoupos's brow.
Sparing landing with the ground and pound.

Thoupos working for a triangle but Sparing defends it easily.
Sparing stands and throws Thoupos's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sparing working the head with strikes.
Thoupos is letting Sparing control him for a moment.
Sparing lands an elbow.
Sparing lands a few punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thoupos prevents Sparing from improving position.
Sparing working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparing scoring with punches and elbows.
Sparing working the ground and pound.
Thoupos is trying to buck Sparing off.
Sparing in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Thoupos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sparing landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
A big shot lands for Sparing! That's hurt Thoupos! Will he recover? Sparing fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wrestling Sparing!