PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konani Kulap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Turu Ropuia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Turu Ropuia was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Kulap
vs
Ropuia

186 cm
19
283 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Konani Kulap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Turu Ropuia!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulap tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kulap looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
No luck for Ropuia with that takedown attempt.
Ropuia blocks the body kick.
Ropuia wants to clinch up but Kulap keeps it at a distance.
Ropuia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ropuia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ropuia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kulap paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kulap could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ropuia misses with a takedown attempt - Kulap sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Konani Kulap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turu Ropuia.
Ropuia shoots in for a takedown but Kulap shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ropuia dives in and grabs Kulap's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kulap pushes down on Ropuia's head and hops out.
Ropuia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ropuia fails to land the takedown.
Ropuia shoots for a double leg takedown but Kulap sprawls well. He's pushed Ropuia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ropuia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kulap but Kulap pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kulap swings for the body but Ropuia moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ropuia fails with the takedown.
Ropuia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ropuia shoots in for a double leg but Kulap sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ropuia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ropuia shoots in but no luck this time.
Ropuia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kulap circles away.
Kulap fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ropuia is out of range.
Ropuia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kulap circles away.
Kulap stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kulap wants it to stay on the feet.
Ropuia closes the distance and clinches up with Kulap, looking for a takedown. Ropuia pushes Kulap against the cage but Kulap circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ropuia shoots in looking for a takedown but Kulap manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ropuia's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kulap keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kulap misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ropuia fails with the takedown.
Kulap swats away the attempt to clinch by Ropuia.
Ropuia closes the distance and clinches up with Kulap, looking for a takedown. Ropuia pushes Kulap against the cage but Kulap circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ropuia looks to land a combination. Kulap sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ropuia shoots in looking for a takedown. Kulap tries to sprawl out of it but Ropuia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kulap manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ropuia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kulap circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ropuia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kulap is fending him off so far but Ropuia persists. Nope, Kulap circles away and we're back to standing.
Ropuia shoots for a takedown but Kulap saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kulap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulap keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Turu Ropuia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ropuia throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kulap on the side of the head.
Ropuia shoots for a takedown but Kulap saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ropuia fails with a takedown attempt.
Kulap defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ropuia.
Kulap fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ropuia avoids it really well and circles away.
Ropuia shoots for a double leg takedown but Kulap sprawls well. He's pushed Ropuia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kulap gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ropuia.
Nice takedown defense from Kulap. No joy for Ropuia on that attempt.

Ropuia shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kulap is trying to defend but Ropuia finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ropuia is trying to work for a kimura but Kulap is defending well.

Ropuia escapes and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No luck for Ropuia with that takedown attempt.
Ropuia shoots for a takedown but Kulap saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kulap swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ropuia looks for a takedown but Kulap sprawls well.
Ropuia misses with a takedown attempt - Kulap sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kulap throws a right and a left that Ropuia avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Turu Ropuia dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ropuia changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kulap tries to avoid it but Ropuia manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kulap to the ground. Kulap escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ropuia listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Turu Ropuia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ropuia shoots in but Kulap avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kulap stuffs the takedown.
Konani Kulap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turu Ropuia.

Ropuia shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kulap manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ropuia postures up.
Ropuia passes into half guard.
Ropuia works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ropuia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kulap is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ropuia has hold of Kulap's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Kulap seems comfortable defending it but Ropuia has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Kulap is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Kulap is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Ropuia couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Turu Ropuia!