PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexandru Lupei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timothy Hulk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lupei
vs
Hulk

188 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

190 cm
24
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Alexandru Lupei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Timothy Hulk!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lupei gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hulk to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lupei tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hulk wants to pass the guard but Lupei is keeping the position.

Hulk got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lupei has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hulk has managed to get both his arms back between Lupei's legs - danger averted.
Lupei is trying to hold Hulk in close to prevent damage but Hulk has managed to pass into half guard.
Lupei avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hulk.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lupei looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Hulk seems content to control.
Lupei wants to get back to full guard.
Hulk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hulk wants to get back to his feet.

Lupei is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hulk pulls his head out easily.
Lupei wants to control but Hulk is keeping busy.
Hulk wants to pass the guard but Lupei is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupei wants to control but Hulk passes into side.
Lupei prevents Hulk from improving position.
Hulk is looking to take a break and control but Lupei is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Lupei is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hulk asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Hulk wants to stand but Lupei has his arm trapped.
Lupei is looking to regain half guard here but Hulk keeps moving and retains side control.

Hulk wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lupei, who protects the arm well.
Lupei is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hulk throws a strike aimed at the side of Lupei's head but Lupei avoids it well.
Lupei trying to remain calm as Hulk controls from the top position.
Hulk working away.
Lupei is looking to reverse the position.
Hulk scores with a couple of short elbows.
Lupei tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hulk is working Lupei over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hulk working away.
Hulk lands some shots froms side control.
Hulk controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hulk wants to stand but Lupei has his arm trapped.
Lupei is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hulk off and has taken his back!
Hulk rolls, trying to escape but Lupei keeps control of the position.

Hulk is having to fend off submission attempts from Lupei, who is looking to sink in the choke. Lupei doesn't have the hooks in though and Hulk manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lupei trying to keep a closed guard but Hulk is proving a slippery customer.
Lupei looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hulk trying to control but Lupei is working from the bottom.

Hulk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timothy Hulk dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hulk shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lupei napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lupei is trying to control Hulk's posture but Hulk avoids it.
Lupei throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Timothy Hulk has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hulk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lupei is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hulk decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lupei to his feet.
Lupei misses with a takedown attempt

and Hulk counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hulk breaks the clinch.
Lupei shoots in for a takedown but Hulk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lupei misses with a takedown attempt

and Hulk holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandru Lupei. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hulk displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lupei up against the cage.
Lupei fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lupei tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hulk decides to pull guard.
Hulk trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Hulk is adopting a defensive guard.
Lupei trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hulk's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lupei is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hulk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hulk has escaped and now he's on top!
Lupei controls Hulk momentarily but Hulk frees himself.
Hulk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hulk wants to get up but he can't break Lupei's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hulk preventing the sweep.
Lupei is trying to keep Hulk in close.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hulk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lupei works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei working a defensive guard here.
Hulk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lupei working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hulk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Lupei is tightening it up a little... Hulk has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Hulk reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Hulk taps out! Nice BJJ there by Lupei!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Alexandru Lupei!
In his post fight interview, Alexandru Lupei started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.