PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ichiro Kosugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Tupy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tupy has chosen New Divide as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tim Tupy enters the cage!

Kosugi
vs
Tupy

188 cm
30
210 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

185 cm
22
214 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Valhalla Fight Wear
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ichiro Kosugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Tupy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kosugi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kosugi walks into a jab.
A swing and a miss from Kosugi.
Tupy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tupy throws out a loose jab but Kosugi uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kosugi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tupy wants to control but Kosugi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kosugi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kosugi trying to control the action but Tupy is working from the bottom.

Kosugi is working for a kimura but Tupy is defending it quite comfortably.

Kosugi seems to be looking for submissions.
Kosugi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupy won't allow Kosugi to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tupy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've been hearing good reports from Kosugi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kosugi content to stall in guard here.
Tupy working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kosugi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tupy working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tupy throws a right and a left that Kosugi avoids nicely.
Tupy moves out of range of the body kick from Kosugi.
Tupy ducks under a wild hook from Kosugi.
Kosugi throws a body shot but no joy.
Tim Tupy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tupy tries to clinch but Kosugi moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tupy enables Kosugi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tupy manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kosugi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tupy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kosugi is looking to work some ground and pound but Tupy has wrist control.
Kosugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tupy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kosugi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tupy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tupy pulls Kosugi in close to prevent any damage.
Kosugi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kosugi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kosugi trying to control but Tupy is working from the bottom.
Kosugi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tupy is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kosugi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tupy has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kosugi is defended easily by Tupy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tupy throws out a powerful jab.
Kosugi scores with a leg kick.
Tupy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kosugi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kosugi.
Tupy is trying to control Kosugi's posture but Kosugi avoids it.
Tupy is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kosugi is staying active.
Tupy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tupy makes his way to full guard, as Kosugi worked for a kimura.
Tupy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichiro Kosugi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tupy scores with a one two! Kosugi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Ichiro Kosugi has been cut.
Kosugi is looking to clinch but Tupy is avoiding it.
Kosugi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kosugi fails with a takedown attempt.
Tupy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kosugi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tupy.
Tupy slaps away a takedown attempt from Kosugi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tupy swings for the body but Kosugi moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosugi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tupy swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichiro Kosugi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tupy misses with a lunging right hand
and Kosugi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Tupy really felt that one!
Kosugi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kosugi tries for a takedown but Tupy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosugi misses with a head kick.
Tupy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kosugi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tupy misses with a straight left.
Kosugi moves out of range as Tupy strikes.
Kosugi swats away the attempt to clinch by Tupy.
Tupy scores with a punch to the head.
Tupy moves in looking to clinch but Kosugi pushes him off.
Tupy lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Tupy tries to sprawl but Kosugi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kosugi controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tupy tries to get to full guard but Kosugi has control of the leg.
Tupy wants to control but Kosugi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kosugi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kosugi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kosugi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tupy controlling the position for now.
Tupy is pressing down on Kosugi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tupy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tupy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tupy looks to land a right hand but Kosugi moved out of range.

Tupy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tupy's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tupy lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi is looking for a takedown.
Tupy is trying to maintain a safe position but Kosugi gets an underhook and turns Tupy into the cage.
A short uppercut from Tupy.

Kosugi has hold of one of Tupy's legs. Tupy is fighting the takedown attempt but Kosugi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kosugi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tupy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tupy keeping moving, preventing Kosugi from controlling successfully.
Tupy trying to control the position.
Ichiro Kosugi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kosugi wants to control from the top but Tupy keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Tupy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ichiro Kosugi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kosugi goes for a double leg but Tupy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tupy continues to drive forward.

Kosugi drags the fight down to the ground.
Kosugi keeping moving, preventing Tupy from controlling successfully.

Tupy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kosugi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tupy has managed to get both his arms back between Kosugi's legs - danger averted.
Tupy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kosugi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosugi keeping moving, preventing Tupy from controlling successfully.
Kosugi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosugi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tupy is keeping the position for now.
Kosugi is working hard here to advance position.
Tupy managing to control the position.
Tupy is trying to keep Kosugi in close.
Kosugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tupy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kosugi looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tupy tries to clinch up but Kosugi circles away and keeps his distance.
Kosugi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kosugi shoots in looking for a takedown. Tupy tries to sprawl out of it but Kosugi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tupy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tupy looks to land a left hand but Kosugi moved out of range nicely.
Kosugi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tupy defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichiro Kosugi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tupy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kosugi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A left and a right from Tupy both land. Nice combination.
Tupy blocks a head kick by Kosugi.
Tupy 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.
Tupy misses with a body shot

so Kosugi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tupy is trying to control the position but Kosugi postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tupy holds on and takes a little breather.
Kosugi postures up.
Kosugi pushes down on Tupy's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tupy trying to control from the bottom.

Kosugi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tupy defends it well.
Tupy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kosugi is working away from the top position though.
Ground and pound from Kosugi.
Tupy trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kosugi is looking for a kimura but Tupy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kosugi to get the leverage.

Kosugi is trying for a kimura here. Tupy looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Kosugi wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ichiro Kosugi!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Ichiro Kosugi made sure he mentioned Reaper Combatwear, along with how happy he was to win his fight.