PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Tupper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezra Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezra Ray will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tupper
vs
Ray

170 cm
29
186 lbs
7 - 12 - 0

192 cm
48
181 lbs
39 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby Tupper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 21 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ezra Ray!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tupper throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ray counters with a nice uppercut.

Tupper takes the fight into the clinch.

Tupper breaks the clinch.
Ray throws a combination. Tupper tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A head kick misses from Tupper.
Tupper gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Tupper clinches with his opponent.
Ray prevents Tupper from breaking the clinch.
Tupper lands an elbow just above Ray 's eye.
Ray swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Tupper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tupper walks into a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ray swats away the attempt to clinch by Tupper.
Bobby Tupper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tupper throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ray lands with an uppercut that bounces Tupper off the cage and back into range.
Ray is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupper checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tupper lands a high kick!
Ray throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tupper tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tupper defending well as Ray loads up on a big left hand.
Tupper is looking to clinch.
Tupper tries to clinch up.
Ray lands with an overhand left.

Tupper closes the distance and clinches.
Ray creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tupper tries to break free but Ray pushes him back against the cage.
Tupper controlling the action here for a moment.
Ray keeps control of Tupper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tupper putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ray in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tupper wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ray has him pressed against the cage.
Ray swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Tupper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ray circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ray walks into a stiff left hand from Tupper.
Ray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tupper tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tupper connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ray's hands.

Tupper closes the distance and pushes Ray back into the cage.

Tupper breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Tupper. That snapped Ray's head back.
Tupper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ray looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tupper misses with a head kick.
Ray has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray swinging wildly here.
Tupper seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tupper throws a right and a left that Ray avoids nicely.

Tupper has Ray up against the cage in a clinch.

Tupper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ray.
Ray takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tupper lands with a nice body punch.
Tupper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tupper moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromRay.
Ray slips a jab and a cross from Tupper.
Ray will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tupper takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tupper tries to clinch but Ray moves away
and Ray counters with a one-two to the body.
Tupper throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ray's head.
Ray loads up on a big right hand but Tupper slips the punch.
Tupper staying out of range there.

Tupper moves into range and clinches up with Ray.
Tupper stalling.
Ray misses with some punches.
Ray working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Ray.
Ray throws a punch but it's blocked by Tupper.
Tupper trying to control the position but instead, Ray has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tupper into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch on the inside from Ray fails to land.
Ray blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ezra Ray will probably get the nod.
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.

Ray fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Tupper clinches up with Ray and pushes him back against the cage.
Tupper'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.
Tupper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ray misses with an elbow over the top.
Bobby Tupper has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ray throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tuppers head.
Tupper wants to break free but Ray has control.
Tupper wants to get back to striking at distance but Ray won't allow it.

Tupper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tupper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ray circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray throws a sloppy head kick and Tupper moves out of range easily.
Tupper throws a right and a left that Ray avoids nicely.

Tupper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ray misses with a punch on the inside.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupper tries to clinch but Ray moves out of range.
Tupper tries to clinch up.
Ray misses with a looping right.
Bobby Tupper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ray lands with a kick to the temple. Tupper shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ray swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ray throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tupper slips a straight right by Ray.
Ray throws a sloppy head kick and Tupper moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Tupper.
Ray 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.
Tupper wants to clinch up but Ray keeps it at a distance.
Tupper fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ray.

Tupper forces Ray back against the cage and clinches.
Tupper blocking some punches.
Ray throws a punch but it's blocked by Tupper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tupper scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ray.
A head punch on the inside from Ray fails to land.
Ray avoiding damage as Tupper throws knees to the body.
Tupper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ray working aggressively here.

Tupper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tupper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tupper tries to clinch but Ray moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ray will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tupper attempts a counter takedown but Ray avoids it well and moves away.
Tupper's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ray connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tupper scrambles back to his feet.
Tupper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ray throws a jab but it's blocked by Tupper.
Tupper checks a low kick from Ray.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tupper tries to clinch up.
Tupper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tupper misses with a two punch combination.
Tupper ducks under a wild hook from Ray.
Ray throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tupper sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ray throws a right and a left that Tupper avoids nicely.
Tupper throws a sloppy head kick and Ray moves out of range easily.
Tupper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch but Ray swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tupper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Tupper backs off Ray throws a huge counter combo but Tupper manages to avoid it all.
A left and a right from Tupper both land. Nice combination.
Tupper plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Ray does no damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ray misses with a left hand
and Tupper counters with a straight right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Tupper 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Tupper clinches.

Tupper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ray pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tupper back to the cage. Ray follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Tupper is looking to land body kicks.
Ray throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Tupper moves into the clinch.

Tupper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick lands from Tupper.
Tupper throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ray.
Tupper wants to clinch up but Ray keeps it at a distance.
Ray shapes to counter with a head kick.
Tupper looks to clinch
and Ray counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tupper throws a head kick that misses
and Ray counters with a head kick. That will keep Tupper thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bobby Tupper will probably get the nod.
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!

Danga de danga de dang - Tupper scores with a four punch combination!
A telegraphed right hand from Ray misses the target.
Ray misses with a head kick.

Tupper moves into the clinch successfully.
Tupper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ray lands a nice uppercut.
Ray working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tupper landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Tupper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tupper tries to clinch
enabling Ray to counter with a crisp jab.
Tupper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tupper.
Tupper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tupper connects with a leg kick. Ray looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Tupper instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray blocks an elbow strike from Tupper.
Tupper lands a body shot.
Ray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ray misses with an elbow strike.

Tupper breaks the clinch.
Tupper fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Our sources have told us that Tupper has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Ray swings wildly with an uppercut but Tupper uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray working aggressively here.
Ray misses with the head strike.
Tupper lands an uppercut.

Tupper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tupper misses with a series of wild punches.
Ray swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray fails to land with a series of punches.

Tupper forces Ray back against the cage and clinches.
Ray throws a punch but it's blocked by Tupper.
Tupper lands an elbow inside.
Ray misses with the head strike.
Ray misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tupper avoiding damage.
A short left from Ray.
Tupper is struggling to control the position.
Tupper throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ray softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ray misses with the head strike.
Tupper wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ray has him pressed against the cage.
Tupper putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ray in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ray swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Tupper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ray throws a leg kick which misses Tupper's front leg but catches the back leg as Tupper tries to avoid it.
Tupper wants to clinch.
A big right from Ray misses.
Ray misses with a hook.
Tupper looks to land a combination but Ray avoids it well.
Tupper tries to clinch but Ray is having none of it.
Ezra Ray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tupper.
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
Tupper half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tupper tries to clinch up
and Ray counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Tupper moves into range and clinches up with Ray.

Tupper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ray misses with a hook. Tupper ducked under it nicely.
Tupper moves in looking to clinch but Ray pushes him off.
Tupper tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ray counters with a good, hard body kick but Tupper shrugs it off.
Tupper throws a head kick that misses
and Ray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tupper moves in looking to clinch but Ray pushes him off.
Ray throws a big counter head kick but Tupper avoids it with no problem.

Tupper has closed the distance and engaged Ray in a clinch.

Tupper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bobby Tupper.
I think Tupper has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bobby Tupper!