PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nir Sosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Tupper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sosa
vs
Tupper

180 cm
36
191 lbs
31 - 20 - 0

170 cm
33
186 lbs
10 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 31 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nir Sosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bobby Tupper!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tupper clinches up against the cage.

Tupper manages to break the clinch.

Tupper clinches up with Sosa and pushes him back against the cage.
Sosa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tupper just stands there and leans against the cage.

Tupper breaks the clinch.
Tupper looks to land a combination but Sosa avoids it well.
Tupper tries to clinch there but Sosa circles away.

Tupper closes the distance and clinches.
Sosa dodges an elbow strike from Tupper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tupper breaks from the clinch.
Sosa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sosa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tupper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Tupper.
Tupper tries a low kick but Sosa avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tupper gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tupper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bobby Tupper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tupper looks to land a right hand but Sosa moved out of range.
Sosa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tupper sprawls and moves away.
Tupper misses with a two punch combination.
Sosa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sosa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tupper moves into the clinch.
Sosa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tupper smiles and moves away.
Tupper tries to clinch up but Sosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Sosa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tupper throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tupper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tupper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sosa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Tupper drives through and clinches with Sosa against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tupper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tupper throws a right and a left that Sosa avoids nicely.
Tupper tries to clinch but Sosa is having none of it.
Tupper getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A low kick from Tupper is predictable there

and Sosa counters with a shoot takedown. Tupper fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Tupper wants to stand and escape but Sosa is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tupper wants to get back to his feet but Sosa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tupper wants to stand up but Sosa is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tupper throws a head kick but Sosa moves out of range.
Tupper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch but Sosa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sosa feinted with a counter takedown.
Tupper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tupper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sosa attempts a counter takedown but Tupper avoids it well and moves away.
Tupper throws a sloppy head kick and Sosa moves out of range easily.
Sosa attempts a counter takedown but Tupper avoids it well and moves away.
Tupper looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sosa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sosa feinted with a counter takedown.
Tupper throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sosa counters with a shoot takedown. Tupper fights it but they end up in guard.
Tupper is looking to stand up but Sosa isn't so interested in that idea.
Sosa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sosa swats away the attempt to clinch by Tupper.
Sosa feinted with a counter takedown.
Tupper throws a leg kick which misses Sosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Sosa tries to avoid it.
Tupper doesn't manage to clinch there - Sosa circles away.
Sosa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sosa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tupper wants to clinch.
Sosa attempts a counter takedown but Tupper avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tupper tries to clinch but Sosa is having none of it.
Sosa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tupper sprawls and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tupper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sosa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tupper misses with a leg kick

and Sosa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tupper is trying to stand up here but Sosa is controlling him well.
Sosa controlling the action here.
Tupper is trying to stand back up but Sosa is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sosa in particular looking to stall.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Tupper clinches.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Tupper holds him up against the cage and eventually Sosa drops back down to his feet.
Sosa is trying to pull guard but Tupper has him pressed against the cage.

Tupper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bobby Tupper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tupper is looking to clinch.

Tupper drives through and clinches with Sosa against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tupper manages to break the clinch.
Tupper moves in looking to clinch but Sosa pushes him off.
Good standup being displayed there by Tupper as he connects with a hook.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tupper throws a leg kick but Sosa checks it.
Sosa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tupper sprawls and moves away.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sosa feinted with a counter takedown.
Tupper lands a two punch combo.
Tupper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sosa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tupper throws a right and a left that Sosa avoids nicely.
Sosa tries to counter with a takedown but Tupper is quick to defend against it.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sosa feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tupper tries to clinch up.
Tupper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sosa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tupper sprawls and moves away.
Bobby Tupper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Tupper.
Sosa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tupper doesn't manage to clinch there - Sosa circles away.
Tupper scores with a push kick.
Sosa avoids the head kick by Tupper.
Tupper tries to clinch up.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tupper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tupper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tupper forces Sosa back against the cage and clinches.
Tupper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Tupper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tupper tries to clinch up

and Sosa counters with a single leg into guard. Tupper didn't expect that.
Sosa stops Tupper from standing up.
Tupper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sosa controls the pace.
Tupper is looking to stand up but Sosa isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sosa is standing up over Tupper. Tupper looks to escape but Sosa dives into side control.
Sosa prevents Tupper from escaping the position.

That's one minute 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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tupper is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Tupper fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sosa, pushing him back against the cage.

Tupper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tupper misses with a double jab

and Sosa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tupper won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tupper wants to get back to his feet.
Tupper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tupper prevents Sosa from improving position.
Tupper pushes Sosa away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sosa gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sosa remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nir Sosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some bone on bone action there as Sosa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tupper thows a leg kick but Sosa checks it

so Sosa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sosa stops Tupper from standing up.
Tupper is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tupper wants to get back to his feet but Sosa passes into half guard.
Nir Sosa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tupper tries to kick Sosa off but Sosa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bobby Tupper is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tupper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tupper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sosa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sosa avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nir Sosa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tupper has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

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