PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Katurian Tupolski (ranked 786 p4p, 109 weight class) and Marek Koltun (ranked 728 p4p, 101 weight class). Tupolski comes to the cage accompanied by Mobb Deep - Shook Ones part II. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Tupolski
vs
Koltun

175 cm
39
182 lbs
29 - 15 - 2

182 cm
41
177 lbs
30 - 17 - 4

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 29 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Katurian Tupolski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Marek Koltun!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tupolski works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tupolski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Koltun shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tupolski's guard.
Tupolski wants to get back to his feet but Koltun is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Koltun throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tupolski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tupolski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koltun.
Koltun with a flurry of punches that miss.
Koltun throws an elbow that misses. Tupolski uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koltun's guard. Nice move by Tupolski!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koltun looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tupolski is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun wants to improve his position but instead Tupolski has moved into half guard.
Koltun wants to improve his position but Tupolski is controlling well.
Tupolski is thwarting Koltun's attempts to control the position.
Koltun wants to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Tupolski is thwarting Koltun's attempts to control the position.
Koltun is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koltun moves into full guard.

Koltun throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tupolski escapes and throws Koltun's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Koltun is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tupolski stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Koltun looks to score with a jab to the body but Tupolski is just out of range.
Koltun is looking to clinch but Tupolski is avoiding it.
Tupolski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tupolski stuns Koltun with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Katurian Tupolski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tupolski moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koltun fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tupolski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tupolski moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Koltun misses with a straight right.
A big right from Koltun misses.
Tupolski lands a jab.
Koltun throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tupolski counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tupolski.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koltun looks for a takedown but Tupolski sprawls well.
Tupolski delivers a nice body kick.
Koltun circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tupolski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koltun shoots in for a takedown but Tupolski shows good takedown defense.
Tupolski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koltun.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tupolski.
Koltun changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tupolski tries to avoid it but Koltun manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tupolski to the ground. Tupolski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katurian Tupolski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tupolski paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tupolski lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tupolski scores with a leg kick.
Tupolski walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Koltun throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Koltun throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koltun blocks a jab.
Tupolski avoids the body shot from Koltun.
Tupolski fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Koltun is out of range.
Tupolski misses with a body kick.
Tupolski connects with a right hand. Koltun shakes it off.
That kick from Tupolski tenderised Koltun's leg. Koltun is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tupolski pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Katurian Tupolski is winning the standup battle so far.
Tupolski misses with an attempted mid kick.
Koltun takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tupolski keeps Koltun at a distance using the push kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tupolski goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koltun closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tupolski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koltun can do to turn this around?
Tupolski defending against the ground and pound.
Koltun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tupolski keeps working.

Koltun goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tupolski rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Koltun's guard! Nice work there by Tupolski!
Tupolski wants to stand but Koltun has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Koltun wants to improve his position but instead Tupolski has moved into half guard.
Koltun is looking to control Tupolski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Koltun avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun wants to improve his position but Tupolski is controlling well.
Tupolski tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Koltun.
Koltun wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koltun is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Tupolski jumps into side control!
Tupolski working away.
Katurian Tupolski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koltun tries to bench press Tupolski off him but Tupolski keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tupolski stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Koltun shoots in but Tupolski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A big left from Tupolski misses.
Koltun throws a right hand that misses
and Koltun takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice sprawl there from Tupolski as Koltun shoots in.
Tupolski lands with a good body shot.
Tupolski lands a lovely overhand right.
Koltun throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tupolski misses with a hook
and Koltun counters with a nice uppercut.
Tupolski loads up on a big right hand but Koltun slips the punch.
Tupolski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tupolski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Koltun.
Katurian Tupolski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marek Koltun.
Koltun fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tupolski avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katurian Tupolski dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Crunch! Tupolski slams his shin into Koltun's torso.
Tupolski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tupolski.
Tupolski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koltun.
Koltun throws a lazy right hand but Tupolski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koltun takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tupolski.
Nice body punch from Koltun.
Koltun lands a jab to Tupolski's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koltun scores with a jab to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Koltun blocks the leg kick.
Koltun dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koltun checks a leg kick.
Koltun let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Tupolski lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun moves out of range as Tupolski strikes.

Koltun shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tupolski is refusing to be controlled, as Koltun sits in half guard.
Koltun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Koltun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Koltun throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tupolski to regain full guard.
Koltun looking to pass the guard.
Koltun trying to control but Tupolski is working from the bottom.
Katurian Tupolski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun slips nicely into half guard.
Koltun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Koltun wants to control but Tupolski is keeping him busy.
Koltun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tupolski won't allow Koltun to pass to mount.
Koltun passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tupolski!
Koltun landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun looking to ground and pound but Tupolski is blocking nicely.
Koltun raining down shots from the mount!
Koltun has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tupolski is trying to stand.
Koltun throwing strikes but Tupolski recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Koltun trying to advance position but Tupolski counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Koltun manages to pass to side control.
Koltun scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tupolski wants to get back to his feet.
Marek Koltun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koltun sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tupolski defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koltun throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koltun looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tupolski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marek Koltun comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tupolski 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katurian Tupolski!
Katurian Tupolski decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.