PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Katurian Tupolski (ranked 1365 p4p, 165 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 1419 p4p, 174 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tupolski might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Mobb Deep - Shook Ones part II. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Tupolski
vs
Rigano

175 cm
42
182 lbs
38 - 20 - 3

188 cm
35
184 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
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 38 - 20 - 3, fighting out of London, Katurian Tupolski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tupolski misses with a head kick.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tupolski as he jumps to the side.
Rigano avoids a kick to the body.
Rigano is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Tupolski tries to sprawl but Rigano drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Rigano there.
Rigano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tupolski's head.
Tupolski has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Rigano is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rigano trying to control from Tupolski's half guard. Tupolski has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Tupolski keeping moving, preventing Rigano from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tupolski wants to stand up but Rigano is controlling him.
Rigano throwing strikes from guard but Tupolski blocks nicely.
Rigano advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tupolski is defending against the submission attempts here by Rigano.
Rigano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rigano sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tupolski is trying to stand back up but Rigano is controlling him
Tupolski is refusing to be controlled, as Rigano sits in half guard.
Tupolski tries to kick Rigano off but Rigano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski misses the shot to the body.

Rigano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tupolski keeping moving, preventing Rigano from controlling successfully.
Tupolski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rigano.
Rigano trying to control but Tupolski is working from the bottom.
Rigano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tupolski keeping full guard, as Rigano tries to pass.
Tupolski wants to stand up but Rigano is controlling him.
Rigano throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano is looking to work some ground and pound but Tupolski has wrist control.
Tupolski keeping moving, preventing Rigano from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rigano shoots for a double leg takedown but Tupolski sprawls well. He's pushed Rigano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rigano fails with a takedown attempt.
Katurian Tupolski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
Rigano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tupolski defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A jab from Tupolski does it's job there.
Nice takedown defense from Tupolski. No joy for Rigano on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Rigano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rigano fails with a takedown attempt.
Rigano fails to land the takedown.
Tupolski lands with a nice body punch.
Tupolski fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rigano.
Tupolski throws a sloppy head kick and Rigano moves out of range easily.
Katurian Tupolski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rigano throws a body kick that misses.
Rigano gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tupolski counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Katurian Tupolski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rigano shoots for a double leg takedown but Tupolski sprawls well. He's pushed Rigano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tupolski scores with a shot to the body.
Tupolski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rigano raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Tupolski is looking to slow Rigano down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupolski leaves Rigano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tupolski throws a body punch but Rigano moves out of range.
Tupolski is looking to wear down Rigano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tupolski.
Rigano blocks a jab.
Tupolski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rigano was well out of range. Poor timing from Tupolski.
Tupolski throws a big shot that misses.
Katurian Tupolski is winning the standup battle so far.
Tupolski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rigano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rigano takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tupolski wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown but Tupolski shows good takedown defense.
Tupolski lands a nice looking body shot.
Tupolski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rigano can do to turn this around?
Tupolski throws a leg kick which misses Rigano's front leg but catches the back leg as Rigano tries to avoid it.
Tupolski misses with a kick to the body.
Rigano shoots in but Tupolski avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rigano's sensitive parts.
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!
Tupolski lands with a thumping leg kick.

Tupolski has closed the distance and engaged Rigano in a clinch.
Tupolski tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Rigano is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tupolski pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rigano wants to break free but Tupolski has control.
Tupolski prevents the takedown attempt.
Tupolski is pressed up against the cage. Rigano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tupolski down to the mat. Tupolski avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tupolski.
Tupolski swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Rigano to counter with a crisp jab.
Tupolski lands a nice shot to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Rigano checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Tupolski moves into range and clinches up with Rigano.
Rigano wants to take the fight to the mat but Tupolski manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tupolski lands an elbow inside that Rigano shrugs off.
Tupolski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rigano.
Rigano looking for a takedown.
Tupolski working aggressively here.
Tupolski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
Rigano wants a takedown but no success here.
Tupolski trying to land knees to the body.
Tupolski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Tupolski missing with knees to the body.
Tupolski lands a hook that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
Tupolski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rigano is defending well for now.
Rigano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tupolski pushes Rigano back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rigano works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rigano not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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 Rigano manages to pass to side control.
Rigano wants to control but Tupolski is keeping him busy.

Rigano wants to work for an arm triangle but Tupolski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rigano trying to control from half guard but Tupolski is working away.
Cliff Rigano has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tupolski manages to escape and get back to his feet!
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tupolski misses with a looping left.
Rigano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Tupolski moves into the clinch.
Rigano lands with a left to the head.
Rigano has Tupolski pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tupolski manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tupolski misses with a knee to the head.
Tupolski missing with knees to the body.
Rigano looking for a takedown.
Tupolski lands a shoulder strike.

Rigano gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tupolski regains guard.
Tupolski wants to stand up but Rigano is controlling him.

Tupolski has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rigano has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tupolski gets underhooks to prevent Rigano's takedown attempt.
Katurian Tupolski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
Tupolski tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rigano gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tupolski regains guard.
Rigano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tupolski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tupolski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rigano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rigano pushing down on Tupolski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rigano trying to mount his opponent but Tupolski defends it.
Rigano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tupolski is trying to stand.
Rigano is trying to control the action in half guard but Tupolski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rigano throwing shots but Tupolski is blocking nicely.
Rigano working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tupolski's thigh. Tupolski counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigano wants to pass the guard but Tupolski is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tupolski is looking to slow Rigano down with leg kicks.
Tupolski leaves Rigano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Tupolski as Rigano shoots in.
Tupolski lands a nice looking body shot.
Tupolski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rigano lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rigano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rigano throws a hook but Tupolski avoids it easily.
Tupolski lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tupolski lands a jab to the nose.
Rigano looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tupolski is fending him off so far but Rigano persists. Nope, Tupolski circles away and we're back to standing.
Rigano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rigano on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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!
Tupolski throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rigano takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tupolski connects with a body shot.
Tupolski fails with an attempt to clinch.
It seemed like Rigano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rigano's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tupolski wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katurian Tupolski showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katurian Tupolski!
After the fight, Katurian Tupolski was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.