PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Hibbert (ranked 754 p4p, 93 weight class) and Serafim Lupei (ranked 738 p4p, 90 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hibbert
vs
Lupei

172 cm
26
160 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

184 cm
24
167 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Hibbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Serafim Lupei!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hibbert jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lupei unleashes a big counter combination but Hibbert bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hibbert scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lupei in his tracks.
Hibbert throws a hook but Lupei blocks it.
Hibbert lands with an overhand left.
Hibbert misses with a looping right.
Hibbert misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hibbert backing away here, and Lupei unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hibbert takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hibbert rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lupei moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hibbert digs a good body shot into Lupei's ribs.
Lupei fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hibbert is out of range.
Hibbert wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Lupei takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hibbert swinging wildly here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hibbert shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lupei pinned against the cage. Lupei gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hibbert throws a leg kick but Lupei moved away.
Hibbert takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hibbert misses the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lupei! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hibbert looks to throw the jab but Lupei is out of range.
Hibbert lands with a hook. Lupei tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hibbert keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lupei.
Lupei doesn't manage to clinch there - Hibbert circles away.
Lupei tries to clinch up.
Lupei tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hibbert paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hibbert throws a shot from downtown. Lupei moves away and avoids it.
Lupei connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lupei jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hibbert throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lupei.
Lupei is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hibbert with a body shot.
Lupei moves out of range of the strikes.
Hibbert lands a right hook to the body.
Hibbert turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hibbert.
Lupei connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hibbert tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lupei swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hibbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lupei getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lupei, as that shot connected.
Hibbert misses with a takedown
enabling Lupei to counter with a crisp jab.
Lupei lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lupei fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hibbert.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lupei looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lupei lands a really nice looking cross but Hibbert seems unphased.
Hibbert dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lupei.

Hibbert fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lupei sprawls well initially but Hibbert persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Lupei is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hibbert pulls his head out easily.

Lupei looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lupei gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei wants to sweep but no luck.
Hibbert sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lupei's guard.
Hibbert moves nicely into side control.

Hibbert is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lupei knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hibbert trying to control the action but Lupei is working from the bottom.
Lupei is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hibbert's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lupei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hibbert wants to pass to mount but Lupei is defending the position.
Hibbert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lupei keeps working.
Hibbert looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lupei keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hibbert seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lupei is defending against the submission attempts here by Hibbert.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Hibbert dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lupei swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lupei fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lupei scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lupei takes one on the button.
Lupei misses with a hook.
No luck for Hibbert with that takedown attempt.
Tony Hibbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hibbert misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hibbert keeps the fight on the outside.

Hibbert has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lupei.
Good body shot from Hibbert.
Hibbert misses with a body punch.
Lupei tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hibbert's elbow.
Lupei cracks Hibbert with a nice body shot.
Lupei misses with the head strike.
Lupei lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lupei working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hibbert fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lupei - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hibbert has a couple of punches blocked by Lupei.
Hibbert swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hibbert lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hibbert stalling the fight.
Hibbert prevents a body shot from Lupei.
Lupei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hibbert throws a head punch that misses.
Lupei pushes Hibbert back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lupei throws a head punch that misses.
Hibbert misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lupei misses with a punch to the body.
Lupei doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Lupei.
Lupei prevents a body shot from Hibbert.
Lupei lands with a right to the head.
Hibbert misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hibbert misses with some punches.
Lupei scores with a shot to the side of Hibbert's head.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert shoots in looking for a takedown but Lupei manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hibbert's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lupei slips a jab from Hibbert.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lupei throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hibbert swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hibbert has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lupei.
A big left from Hibbert misses.

Lupei rushes Hibbert and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hibbert's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lupei prevents a body shot from Hibbert.
Hibbert lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lupei backwards.
Lupei blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lupei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hibbert tries to stall but Lupei uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lupei has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hibbert.
Lupei swings wildly with an uppercut but Hibbert uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hibbert misses with the head strike.
Hibbert stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hibbert pushes Lupei back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Lupei.
Lupei pushes Hibbert back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lupei lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hibbert backwards.
Hibbert softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lupei lands a right hand.
Lupei lands with a light punch inside.
A short body shot lands from Lupei as the two fighters clinch.
Lupei lands a nice uppercut.
Hibbert lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hibbert gets through Lupei's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Lupei.
Lupei tries to work over Hibbert's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lupei tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lupei.
Lupei is working Hibbert over against the cage.
Hibbert stalling against the cage.
Lupei struggles to land a body shot inside as Hibbert controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A right hook to the body lands for Lupei.
Lupei gets through Hibbert's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lupei misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lupei has a couple of punches blocked by Hibbert.
Hibbert lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lupei.
Lupei blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hibbert fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hibbert working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lupei.
Lupei tries a body shot but Hibbert blocks it.
Lupei fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hibbert swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hibbert working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lupei lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hibbert can't find room to land a body shot as Lupei controls the action.
A shot in the inside from Lupei.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lupei creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hibbert taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serafim Lupei showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hibbert just misses with a punch to the body.
Lupei is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hibbert tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lupei paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lupei looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lupei uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hibbert.
A little jabbing left from Lupei on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lupei lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hibbert misses with an uppercut
and Lupei makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hibbert lands a leg kick that knocks Lupei off balance momentarily.
Lupei scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hibbert on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lupei moves out of range of the strikes.
And Lupei responds with a good body kick, but Hibbert manages to step out the way in time.
Hibbert scores with a one two! Lupei had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lupei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lupei scoring well with a low kick there.
A punch combination from Hibbert misses.
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!
Lupei scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lupei wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hibbert with a poor takedown
and Lupei counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hibbert fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lupei manages to avoid it.
Lupei misses with a body shot.
Lupei feints and then cracks Hibbert's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hibbert down.
Lupei throws a jab but it's blocked by Hibbert.
Nice straight punches there by Lupei. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lupei.
Serafim Lupei seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lupei leaves Hibbert with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lupei looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hibbert misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lupei.
Hibbert dives in for a single leg takedown but Lupei sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hibbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lupei. Hibbert does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hibbert looks to score with a jab to the body but Lupei is just out of range.
Lupei thinks about the counter body kick.
Lupei is looking to clinch but Hibbert is avoiding it.
Hibbert seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lupei avoids the body shot from Hibbert.

Hibbert scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hibbert is looking to take a break and control but Lupei is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hibbert tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hibbert tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hibbert has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lupei is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lupei keeps working.
Lupei sneaks back into half guard.
Hibbert is thwarting Lupei's attempts to control the position.

Hibbert is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lupei moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hibbert stopping the sweep attempt from Lupei.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hibbert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hibbert avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hibbert trying to control but Lupei is working from the bottom.
Lupei can't keep his opponent in guard - Hibbert advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lupei wants to get back to full guard.
Lupei trying to get back to full guard but Hibbert takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hibbert landing strikes from the mount.
Lupei sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Serafim Lupei.
I think Lupei 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tony Hibbert!