PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rigel Ko Nachi (ranked 461 p4p, 315 weight class) and Serafim Lupei (ranked 56 p4p, 40 weight class). Ko Nachi comes to the cage accompanied by Echoing Thunder. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ko Nachi
vs
Lupei

183 cm
28
185
12 - 9 - 0

184 cm
33
191
22 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rigel Ko Nachi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Serafim Lupei!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko Nachi lands with a nice body punch.
Lupei ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ko Nachi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ko Nachi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lupei throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lupei uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ko Nachi.
Lupei misses with an uppercut.
Ko Nachi has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Lupei tries to clinch up but Ko Nachi circles away and keeps his distance.
Ko Nachi loads up on a big right hand but Lupei slips the punch.
Lupei looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lupei misses with a series of wild punches.
Ko Nachi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lupei tries a head kick but it misses.
Lupei throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ko Nachi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lupei looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A low kick lands for Lupei.
Ko Nachi throws a body punch but Lupei moves out of range.
Ko Nachi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ko Nachi looks to score with a jab to the body but Lupei is just out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Lupei.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lupei defending well as Ko Nachi loads up on a big left hand.
Ko Nachi misses with the body kick
and Lupei counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupei throws a front kick aimed at Ko Nachi's knee but Ko Nachi avoids it well.
Lupei takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ko Nachi tries to work over Lupei's front leg with a kick but Lupei checks it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ko Nachi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ko Nachi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lupei sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lupei fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Lupei closes the distance and pushes Ko Nachi back into the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lupei.
Lupei working aggressively here.
Ko Nachi tries to throw a body punch but Lupei avoids it by throwing Ko Nachi back against the cage.
Lupei misses with a body punch.
Ko Nachi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ko Nachi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lupei tries a body shot but Ko Nachi blocks it.
Ko Nachi lands punches inside but they're not really causing 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 is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi struggles to land a body shot inside as Lupei controls his hands.
Lupei blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lupei lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ko Nachi or not.
Ko Nachi tries to work over Lupei's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ko Nachi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ko Nachi digs a right hand underneath Lupei's ribcage. Lupei let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lupei scores with a shoulder strike.
Lupei lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ko Nachi backwards.
Ko Nachi misses with a punch to the body.
Ko Nachi has a couple of punches blocked by Lupei.

Lupei decides to pull guard.

Lupei has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ko Nachi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lupei looking for a sweep. Not yet Lupei, not yet.
Ko Nachi advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ko Nachi controlling from mount.
Ko Nachi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi continues to stall.

Ko Nachi is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Lupei throws a right hand that Ko Nachi ducks under and follows up with a left that Ko Nachi also avoids with ease.
Ko Nachi tried to counter with a leg kick but Lupei avoided it.
Ko Nachi looks to throw the jab but Lupei is out of range.
Serafim Lupei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ko Nachi throws the kick towards the body but Lupei avoids it.
Ko Nachi misses with a low kick.
Lupei unleashes a big counter combination but Ko Nachi bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lupei scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lupei takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lupei swings for the body but Ko Nachi moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rigel Ko Nachi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ko Nachi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lupei pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Ko Nachi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ko Nachi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lupei throws out the jab.
And Ko Nachi counters with a quick kick to the body but Lupei blocks it.
Lupei throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Ko Nachi.
Lupei swinging wildly here.
Lupei walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lupei pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ko Nachi is out of range and Lupei settles back down.
Ko Nachi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ko Nachi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lupei.
Lupei throws a sloppy head kick and Ko Nachi moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ko Nachi lands a jab.
Lupei throws a hook but Ko Nachi avoids it easily.
Ko Nachi looks to land a body kick but Lupei moved away.
Ko Nachi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A left lands for Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lupei has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lupei.
Lupei throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lupei misses with a looping right.
Lupei uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ko Nachi swings for the body but Lupei moves out of range.
Ko Nachi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lupei.
Lupei misses with a body shot.
Ko Nachi misses with a kick to the body.
Ko Nachi tries a low kick but Lupei avoids it.
Ko Nachi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ko Nachi catches Lupei with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A jab from Ko Nachi does it's job there.
Ko Nachi looks to land a body kick but Lupei moved away.
Lupei fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ko Nachi is out of range.
Ko Nachi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lupei moves away.
Lupei swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lupei throws a hook to the side of Ko Nachi's head but Ko Nachi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rigel Ko Nachi is winning the standup battle so far.
A swing and a miss from Lupei.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupei scores with a jab.
Ko Nachi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lupei was well out of range. Poor timing from Ko Nachi.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi throws a body kick that misses.
Lupei fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ko Nachi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ko Nachi lands an overhand right.
Ko Nachi connects with a nice looking jab.
Ko Nachi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lupei.
Lupei throws a solid leg kick but Ko Nachi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lupei.
Lupei tried to score with a low kick but Ko Nachi checks it.
Lupei ducks under a wild hook from Ko Nachi.
Lupei thuds a left hand into Ko Nachi's body.
Ko Nachi misses the shot to the body.
Lupei feints a counter leg kick.
Ko Nachi misses with a body shot.
Lupei throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lupei jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lupei throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ko Nachi misses with a left hand
enabling Lupei to counter with a crisp jab.
Ko Nachi lands a nice looking body shot.
Lupei tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Lupei misses the target.
Ko Nachi checks a low kick from Lupei.
Good exchange - Ko Nachi coming out on top.
Ko Nachi looks for the body kick but Lupei saw that one coming.
Ko Nachi ducks under a wild hook from Lupei.
Crunch! Ko Nachi slams his shin into Lupei's torso.
Ko Nachi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lupei fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ko Nachi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lupei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ko Nachi manages to avoid it.
Ko Nachi lands with a right hand.
Lupei throws a leg kick which misses Ko Nachi's front leg but catches the back leg as Ko Nachi tries to avoid it.
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 checks a low kick from Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lupei looks to throw the jab but Ko Nachi is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lupei moves out of range of the body kick from Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lupei attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
As Lupei backs away, Ko Nachi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Good work by Ko Nachi as he checks the leg kick.
Ko Nachi connects with a crisp jab.
Lupei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lupei connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ko Nachi throws a solid leg kick but Lupei takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lupei throws the left hand but Ko Nachi avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Ko Nachi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ko Nachi misses with a body shot
and Lupei counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Lupei has Ko Nachi up against the cage in a clinch.
Lupei cracks Ko Nachi with a nice body shot.
Lupei lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Serafim Lupei will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. And we move into the final round!

Ko Nachi jabs Lupei right on the nose. Lupei blinks but takes it well.
Lupei defending well as Ko Nachi loads up on a big left hand.
A nice leg kick from Ko Nachi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lupei gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ko Nachi.
Lupei throws a nice inside leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lupei lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ko Nachi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ko Nachi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ko Nachi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ko Nachi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Lupei just manages to avoid it.
Ko Nachi throws a body punch but Lupei moves out of range.
Lupei misses with a hook. Ko Nachi ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ko Nachi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lupei tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ko Nachi moves out of range as Lupei strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ko Nachi looks to throw the jab but Lupei is out of range.
Lupei lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Ko Nachi. That snapped Lupei's head back.
Lupei looks to land a left hand but Ko Nachi moved out of range nicely.
Ko Nachi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ko Nachi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lupei throws out a counter right but Ko Nachi avoids it with no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ko Nachi throws a jab but it's blocked by Lupei.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupei tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ko Nachi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lupei keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lupei looks to land a left hand but Ko Nachi moved out of range nicely.
Ko Nachi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Lupei manages to circle out of the way.
Ko Nachi misses with a hook. Lupei ducked under it nicely.
Lupei takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ko Nachi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lupei lands with an uppercut that bounces Ko Nachi off the cage and back into range.
Ko Nachi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lupei fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ko Nachi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ko Nachi misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Ko Nachi misses.
Lupei walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ko Nachi.
Lupei looks for the body kick but Ko Nachi saw that one coming.
Ko Nachi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ko Nachi misses with a body kick.
Lupei looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ko Nachi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ko Nachi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lupei looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ko Nachi checks a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lupei checks a leg kick.

Lupei darts in and clinches Ko Nachi up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lupei.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lupei.
Ko Nachi misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Ko Nachi fails to land.
Ko Nachi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lupei backwards.

Lupei escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jab, jab by Ko Nachi - just one landing.
Ko Nachi throws a jab but it's blocked by Lupei.
Lupei throws a lazy right hand but Ko Nachi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ko Nachi throws a hook but Lupei blocks it.
Lupei throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lupei takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Decent striking displayed by Lupei there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei wants to clinch up but Ko Nachi keeps it at a distance.
Ko Nachi misses with a few strikes there.
Ko Nachi misses with a body kick.
Ko Nachi wants to land a leg kick but Lupei is out of range.
Ko Nachi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lupei at a distance.
Lupei uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ko Nachi.
Lupei looks to throw the jab but Ko Nachi is out of range.
Ko Nachi misses with an uppercut.

Lupei clinches up against the cage.
Ko Nachi misses with a punch on the inside.
Lupei blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lupei blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lupei lands a left hand.
Lupei tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lupei tries to throw a body punch but Ko Nachi avoids it by throwing Lupei back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ko Nachi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko Nachi misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ko Nachi.
Lupei lands a nice uppercut.
Lupei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ko Nachi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ko Nachi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ko Nachi misses with some punches.
Ko Nachi scores with a shot to the side of Lupei's head.
Serafim Lupei seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ko Nachi tries to work over Lupei's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lupei throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ko Nachis head.
Nice body punch from Lupei - that landed with a thud.
Ko Nachi has a couple of punches blocked by Lupei.
Ko Nachi can't find room to land a body shot as Lupei controls the action.
Lupei scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Ko Nachi.
Ko Nachi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ko Nachi lands with a short shot to the head.
Lupei controlling the action here for a moment.
Lupei prevents a body shot from Ko Nachi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rigel Ko Nachi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ko Nachi 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rigel Ko Nachi!
Rigel Ko Nachi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.