PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ansis Kaupens (ranked 284 p4p, 344 weight class) and Principo Adam (ranked 33 p4p, 46 weight class). Adam has chosen Dona Eis Requiem as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kaupens
vs
Adam

200 cm
22
190
9 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
188
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

PWNAGE

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ansis Kaupens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Principo Adam!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Kaupens misses its intended target.
Adam drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kaupens defends it well.

Adam darts in and clinches Kaupens up against the cage.
I was talking to Kaupens's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kaupens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Adam prevents Kaupens from breaking the clinch.
Kaupens misses with the head strike.

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

Adam changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kaupens looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kaupens tries to escape but Adam is in control.

Adam is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kaupens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Adam working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Adam wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kaupens, who protects the arm well.

Kaupens throws Adam to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Adam closes the distance and pushes Kaupens back into the cage.

Kaupens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ansis Kaupens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Adam lands a glancing blow to the side of Kaupens's head.
Adam uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kaupens.
Kaupens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Adam swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Adam's coach down at GWad's Playpen was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Adam's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Adam punishes Kaupens's body with a nice straight punch.
Kaupens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Adam is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kaupens with a body shot.
Kaupens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice defenses there by Kaupens.
Adam lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kaupens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Adam.
Adam connects with a body shot that sends Kaupens's belly button to the back.
Ansis Kaupens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kaupens throws a body punch but Adam moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens moves out of range as Adam strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Kaupens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Adam ducks under a wild hook from Kaupens.
Adam scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kaupens doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaupens misses with a body shot
and Adam counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jab from Kaupens.

Adam closes the distance and clinches.

Adam's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kaupens throws a body punch but Adam moves out of range.
Adam tries to counter by closing the distance.
Adam darts in trying to clinch
and Adam takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Adam has closed the distance and engaged Kaupens in a clinch.
Kaupens lands a right hand.

Kaupens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Adam connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kaupens momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Adam scores with a nice strike.
Adam throws a body punch but Kaupens moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Kaupens - just one landing.
Kaupens throws a big shot that misses.
Kaupens just misses with a punch to the body.
Adam takes one to the chin there.
Kaupens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kaupens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kaupens misses with a straight right.
Kaupens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Adam moves away.

Adam decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kaupens kicks Adam off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Adam wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice shot lands for Adam.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Adam throws a hook to the side of Kaupens's head but Kaupens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Adam moves away from the strike by Kaupens.
Adam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaupens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kaupens avoids the body shot from Adam.
Kaupens misses with a hook. Adam ducked under it nicely.
Kaupens lunges at Adam with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Adam's hand.
Kaupens throws the left hand but Adam avoids the punch easily.
A swing and a miss from Kaupens.
Adam uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaupens.
Kaupens sets himself, and Adam steps forward looking for the clinch! Kaupens avoids it this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Adam gets a takedown into half guard.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Principo Adam will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kaupens thows a left - swing and a miss!
Adam throws a looping overhand right but Kaupens ducks down to avoid it.
Adam slips a straight right by Kaupens.
Adam is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kaupens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kaupens is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Adam lands a lovely overhand right.
Kaupens lands a head shot.
Kaupens throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Adam counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Adam cracks a nice hook into Kaupens's ribs.
Adam slips under a jab from Kaupens.
Adam connects with a body shot.
A jab from Adam misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kaupens, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Adam lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kaupens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Adam slips under a jab from Kaupens.
Kaupens misses with a hook. Adam ducked under it nicely.
Adam staying out of range there.
Kaupens throws a poor cross that misses
and Adam counters with a nice uppercut.
Adam throws a hook but Kaupens blocks it.
Kaupens throws a body shot but no joy.
Adam drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kaupens defends it well.
Kaupens swinging wildly here.
Kaupens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Adam looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaupens is just out of range.
Kaupens throws a jab when Adam was well out of range.
Adam scores with a nice strike.
Kaupens avoids the body shot from Adam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adam misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Kaupens finds it's way through Adam's defenses.
Kaupens lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A big left from Kaupens misses.
Adam now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A jab from Kaupens finds it's way through Adam's defenses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaupens misses with a straight right.
Adam tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaupens was well out of range. Poor timing from Adam.
Adam dips to his left and cracks Kaupens with an uppercut!
Adam tries to clinch but Kaupens moves out of range.
Adam throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Adam misses with an uppercut
and Kaupens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Adam moves out of range as Kaupens strikes.

Adam decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Adam stops Kaupens from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adam thows a huge punch but Kaupens dodges it nicely.
Kaupens has hold of Adam's hands but Adam slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Kaupens has one foot on Adam's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Adam takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kaupens missing with a left hand there. Adam was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kaupens throws the left hand but Adam avoids the punch easily.
Kaupens ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kaupens throws the left hand but Adam avoids the punch easily.
Adam looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaupens is just out of range.
It looked like Kaupens wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Adam has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Adam there as he acknowledges the shot.
Adam lands a jab to the nose.
Adam is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kaupens.
Kaupens misses with a straight right.
Adam moves away from the strike by Kaupens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adam swings for the body but Kaupens moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Adam gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Adam shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Adam was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ansis Kaupens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Adam prevents Kaupens from escaping the position.
Adam has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kaupens throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Adam keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kaupens.
Kaupens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Adam connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kaupens's hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kaupens misses with an uppercut. Adam saw that one coming.
Adam uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaupens.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ansis Kaupens will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Adam staying out of range there.
Kaupens throws a hook but Adam blocks it.
Kaupens takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Adam ducks under a wild hook from Kaupens.
Adam displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kaupens throws out the jab.
Adam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kaupens.
Adam lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kaupens at a distance.
A big right from Kaupens misses.
Kaupens walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Adam goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaupens takes one to the side of the head.
Kaupens swings widly with a right hand

and Adam counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaupens is staying active underneath Adam, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaupens tries to kick Adam off but Adam keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adam is pressing down on Kaupens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kaupens is holding on for now.
Kaupens is looking to escape.
Adam trying to control the action but Kaupens is working from the bottom.
Kaupens is trying to stand up here but Adam is controlling him well.
Adam missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Adam seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kaupens tries to kick Adam off but Adam keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kaupens scores with a jab to the jaw.

Adam feints and as Kaupens raises his hands in defense, Adam changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kaupens is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Adam presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adam is working Kaupens over against the cage.
Kaupens can't break the clinch.
Kaupens wants to break free but Adam has control.
Kaupens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Adam misses with the head strike.
Adam fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Adam blocks an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Adam gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kaupens regains guard.
Adam sitting in guard here, content to control.
Adam prevents Kaupens from getting back to his feet.
Adam postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kaupens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Adam is controlling him.
Kaupens can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Adam controls the pace.
Kaupens keeping moving, preventing Adam from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet but Adam is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Kaupens uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Adam steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kaupens.
Kaupens throws the left hand but Adam avoids the punch easily.
Kaupens throws a body punch but Adam moves out of range.
Adam scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ansis Kaupens is winning the standup battle so far.
Adam has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kaupens ducks under a wild hook from Adam.
Adam tries to clinch but Kaupens moves out of range.
A jab from Kaupens misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Adam moves into range and clinches up with Kaupens.
Kaupens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kaupens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kaupens misses with a hook
letting Adam counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Adam is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kaupens's half guard.

Kaupens kicks Adam off and gets back to his feet.
Kaupens thows a left - swing and a miss!
And Adam tries to counter it with a takedown but Kaupens pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Adam drives through with a takedown into Kaupens's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Adam manages to pass to side control.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet.
Kaupens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Principo Adam.
I think Adam 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

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