PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ansis Kaupens (ranked 317 p4p, 634 weight class) and Iner Raledran (ranked 48 p4p, 96 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kaupens
vs
Raledran

200 cm
24
190
11 - 3 - 1

192 cm
24
185
12 - 5 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ansis Kaupens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Iner Raledran!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaupens throws a left and a right that both miss

and Raledran counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kaupens is trying to break the clinch but Raledran is controlling him.

Raledran gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kaupens tries to kick Raledran off but Raledran keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Raledran is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kaupens pushes Raledran off looking to stand but Raledran dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raledran tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kaupens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kaupens blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raledran.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raledran prevents Kaupens from standing back up.
Raledran tries to pass to full mount but Kaupens defends it.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet.
Raledran lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaupens has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Raledran is on him like a limpet, forcing Kaupens back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Raledran.

Kaupens breaks from the clinch.
Kaupens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raledran was well out of range. Poor timing from Kaupens.
Raledran drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kaupens defends it well.
Raledran scoring well with a low kick there.
Raledran misses with a straight right.
Raledran looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaupens is just out of range.
Raledran throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kaupens misses with a combination

and Raledran moves into the clinch.
Kaupens can't find room to land a body shot as Raledran controls the action.
Kaupens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kaupens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Raledran scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kaupens is trying to break the clinch but Raledran is controlling him.
Kaupens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Raledran is trying to pull guard but Kaupens has him pressed against the cage.

Kaupens breaks from the clinch.
Kaupens throws a jab but it's blocked by Raledran.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
A bone on bone clash there as Kaupens blocks the leg kick.
Raledran moves away from the strike by Kaupens.
Raledran misses with a looping right.
Raledran pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kaupens misses with a straight left.
Kaupens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kaupens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kaupens misses the jab.
Kaupens misses with a wild body shot.
Raledran uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kaupens.
Kaupens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A quick step to the side and Kaupens tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raledran keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raledran tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Raledran throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raledran moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kaupens looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Raledran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kaupens.

Raledran darts in and clinches Kaupens up against the cage.
Raledran misses with a body punch.
Raledran misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens scores with a hook to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kaupens creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kaupens blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Raledran.
Kaupens blocks a body shot from Raledran.
A short left from Raledran.
Raledran lands with a left to the head.

Kaupens breaks from the clinch.
Raledran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kaupens.
Raledran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kaupens.
Raledran feints the counter takedown.
Raledran slips under a jab.
Raledran throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Raledran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaupens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kaupens is looking for a counter combo.
Nice straight punches there by Raledran. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Raledran.
Kaupens throws a shot from downtown. Raledran moves away and avoids it.
Kaupens takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Raledran throws a body punch but Kaupens moves out of range.
Raledran fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raledran looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Raledran misses with a looping right.
Kaupens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Kaupens was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Raledran.
Kaupens throws an overhand right that lands on Raledran's shoulder, as Raledran tries to avoid the shot.
Raledran throws a leg kick that misses.
A nice leg kick from Raledran, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kaupens missing with a left hand there. Raledran was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab from Kaupens.
Raledran moves in looking to clinch but Kaupens pushes him off.
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.
Raledran will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kaupens is looking for a counter combo.
Kaupens throws a big shot that misses.
Raledran is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Raledran is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raledran looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kaupens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Raledran is looking to score with low kicks.

Raledran has managed to clinch.
Kaupens is trying to force a seperation but Raledran has the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Good leg kick by Raledran.
Kaupens takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kaupens misses with a looping right.
Ansis Kaupens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaupens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raledran moves away.
Kaupens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raledran.
Kaupens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kaupens lands a nice looking body shot.
Raledran jabs Kaupens to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kaupens misses with a double jab.
Raledran throws a low kick, looking for Kaupens's leg but Kaupens calmly moves out of range.
Raledran keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raledran wants to counter the offense by Kaupens and move into the clinch position.
Kaupens misses with an uppercut.
Kaupens checks a low kick from Raledran.
Kaupens throws a big counter combination but Raledran scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Raledran misses with a low kick.
Raledran throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kaupens counters with a nice uppercut.
Raledran throws a looping overhand right but Kaupens ducks down to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kaupens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raledran thumps Kaupens with a low kick.
Raledran throws a front kick aimed at Kaupens's knee but Kaupens avoids it well.
Raledran stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Raledran cracks Kaupens with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kaupens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raledran is looking to chop away at Kaupens's legs.
Raledran avoids a punch combination nicely.
Raledran lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kaupens checks a leg kick.
Raledran defending well as Kaupens loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kaupens. Raledran does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raledran throws a leg kick which misses Kaupens's front leg but catches the back leg as Kaupens tries to avoid it.
Kaupens's corner calls for a 1-2. Kaupens obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Raledran throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Raledran.
Some wild striking there from Raledran.
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!
Kaupens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raledran.
Kaupens throws a body punch but Raledran moves out of range.
Kaupens moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Raledran.
Raledran throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kaupens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Raledran scoring well with a low kick there.
Ansis Kaupens is winning the standup battle so far.
Good exchange - Raledran coming out on top.
Raledran throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kaupens.
Raledran fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kaupens misses with a hook. Raledran ducked under it nicely.
Raledran throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Kaupens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kaupens throws a series of strikes that have Raledran backpedaling.
Kaupens scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kaupens uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Raledran lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Raledran finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kaupens misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kaupens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fighters circling - Raledran throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Raledran ducks under a wild hook from Kaupens.
Raledran gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kaupens moves away from the strike by Raledran.
Kaupens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raledran takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kaupens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Raledran.
Kaupens swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kaupens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raledran throws a jab but it's blocked by Kaupens.
Raledran with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raledran scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raledran keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kaupens misses with an uppercut. Raledran saw that one coming.
Kaupens ducks under a wild hook from Raledran.
Raledran tries to clinch but Kaupens moves out of range.
Kaupens throws a series of punches but Raledran avoids them all with ease.
Raledran wants to counter with a clinch but Kaupens pushes him away.
Kaupens moves away from the strike by Raledran.
Raledran moves away from the strike by Kaupens.
Raledran connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kaupens is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Raledran takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kaupens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Raledran throws a nice outside leg kick.
Raledran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Raledran gets a clinch.
Kaupens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Raledran has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kaupens seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Raledran can turn it around.
Raledran lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kaupens backwards.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

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.
Kaupens looks to land a right hand but Raledran moved out of range.
Raledran uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaupens.
Kaupens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Raledran.
Raledran tries to clinch but Kaupens moves out of range.
Raledran throws a nice looking combination but Kaupens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It looked like Kaupens wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Raledran throws out a powerful jab.
Kaupens lands a nice looking body shot.
Raledran walks into a straight right hand from Kaupens.
Kaupens lands a nice hook to Raledran's body. Raledran takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kaupens throws a shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Raledran 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 Kaupens has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kaupens and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Raledran misses the shot to the body.
Kaupens moves out of range of the leg kick from Raledran.
A quick step to the side and Kaupens tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
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!
Kaupens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Raledran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaupens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raledran moves away from the strike by Kaupens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Raledran. That snapped Kaupens's head back.
Kaupens throws a nice looking combination but Raledran bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Raledran looks to land a right hand but Kaupens moved out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Raledran.
Raledran uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaupens.
Raledran swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Raledran has taken the fight to the clinch.
Raledran wants a takedown but no success here.
Raledran drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kaupens pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kaupens misses with a straight right.
Raledran wants to counter the offense by Kaupens and move into the clinch position.
Kaupens uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Raledran has time to react.
Kaupens just misses with a punch to the body.
Kaupens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice shot lands for Kaupens.
Raledran throws a leg kick but Kaupens sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kaupens scores with a nice right hand.
Raledran scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raledran ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Raledran looks to land a right hand but Kaupens moved out of range.
Raledran tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaupens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kaupens is looking to counter punch.
Raledran's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kaupens connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Raledran scrambles back to his feet.
Raledran paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kaupens misses with a series of wild punches.
Raledran swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A combination from Kaupens does no damage.
Raledran drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kaupens defends it well.
Kaupens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raledran tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kaupens keeps the fight on the outside.
Kaupens misses the jab.
Kaupens checks a low kick from Raledran.
Kaupens throws an overhand right that lands on Raledran's shoulder, as Raledran tries to avoid the shot.
Raledran changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kaupens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kaupens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raledran looks to throw the jab but Kaupens is out of range.
Kaupens misses with a two punch combination.
Raledran is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kaupens takes a swing at Raledran's ribcage but misses.
Raledran scores with a sloppy right hand. Kaupens should have avoided that one.
Raledran fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kaupens misses with the combination.
Kaupens misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Kaupens. Beautiful body shot.
A slow jab from Raledran misses its intended target.
Kaupens looks to land a right hand but Raledran moved out of range.
Kaupens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raledran.
Kaupens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raledran was well out of range. Poor timing from Kaupens.
Kaupens cracks Raledran with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kaupens moves away from the strike by Raledran.
A little feinted left hand from Kaupens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Raledran has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Raledran misses with a looping right.
Kaupens misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raledran.
Kaupens scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raledran tries to clinch there but Kaupens circles away.
Raledran moves out of range of the strikes.
Raledran is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kaupens scores with a crisp jab that stopped Raledran in his tracks.
Kaupens throws a series of punches but Raledran avoids them all with ease.
Raledran staying out of range there.
Raledran is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
An inside leg kick from Raledran misses.
Raledran attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kaupens swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Raledran pushes Kaupens up against the cage in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Kaupens.
Kaupens tries to throw a body punch but Raledran avoids it by throwing Kaupens back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Kaupens - that landed with a thud.
Kaupens doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Kaupens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raledran with a nice calf kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ansis Kaupens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaupens 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ansis Kaupens!
An out of breath Ansis Kaupens thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.