PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kaspersky (ranked 1249 p4p, 436 weight class) and Kane Thoupos (ranked 187 p4p, 64 weight class). Thoupos comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 151 Rum - JID kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Nikolai Kaspersky had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kaspersky
vs
Thoupos

180 cm
21
188
6 - 1 - 0

177 cm
21
197
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
PWNAGE Elite - $25 Tees

Carnage

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Kaspersky!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kane Thoupos!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thoupos throws a body shot but no joy.
Kaspersky throws a lazy uppercut
and Thoupos counters with a stiff right hand.
Kane Thoupos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thoupos scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Thoupos misses with a straight right.
Kaspersky half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thoupos throws a hook but Kaspersky avoids it easily.
Thoupos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Thoupos misses its intended target.
Kaspersky feinted with a counter takedown.
Thoupos misses the shot to the body.
Kaspersky throwing a counter right hand but Thoupos manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos connects with a body shot that sends Kaspersky's belly button to the back.
Thoupos misses with a hook to the body
and Kaspersky counters with a stiff right hand.
Thoupos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaspersky was well out of range. Poor timing from Thoupos.
Kaspersky attempts a counter takedown but Thoupos avoids it well and moves away.
Thoupos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kaspersky appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Thoupos throws a body punch but Kaspersky moves out of range.
Thoupos lands a right hook to the body.
Thoupos misses with a hook. Kaspersky ducked under it nicely.
Thoupos misses with a hook.
Kaspersky feinted with a counter takedown.
Kaspersky looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky ducks under a wild hook from Thoupos.
Thoupos jabs Kaspersky to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Thoupos ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thoupos lands a slapping body shot.
Kaspersky misses with a left hand
and Thoupos counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Kaspersky misses with an uppercut.
Kaspersky walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thoupos tests Kaspersky's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kaspersky uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thoupos.
Kaspersky keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thoupos.
Kaspersky attempts a counter takedown but Thoupos avoids it well and moves away.
Kaspersky swinging wildly here.
Kaspersky takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky blocks a jab.
Thoupos misses with a looping right.
Thoupos scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kaspersky doesn't seem bothered though.
Kaspersky slips a jab from Thoupos.
Thoupos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kaspersky swings widly with a right hand
letting Thoupos counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by Kaspersky as he connects with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Thoupos dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kaspersky throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kaspersky misses with a body shot
and Thoupos counters with a stiff right hand.
Kane Thoupos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kaspersky moves out of range as Thoupos strikes.
Kaspersky appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Thoupos misses the shot to the body.
Kaspersky appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thoupos, as that shot connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Thoupos. Beautiful body shot.
Kaspersky swings widly with a right hand
and Thoupos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thoupos misses the jab.
Kaspersky drops down looking for a counter takedown but Thoupos sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos lands with a good body shot.
Thoupos lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kaspersky at a distance.
Thoupos throws out a loose jab but Kaspersky uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kaspersky tries to counter with a takedown but Thoupos is quick to defend against it.
A telegraphed right hand from Thoupos misses the target.
Kaspersky is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Kaspersky might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Thoupos lands a jab.
Thoupos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thoupos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kaspersky. Kaspersky circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thoupos let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kaspersky moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thoupos misses with a hook.
Kaspersky walks into a stiff left hand from Thoupos.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos cracks Kaspersky with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Thoupos lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Thoupos lands with an overhand left.
Thoupos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thoupos throws a shot from downtown. Kaspersky moves away and avoids it.
Kaspersky feinted with a counter takedown.

Kaspersky feints and as Thoupos raises his hands in defense, Kaspersky changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thoupos pulls Kaspersky in to control the position.
Kaspersky with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kaspersky wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
Kaspersky throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thoupos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos has his hands on Kaspersky's head, controlling the position.
Kaspersky trying to control but Thoupos is working from the bottom.
Kaspersky working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kaspersky controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kaspersky darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Thoupos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Nice sprawl there from Thoupos as Kaspersky shoots in.
Thoupos lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Thoupos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kaspersky to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaspersky wants to control from the top but Thoupos keeps moving.
Kaspersky has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thoupos is looking to stand back up but Kaspersky counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Thoupos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaspersky is trying to control. Thoupos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thoupos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kaspersky is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos tries to kick Kaspersky off but Kaspersky keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kaspersky takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kaspersky winds up and cracks Thoupos with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kaspersky is trying to control. Thoupos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thoupos won't allow Kaspersky to pass to mount.
Thoupos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kaspersky.
Kaspersky working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kaspersky thows a huge punch but Thoupos dodges it nicely.
Kaspersky seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thoupos wants to get back to full guard but Kaspersky has passed into side control.
Kaspersky in side control, throwing shots but Thoupos defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Thoupos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kaspersky wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaspersky misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Thoupos avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kaspersky.
Kaspersky grinds an elbow into Thoupos's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Thoupos to see if he's OK.
Kaspersky fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kaspersky looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Thoupos is avoiding damage well.
Kaspersky takes a little break here. Thoupos wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Thoupos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kaspersky wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kaspersky in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Thoupos defending against the ground and pound.
Thoupos dodges the ground and pound from Kaspersky.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kaspersky throwing strikes but Thoupos manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Thoupos wants to stand but Kaspersky is controlling his arm.
Nikolai Kaspersky overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You can see the frustration on Kaspersky's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thoupos wants to stand but Kaspersky is controlling his arm.
Kaspersky is trying to control Thoupos's posture but Thoupos avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kaspersky clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kaspersky falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thoupos counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaspersky shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thoupos as he avoids it easily.
Thoupos lands with a good body shot.
Thoupos scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thoupos is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Thoupos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kaspersky. Kaspersky circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaspersky misses with a body shot
and Thoupos counters with a nice uppercut.
Thoupos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kaspersky looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thoupos throws a shot from downtown. Kaspersky moves away and avoids it.
Thoupos scores with a jab.

Thoupos sends Kaspersky crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Thoupos is motioning to the referee to let Kaspersky up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Kaspersky is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos drops Kaspersky with a straight right hand, right on the button! Thoupos follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kane Thoupos! Kane Thoupos retains his middleweight title!
Kane Thoupos decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.