PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Luciano (ranked 1385 p4p, 911 weight class) and Ansis Kaupens (ranked 195 p4p, 132 weight class). Luciano kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is SHORT PEOPLE. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Luciano
vs
Kaupens

187 cm
30
187
17 - 8 - 3

200 cm
30
190
20 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 17 - 8 - 3, fighting out of New York, Ray Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ansis Kaupens!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaupens takes a swing at Luciano's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Luciano was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kaupens.
Luciano tries a head kick but it misses.
Kaupens only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Luciano takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kaupens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luciano.
Kaupens misses with a body punch
and Luciano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fighters circling - Luciano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kaupens is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Luciano throws a big shot that misses.
Kaupens throws a lazy right hand but Luciano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Luciano's corner calls for a 1-2. Luciano obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Luciano ducks under a wild hook from Kaupens.
Kaupens keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kaupens throws a leg kick which misses Luciano's front leg but catches the back leg as Luciano tries to avoid it.
Luciano throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kaupens on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luciano missing with a left hand there. Kaupens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ansis Kaupens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaupens tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A clash of legs there as Kaupens blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nice body punch from Luciano.
Kaupens keeps Luciano at a distance using the push kick.
Kaupens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Luciano counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Luciano.
Luciano forces his way into half guard.
Kaupens pushes Luciano off looking to stand but Luciano dives back in and keeps control.
Luciano controlling the pace.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet.

Kaupens is defending against the submission attempts here by Luciano.
Kaupens is trying to stand up here but Luciano is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaupens kicks off Luciano and gets to his feet.
Kaupens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luciano fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kaupens just manages 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!
A head kick by Kaupens misses
enabling Luciano to counter with a crisp jab.
Kaupens jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Luciano defending well as Kaupens loads up on a big left hand.
Luciano works Kaupens's body with a nice hook.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick and Luciano moves out of range easily.
Luciano lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kaupens looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kaupens misses with a hook.
Luciano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kaupens.
Luciano throwing a counter right hand but Kaupens manages to avoid it.
Luciano feints and then cracks Kaupens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kaupens down.
Kaupens misses with a low kick.
Kaupens moves in looking to clinch but Luciano pushes him off.
Luciano sizes up Kaupens with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kaupens throws a hook to the side of Luciano's head but Luciano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ansis Kaupens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kaupens swings away with a body shot that misses
and Luciano counters with a straight right hand.
Luciano avoids the body shot from Kaupens.

Kaupens pushes Luciano up against the cage in a clinch.
Luciano tries to work over Kaupens's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Luciano scores with a hook to the body.
Come on Luciano - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Luciano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kaupens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kaupens takes a shot right to the bread basket.
An inside leg kick lands from Kaupens.
Luciano throws out a leg kick but Kaupens moves out of range and Luciano only half commits.
We've been told by Luciano's head coaches at Ice Cream Parlour that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Luciano catches Kaupens with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kaupens misses the shot to the body.
Luciano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Luciano drives through and clinches with Kaupens against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano has Kaupens pressed against the cage, preventing Kaupens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kaupens manages to break the clinch.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kaupens sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kaupens misses with a left hand

and Luciano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kaupens's guard.

Kaupens pushes Luciano off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Luciano.
Luciano has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kaupens.
Kaupens moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luciano misses with an uppercut. Kaupens saw that one coming.

Kaupens rushes Luciano and presses him up against the cage.
Kaupens digs a right hand into Luciano's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Luciano's gas tank.

Luciano manages to break the clinch.
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 Ray Luciano will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Luciano tries to clinch up.
Kaupens's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Luciano connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kaupens scrambles back to his feet.
Kaupens closes the distance but Luciano moves to the side
and Kaupens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kaupens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luciano.
Luciano takes a kick to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Kaupens.
Luciano is looking to counter the offense by Kaupens and move into the clinch.
Ray Luciano is winning the standup battle so far.
Luciano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kaupens. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaupens scores with a hook to the body. Luciano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kaupens throws a head kick but Luciano moves out of range.
Kaupens misses with a hook.
Kaupens throws a low kick but Luciano avoids it.
The fighters circling - Luciano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano swings for the body but Kaupens moves out of range.
Kaupens follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kaupens throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luciano counters with a nice body shot.
Luciano looks to land a right hand but Kaupens moved out of range.
Kaupens scores with a push kick.
Kaupens throws a lazy head kick

and Luciano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Luciano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaupens is keeping the position for now.
Luciano is pushing down on Kaupens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kaupens is fighting to maintain full guard but Luciano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kaupens is trying to stand up here but Luciano is controlling him well.

Luciano wants to work for an arm triangle but Kaupens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Luciano is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kaupens does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kaupens looks like he's trying to stand up.
Luciano trying to pass the guard but Kaupens defending well.
Kaupens is trying to stand back up but Luciano is controlling him
Luciano controlling the action here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kaupens pushes Luciano off looking to stand but Luciano dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kaupens getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano just misses with a punch to the body.
Kaupens throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A big left from Luciano misses.
Luciano feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kaupenss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kaupens goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Luciano ducks under a wild hook from Kaupens.
Luciano swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaupens.
Kaupens misses with a body shot.
Luciano is looking to counter punch.

Kaupens has taken the fight to the clinch.
Luciano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Luciano blocks a body shot from Kaupens.
Kaupens can't find room to land a body shot as Luciano controls the action.
A right hook to the body lands for Luciano.
Kaupens tries to work over Luciano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Luciano - that landed with a thud.
Luciano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Luciano turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Luciano manages to end up in side control.
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 trying to get back to his feet.
Luciano tries to move to mount but Kaupens blocks the move with his legs.
Luciano taking a breather here.
Kaupens pushes Luciano away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Luciano gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Luciano tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kaupens is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
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 Ray Luciano will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kaupens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Luciano attempts a counter takedown but Kaupens avoids it well and moves away.
Luciano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Luciano 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.
Luciano throws out a leg kick but Kaupens moves out of range and Luciano only half commits.
Kaupens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luciano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Luciano tried to counter with a leg kick but Kaupens avoided it.
Both fighters circling a little - Kaupens finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Kaupens.
Kaupens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kaupens throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Luciano.
Kaupens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luciano misses with a straight right.
Luciano takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kaupens throws a nice inside leg kick.
Luciano throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano avoids the body shot from Kaupens.
Luciano seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kaupens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Luciano.
Kaupens feints and then cracks Luciano's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Luciano down.
Kaupens misses with a wild body shot.
Luciano takes a swing at Kaupens's ribcage but misses.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses.
Luciano swings for the body but Kaupens moves out of range.
Luciano lands a really nice looking cross but Kaupens seems unphased.
Kaupens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Luciano circles away quickly and effectively.
Kaupens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Luciano. Luciano obviously looking to wear him down.
Luciano misses with an uppercut. Kaupens saw that one coming.
Luciano takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kaupens moves away from the strike by Luciano.
Kaupens throws out a loose jab but Luciano uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Luciano.
Kaupens is looking to clinch but Luciano is avoiding it.
Kaupens walks into a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luciano swings for the body but Kaupens moves out of range.
Luciano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaupens.
Kaupens looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kaupens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kaupens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kaupens takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kaupens looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kaupens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kaupens looks to throw a body kick
and Luciano counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kaupens gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kaupens tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kaupens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Luciano's head.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses.
Luciano swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Luciano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ray Luciano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Luciano scores with a nice strike.
Kaupens chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kaupens throws a head kick that misses

and Luciano moves into the clinch.
Luciano tries a body shot but Kaupens blocks it.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Kaupens controls his hands.
Kaupens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Luciano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kaupens backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano tries to throw a body punch but Kaupens avoids it by throwing Luciano back against the cage.
Kaupens lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Luciano.
Ansis Kaupens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kaupens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
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!
Luciano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Luciano shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kaupens is trying to defend but Luciano finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Luciano is taking a breather. Kaupens says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Luciano is working for a submission of some sort.

Luciano moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Kaupens.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Luciano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Luciano!
A very excited looking Ray Luciano made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.