PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zbyszek Mickiewicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kulapu Kupula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kulapu Kupula struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Mickiewicz
vs
Kupula

196 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zbyszek Mickiewicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kulapu Kupula!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kupula tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mickiewicz misses with a kick to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mickiewicz.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kupula is defended easily by Mickiewicz.
Mickiewicz slaps away a takedown attempt from Kupula, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A head kick misses from Mickiewicz.
Mickiewicz shoots in looking for a takedown. Kupula tries to sprawl out of it but Mickiewicz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kupula manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kupula stuffs the takedown attempt from Mickiewicz. Mickiewicz gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zbyszek Mickiewicz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mickiewicz dives in and grabs Kupula's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kupula pushes down on Mickiewicz's head and hops out.
Kupula shoots for a double leg takedown but Mickiewicz sprawls well. He's pushed Kupula's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mickiewicz shoots for a double leg takedown but Kupula sprawls well. He's pushed Mickiewicz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kupula tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mickiewicz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kupula somewhat.
Kupula tries a head kick but it misses.
Mickiewicz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kupula is fending him off so far but Mickiewicz persists. Nope, Kupula circles away and we're back to standing.

Mickiewicz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mickiewicz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mickiewicz wants to control the pace but Kupula is squirming around nicely.
Mickiewicz is breathing heavily.
Kupula wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mickiewicz throwing strikes here but Kupula is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kupula can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mickiewicz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mickiewicz thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kupula is trying to stand up.

Mickiewicz has hold of Kupula's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kupula manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kupula wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mickiewicz working for a submission but Kupula is keeping him at bay.
Kupula is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mickiewicz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kupula tries to buck Mickiewicz off but he can't manage it.
Kupula is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Mickiewicz with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Mickiewicz trying to control but Kupula is having none of it.

Mickiewicz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kupula is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kupula and Mickiewicz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kupula pushes Mickiewicz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Mickiewicz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Kupula throws Mickiewicz to one side and escapes!
Mickiewicz scores with a three punch combo!

Kupula closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mickiewicz tries to bench press Kupula off him but Kupula keeps the position.
Mickiewicz can't do much from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kupula advances to mount.
Mickiewicz throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zbyszek Mickiewicz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mickiewicz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mickiewicz wants it to stay on the feet.
Kupula fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kupula fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mickiewicz wants to clinch up but Kupula keeps it at a distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mickiewicz!
Mickiewicz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kupula's waist but Kupula gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mickiewicz off to one side.
Mickiewicz misses with a takedown attempt - Kupula sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kupula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kupula is looking to clinch.
Mickiewicz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mickiewicz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kupula swats away the attempt to clinch by Mickiewicz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kupula tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mickiewicz throws a series of punches but Kupula avoids them all with ease.
Kupula throws a head kick but Mickiewicz moves out of range.
Mickiewicz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kupula pinned against the cage. Kupula gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zbyszek Mickiewicz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mickiewicz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kupula takes the fight into the clinch.

Kupula successfully pulls guard.
Kulapu Kupula has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kupula scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kupula is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kupula fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Mickiewicz clinches up with Kupula and pushes him back against the cage.

Mickiewicz wants the takedown. Kupula is fighting it off but Mickiewicz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kupula's guard against the cage.
Mickiewicz wants to get up but he can't break Kupula's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kupula has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Mickiewicz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kulapu Kupula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Mickiewicz.
No luck for Kupula with that takedown attempt.
Kupula gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mickiewicz counters with an inside leg kick.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kupula pushes Mickiewicz off looking to stand but Mickiewicz dives back in and keeps control.
Mickiewicz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kupula does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kupula wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mickiewicz trying to control the action but Kupula is working from the bottom.
Mickiewicz wants to stand but Kupula has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mickiewicz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kupula knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kupula pushes Mickiewicz off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mickiewicz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mickiewicz wants it to stay on the feet.
Mickiewicz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mickiewicz throws a sloppy head kick and Kupula moves out of range easily.
Mickiewicz throws a sloppy head kick and Kupula moves out of range easily.
Mickiewicz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kupula swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kupula tries to clinch but Mickiewicz moves out of range.
Mickiewicz has a takedown stuffed.
Mickiewicz circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kupula shoots in looking for a takedown. Mickiewicz tries to sprawl out of it but Kupula keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mickiewicz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Kupula. No joy for Mickiewicz on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zbyszek Mickiewicz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kupula looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Kupula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Mickiewicz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kupula is aware though and is defending well.

Kupula is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kupula advances position into side control!
Mickiewicz struggling a bit here.

Kupula thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Mickiewicz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Kupula is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mickiewicz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mickiewicz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kupula on the ground.
Mickiewicz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kupula wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Kupula has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Mickiewicz is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Kupula yanks on the arm and Mickiewicz is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Kupula.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kulapu Kupula!