PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Donati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuppu Lupaus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donati comes to the cage accompanied by Threshold - Phenomenon. Lupaus has chosen Eddy Grant - Romancing the Stone as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Donati
vs
Lupaus

190 cm
28
223 lbs
13 - 9 - 2

185 cm
37
220 lbs
29 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Virgil Donati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nuppu Lupaus!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Donati 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 Lupaus has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lupaus and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Donati throws a low kick, looking for Lupaus's leg but Lupaus calmly moves out of range.
Donati dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lupaus. That did some damage!
Donati connects with a single shot there.
Lupaus gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Donati connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lupaus momentarily.
Lupaus shoots in for a takedown but Donati shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Donati looks to clinch
and Lupaus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
Donati lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lupaus avoids the body shot from Donati.
Donati throws a left and a right that both miss

so Lupaus counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Donati looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lupaus advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donati tries to buck Lupaus off but Lupaus is having none of it.
Donati has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Donati wants to control but Lupaus postures up.
Donati is looking for a sweep.
Donati wants to control but Lupaus postures up.
Donati tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Donati trying to remain calm as Lupaus controls from the top position.
Lupaus tries to advance to mount but can't.
The strikes coming from Lupaus are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donati is not content to let Lupaus control the position.
Lupaus advances nicely into full mount.

Lupaus looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Donati blocking the ground and pound.
Donati is working to get back to half guard.
Donati is squirming around, avoiding Lupaus's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donati is controlling an arm, preventing Lupaus from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Donati slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Donati is refusing to be controlled, as Lupaus sits in half guard.

Lupaus is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Donati is just riding it out for now. Lupaus eventually gives up the hold.
Lupaus trying to mount his opponent but Donati defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lupaus seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Donati has recovered full guard.
Lupaus throws a big right hand that misses.
Lupaus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Donati is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lupaus trying to move into half guard but instead Donati has managed to sweep!
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 Virgil Donati will probably get the nod.
That's time! Donati's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Donati misses.
A left lands for Donati.
Donati throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lupaus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Donati sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Donati misses with an uppercut.
Donati blocks a jab.
Donati misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lupaus.
Donati connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lupaus throws a nice looking combination but Donati bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Donati tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lupaus was well out of range. Poor timing from Donati.
Lupaus blocks a jab.
Lupaus lands a nice shot that snaps Donati's head back.
Virgil Donati is winning the standup battle so far.
Donati keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lupaus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donati turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lupaus misses with a lunging right hand
and Lupaus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Donati swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Donati lands with an uppercut that bounces Lupaus off the cage and back into range.
Lupaus misses with an uppercut.
Virgil Donati seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lupaus gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Donati moves to clinch but Lupaus breaks away

and Lupaus counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Donati lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lupaus!
Lupaus is desperately trying to improve his position but Donati has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupaus keeps trying to improve his position.
Lupaus tries to hold on but Donati pushes him away.
Lupaus is squirming around, avoiding Donati's attempts to control the action.
Lupaus can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupaus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lupaus is looking to control Donati's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lupaus avoid being mounted?

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lupaus throws an off balance right hand
and Donati counters with a three punch combo that has Lupaus backing up. Lupaus nods at Donati to acknowledge the strikes.
Donati is looking to clinch.
Donati closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lupaus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donati misses with a lunging right hand

and Lupaus counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Donati!
Donati prevents Lupaus from improving position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lupaus lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Donati down.
Donati is not content to let Lupaus control the position.
Donati tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Lupaus presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lupaus thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nuppu Lupaus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Donati closes the distance looking to clinch

and Lupaus counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Donati's guard now.
Lupaus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lupaus has gone for a leg lock! Donati slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lupaus's guard.
Lupaus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Lupaus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Donati doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Donati manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lupaus pulls Donati in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupaus trying to control the position.
Donati preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lupaus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Donati manages to get himself to full guard.
Lupaus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lupaus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Donati swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lupaus trying to control the position from guard on top but Donati is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donati utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lupaus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lupaus trying to control but Donati is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupaus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Donati looking to control.
Lupaus controlling from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Donati scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lupaus, as that shot connected.
Donati is looking to clinch but Lupaus is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donati clinches up with Lupaus and pushes him back against the cage.
Donati is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Donati stops a takedown attempt from Lupaus.
A head punch on the inside from Lupaus fails to land.
Lupaus has a couple of punches blocked by Donati.
Donati blocking some punches.
Lupaus is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Donati to keep the fight standing.
Lupaus jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Donati walks away with a smile on his face. Lupaus gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Virgil Donati has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nuppu Lupaus.
Donati throws a nice looking combination but Lupaus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donati lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Donati pushes Lupaus up against the cage in a clinch.
Lupaus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Donati gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lupaus misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuppu Lupaus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lupaus 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 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

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