PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Serafim Lupei (ranked 1070 p4p, 137 weight class) and Jesse Point (ranked 1286 p4p, 157 weight class). Jesse Point has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lupei
vs
Point

184 cm
22
167 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
162 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Serafim Lupei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jesse Point!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lupei tries to clinch up but Point circles away and keeps his distance.
Lupei avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A clash of legs there as Lupei blocks the low kick.
Lupei throws a solid leg kick but Point takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lupei.
Point throws a jab when Lupei was well out of range.
Point throws a push kick but Lupei slaps the foot to one side.
Point fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lupei has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Point ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice body kick from Point.
Point lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lupei takes a step back to recover.
Point tries to land a leg kick but Lupei saw it coming and moves away.
Lupei fires out a quick counter leg kick but Point just manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Point delivers a nice body kick.

Lupei has managed to clinch.
Point tries to stall but Lupei uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Point wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lupei has him pressed against the cage.
Point lands a hook that snaps the head of Lupei backwards.

Point escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lupei misses with a low kick.
Point feints a counter leg kick.
Lupei misses with an uppercut.

Lupei drives through and clinches with Point against the cage.
Point lands a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from Lupei.
Lupei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lupei misses with a punch to the body.
Point scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Lupei.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Point as Lupei tries to tie him up.
Lupei misses with a punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lupei lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lupei lands with a right to the head.
Point is working Lupei over against the cage.
Point working aggressively here.
Point is leaning against Lupei and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lupei misses with some punches.
A short right from Point on the inside.

Point breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lupei takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Point connects with an inside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Point, right into the meat.
Point checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Point with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Point throws a nice inside leg kick.
Point takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lupei's jab looks to have found its range, popping Point under the eye.

It looks like Jesse Point has been cut.
Point tried to score with a low kick but Lupei checks it.
Lupei seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lupei throws a right and a left that Point avoids nicely.
Point scores with a leg kick.
Point chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lupei scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupei slips under a jab from Point.
Lupei just misses with a punch to the body.
Lupei doesn't manage to clinch there - Point circles away.
Nice body kick there by Point.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lupei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Point throws a counter combo.
Point lands a front kick.
Lupei jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Point unleashes a big counter combination but Lupei bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lupei tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Point counters with a head kick.
Point avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Point fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Point dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jesse Point's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lupei tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Point paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lupei avoids the head kick by Point.
Point throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Point keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lupei.
Point throws a head kick but Lupei moves out of range.
Lupei throws a looping overhand right but Point ducks down to avoid it.
Jesse Point seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Point looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Point throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Point fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lupei has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupei swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lupei.

Point breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Point misses with an uppercut
and Lupei counters with a nice leg kick.
Lupei slips a jab and a cross from Point.
Point scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Crunch! Point slams his shin into Lupei's torso.

Point lands a big head kick that sends Lupei tumbling to the mat! Point takes a step backwards and waves Lupei back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Lupei is rocked!
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!

Point lands a big right hand that sends Lupei crashing to the mat! Point stays standing though and waves Lupei back to his feet!
Oh Lupei is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Point lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Point cracks Lupei with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Lupei looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Point finish him?
Point connects with an inside leg kick.
Point swats away the attempt to clinch by Lupei.
Lupei looks to land a right hand but Point moved out of range.
Lupei backing away here, and Point unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Lupei seems to have got his legs back now.
Lupei has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lupei.
Lupei tries to clinch up but Point circles away and keeps his distance.
Lupei fails with an attempt to clinch.
Point has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lupei finds it's way round the side to connect with Point's head.
Point misses with a leg kick.
Lupei looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Point throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little feinted left hand from Lupei on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Point looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lupei dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Point throws a hook but Lupei blocks it.
Point looks for the body kick but Lupei saw that one coming.
Point throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lupei moves out of range as Point throws a body kick.
Lupei was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Point misses with a right hand
and Lupei counters with a nice uppercut.
Point throws a lazy uppercut
and Lupei counters with a three punch combo that has Point backing up. Point nods at Lupei to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupei wants to clinch but Point slips to the side
letting Point counter with a right hand.
Point scores with a nice right hand.
Point misses with a double jab.
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!
Lupei scores with a nice strike.
Lupei lands with a good body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lupei checks a leg kick.
Point tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Lupei was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Point.
Lupei digs a good body shot into Point's ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lupei lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Point showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jesse Point's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lupei throws a jab but it's blocked by Point.
Point throws a good cross that connects.
Lupei throws a predictable looking body shot
and Point counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Point throws out a powerful jab.
Lupei tries to clinch but Point moves out of range.
Point has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Point throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Point throws a nice inside leg kick.
Point takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lupei will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Point. Lupei shrugs it off though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Point thumps Lupei with a low kick.
Lupei lands with a hook. Point tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Point throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lupei was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lupei moves in looking to clinch but Point pushes him off.
Lupei keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Point.
That kick from Point tenderised Lupei's leg. Lupei is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lupei's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Lupei ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Point throws a nice outside leg kick.
Point lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupei has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Point.
Lupei tries to score with a low kick but Point moves his leg out of the way.
A slow jab from Point misses its intended target.
Lupei looks to score with a jab to the body but Point is just out of range.
Point throws a leg kick
enabling Lupei to counter with a crisp jab.
Lupei on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Point goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lupei half committed to a counter leg kick.

Lupei drives through and clinches with Point against the cage.
Lupei tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Point's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Lupei.
Lupei tries to stall but Point uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lupei doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Point.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lupei.
A right handed body shot lands from Lupei.
Lupei throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Points head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lupei.
Lupei softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lupei misses with a punch on the inside.
Point misses with a hook from the clinch.

Point breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lupei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Point.
Lupei tried to counter with a leg kick but Point avoided it.
Point moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lupei is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lupei ducks under a wild hook from Point.
Serafim Lupei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Point misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lupei.
Lupei cracks Point with a good jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Point fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lupei has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Point connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lupei just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Point on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Point tries to land a front kick but Lupei steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Point misses with a low kick.
Point on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lupei. Lupei obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Point comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Point winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Point!
Jesse Point seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.