PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henderson Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krzesimir Ciupaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ciupaga is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Polak potrafi. Krzesimir Ciupaga acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Cormier
vs
Ciupaga

180 cm
22
223 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
218 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Fast

Brute

$300

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Henderson Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Krzesimir Ciupaga!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ciupaga.
Cormier looks for a takedown but Ciupaga sprawls well.
A jab from Cormier misses.
Cormier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ciupaga sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cormier somewhat.

Ciupaga clinches.
Cormier tries to pull guard but Ciupaga won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henderson Cormier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ciupaga with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ciupaga lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ciupaga.
Ciupaga putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cormier in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ciupaga using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ciupaga pushes Cormier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciupaga lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Henderson Cormier has been cut.

Cormier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cormier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ciupaga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cormier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ciupaga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ciupaga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ciupaga engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ciupaga tries to free his leg and advance position but Cormier is retaining full guard.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet but Ciupaga passes into half guard.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is trying to escape back to his feet but Ciupaga uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cormier is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ciupaga has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cormier regains half guard, as Ciupaga was trying to land strikes.
Ciupaga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet.
Ciupaga is looking to take a break and control but Cormier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ciupaga not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ciupaga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cormier tries to kick Ciupaga off but Ciupaga keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ciupaga throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ciupaga stops Cormier from getting back to his feet.
Ciupaga looks to land a strike but Cormier avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ciupaga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ciupaga throws a big elbow that misses.
Ciupaga throws a big elbow that misses.
Ciupaga throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ciupaga slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Ciupaga from controlling successfully.
Ciupaga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cormier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ciupaga engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Krzesimir Ciupaga was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ciupaga looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krzesimir Ciupaga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Henderson Cormier's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cormier thows a body shot but no joy.
Ciupaga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cormier.
Cormier jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cormier throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cormier throws a combination that misses
and Ciupaga counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ciupaga takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Ciupaga forces Cormier back against the cage and clinches.
Ciupaga lands an elbow that stopped Cormier in his tracks for a moment.
Ciupaga lands a good knee to the midsection. Cormier won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cormier tries to circle away but Ciupaga has him pinned against the cage.
Ciupaga lands an elbow that stopped Cormier in his tracks for a moment.
Ciupaga creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cormier's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is looking to break free of the clinch but Ciupaga has double underhooks.
Ciupaga landing knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Ciupaga.
Ciupaga lands an elbow just above Cormier 's eye.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ciupaga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Cormier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ciupaga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cormier.
Ciupaga lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cormier will feel that in the morning.
Ciupaga feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cormier's calf.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ciupaga lands with a cross.
Cormier with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ciupaga to score with a decent uppercut.

Ciupaga drops Cormier with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Cormier looks back up at him and smiles so Ciupaga waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Cormier is rocked!

Henderson Cormier's cut is getting worse.
Henderson Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Ciupaga! Cormier is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Krzesimir Ciupaga!
Krzesimir Ciupaga thanked the fans post fight for their support.