PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abner Applegate (ranked 1097 p4p, 140 weight class) and Katurian Tupolski (ranked 950 p4p, 126 weight class). Tupolski has chosen Mobb Deep - Shook Ones part II as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Katurian Tupolski enters the cage!

Applegate
vs
Tupolski

182 cm
29
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

175 cm
41
182 lbs
38 - 19 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abner Applegate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 19 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Katurian Tupolski!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tupolski tries a head kick but it misses.
Applegate feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nice jab there from Applegate.
Tupolski throws a sloppy body shot
and Applegate connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tupolski staying out of range there.
Applegate avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tupolski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Applegate throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Applegate throws out a leg kick but Tupolski moves out of range and Applegate only half commits.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tupolski. Applegate shrugs it off though.
We've been informed that Tupolski has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Applegate moves out of range of the strikes.
Applegate swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Applegate takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Applegate has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Tupolski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tupolski misses with a wild body shot.
Tupolski tries to close the distance and clinch but Applegate swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tupolski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Applegate sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Applegate throws a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Applegate blocks a head kick by Tupolski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tupolski scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Applegate doesn't seem bothered though.

Applegate moves into the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Tupolski.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tupolski.
Tupolski prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tupolski can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Tupolski misses with some punches.
Tupolski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tupolski has a couple of punches blocked by Applegate.
Applegate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Applegate changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tupolski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Applegate feints and then cracks Tupolski's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tupolski down.
Tupolski connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Applegate swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Tupolski misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Tupolski.
Tupolski throws the kick towards the body but Applegate avoids it.
Applegate connects with an inside leg kick.
Tupolski moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Applegate misses its intended target.
Tupolski bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Applegate's head backwards.
Tupolski is looking to clinch but Applegate is avoiding it.
Tupolski ducks right into an uppercut from Applegate.
Tupolski's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Applegate connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tupolski scrambles back to his feet.
Applegate listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Applegate ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tupolski moves away.

Applegate clinches up against the cage.
Tupolski tries to throw a body punch but Applegate avoids it by throwing Tupolski back against the cage.
Tupolski swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tupolski cracks Applegate with a nice body shot.
Tupolski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Applegate avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Applegate tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tupolski misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Tupolski fails to land.
Tupolski misses with a knee strike.
Tupolski tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tupolski.
Applegate lands an uppercut.
Applegate blocks a body shot from Tupolski.
Applegate doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tupolski misses with a body punch.
Tupolski trying to land knees to the body.
Applegate is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Applegate doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Applegate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Applegate throws a leg kick which misses Tupolski's front leg but catches the back leg as Tupolski tries to avoid it.
Applegate checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Applegate darts in and clinches Tupolski up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tupolski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tupolski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Applegate on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Applegate lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tupolski backwards.
Applegate misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tupolski lands a nice uppercut.
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!
Applegate blocks a body shot from Tupolski.
Tupolski can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Tupolski swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tupolski misses with a knee to the head.
Tupolski trying to land knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Applegate scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Applegate on the inside.
Applegate is leaning against Tupolski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tupolski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tupolski misses with the head strike.
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 Abner Applegate will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick misses from Applegate.
Tupolski cracks the inside of Applegate's front leg.
A punch lands to the side of Tupolski 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Applegate has taken the fight to the clinch.
Katurian Tupolski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Applegate lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tupolski backwards.
Applegate misses with some punches.
Tupolski trying to land knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Tupolski.
Applegate throws a head punch that misses.
Tupolski being controlled against the cage.
Applegate working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Applegate scores with a shot to the side of Tupolski's head.
Tupolski missing with knees to the body.
Applegate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tupolski's elbow.
Applegate throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tupolskis head.
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!
Tupolski lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Applegate.
Tupolski lands an elbow that stopped Applegate in his tracks for a moment.
Applegate lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tupolski backwards.
Tupolski is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tupolski.
Tupolski lands a body punch.
Tupolski can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Tupolski lands an elbow inside that Applegate shrugs off.
Tupolski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Applegate lands a left hand.
Tupolski blocking some punches.
Applegate avoids the elbow strike from Tupolski, against the cage.
Tupolski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Applegate is defending well for now.
Tupolski misses with a punch on the inside.
Tupolski can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Tupolski on the inside.
Tupolski working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tupolski lands a hook that snaps the head of Applegate backwards.
Tupolski can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Applegate makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tupolski prevents a body shot from Applegate.
Tupolski prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tupolski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tupolski misses with a knee strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Tupolski lands a shot to the body.
Applegate tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knees to the body from Tupolski.
Tupolski missing with knees to the body.
Applegate lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tupolski throws an elbow but misses.
Applegate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tupolski.
Tupolski tries to land knees in the clinch but Applegate avoids the damage to the body.
Applegate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Applegate lands a body shot.
Tupolski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Applegate avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Applegate lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tupolski.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Applegate.
Tupolski is breathing heavily.
Applegate working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tupolski tries a body shot but Applegate blocks it.
Applegate prevents a body shot from Tupolski.
Applegate scores with a shoulder strike.
Tupolski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Applegate.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tupolski just misses with a elbow thrown towards Applegate's brow.
Tupolski with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate presses Tupolski against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tupolski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tupolski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tupolski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tupolski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tupolski misses with a body punch.
Applegate lands with a right to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Applegate avoids a wild elbow strike from Tupolski.
Tupolski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Applegate is defending well for now.
Applegate lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tupolski backwards.
Applegate avoiding damage as Tupolski throws knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Applegate.
Applegate blocks an elbow strike from Tupolski.
Tupolski tries to land knees in the clinch but Applegate avoids the damage to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tupolski.
Tupolski can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Tupolski tries to land knees in the clinch but Applegate avoids the damage to the body.
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 Abner Applegate will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Applegate.
Applegate on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tupolski fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Applegate has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Applegate tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Applegate connects with a solid leg kick.
Tupolski pivots, looking for a leg kick but Applegate is out of range and Tupolski settles back down.
It appears Applegate was looking to counter with a kick there.
Tupolski feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Applegates jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Applegate scores with a decent looking hook.
Applegate fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tupolski checks it well.
Applegate scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nice body punch from Applegate.
Tupolski on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tupolski's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Applegate connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tupolski scrambles back to his feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Applegate.
Tupolski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Applegate paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tupolski tries to move into range but Applegate moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Tupolski is rocked!
Applegate cracks Tupolski with a hook to the temple - Tupolski is on wobbly legs here! Applegate swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Tupolski falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Applegate wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Abner Applegate!
Abner Applegate spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
Katurian Tupolski was interviewed post fight and said 'Fighting is a tough business. All the props to my opponent - he was better tonight. I will be back stronger.'.