PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herio Lupsaka (ranked 3441 p4p, 3991 weight class) and Lincoln Wright (ranked 400 p4p, 446 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lupsaka
vs
Wright

185 cm
25
184
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

White Gorilla
PWNAGE™

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Herio Lupsaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lincoln Wright!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lupsaka dives in for a single leg takedown but Wright sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Wright.
We've been hearing reports that Lupsaka has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Wright breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Wright darts in and clinches Lupsaka up against the cage.
Lupsaka is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wright is defending well.
Wright tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lupsaka's elbow.
Lupsaka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wright pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herio Lupsaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wright prevents the takedown attempt.
Lupsaka avoiding damage as Wright throws knees to the body.

Wright breaks from the clinch.

Wright moves into range and clinches up with Lupsaka.
Lupsaka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wright is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wright has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lupsaka uses from the top position.
Lupsaka wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lupsaka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lupsaka throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupsaka stopping the sweep attempt from Wright.
Wright keeping moving, preventing Lupsaka from controlling successfully.
Wright lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lupsaka pulls Wright in to control the position.
Lupsaka controls Wright momentarily but Wright frees himself.
Wright stopping the sweep attempt from Lupsaka.
Lupsaka is trying to keep Wright in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright prevents Lupsaka from getting back to his feet.
Wright wants to stand but Lupsaka is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lupsaka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wright slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wright clinches up against the cage.
Wright has Lupsaka pressed against the cage.
Come on Wright - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright avoiding damage.
Lupsaka managing to block the knees to the body from Wright.

Wright breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lupsaka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wright circles away.
Wright wants to counter with a clinch but Lupsaka pushes him away.
Lupsaka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wright's waist but Wright gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lupsaka off to one side.

Lupsaka manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Wright on his heels. He'll look to pass Wright's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wright holds on and takes a little breather.
Lupsaka postures up in Wright's guard and throws a big left but Wright blocks it.
Lupsaka stopping the sweep attempt from Wright.
Lupsaka trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Lupsaka postures up and lands a big shot to Wright's brow.
Lupsaka wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupsaka connects with a couple of short punches.
Wright wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Lupsaka is now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupsaka thows a huge punch but Wright dodges it nicely.
Lupsaka throwing shots but Wright is blocking nicely.
Wright tries to roll over but Lupsaka keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lupsaka throwing shots but Wright is blocking nicely.
Wright is trying to control but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Wright dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Wright changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lupsaka tries to avoid it but Wright manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lupsaka to the ground. Lupsaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lupsaka shoots in looking for a takedown but Wright manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lupsaka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Lupsaka gets a double leg takedown into Wright's guard.
Wright working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lupsaka.
Lupsaka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wright really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lupsaka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wright is controlling Lupsaka's posture.
Wright thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Lupsaka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lupsaka trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lupsaka postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lupsaka wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupsaka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lupsaka throws a big elbow that misses.
Wright has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Wright preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wright pulls Lupsaka in to control the position.
Wright is trying to control the position but Lupsaka postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Lupsaka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lupsaka passes Wright's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wright keeping control of the position.
Lupsaka thows a huge punch but Wright dodges it nicely.
Wright felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lupsaka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wright does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lupsaka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lupsaka working Wright over with strikes.
Lupsaka slows the pace down in half guard.
Lupsaka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Lupsaka wants to control but Wright is keeping him busy.
Lupsaka passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Wright!
Lupsaka trying to control but Wright is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright tries to hold on but Lupsaka pushes him away.
Lupsaka has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lupsaka misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Lupsaka with the ground and pound from mount.
Lupsaka dominating with strikes here.
Wright keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wright tries to hold on but Lupsaka pushes him away.
Lupsaka working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Lupsaka avoids the attempt from Wright to control.
Lupsaka looking to ground and pound but Wright is blocking nicely.
Wright is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupsaka landing strikes from the mount.
Lupsaka is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wright can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Herio Lupsaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wright is trying to escape the mount.
Lupsaka breaks from Wright's wrist control and lands an elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lupsaka cracks Wright with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Lupsaka looking to finish Wright with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wright!

Wright is rocked!
Lupsaka postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks Wright out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Lupsaka goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Herio Lupsaka!
After winning the bout, Herio Lupsaka thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Lincoln Wright was interviewed post fight and said 'Im sorry things didnt go may way, so i will go back to trining harder smarter...next time victory will be mine'.