PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazuma Kiryu (ranked 648 p4p, 498 weight class) and Ansis Kaupens (ranked 93 p4p, 69 weight class). Ansis Kaupens will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kiryu
vs
Kaupens

184 cm
29
194
8 - 5 - 1

200 cm
29
190
19 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Conviction
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuma Kiryu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ansis Kaupens!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiryu misses with a right hand
and Kaupens counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Kazuma Kiryu has been cut.
Kiryu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kaupens moves away.
Kaupens lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kaupens takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kiryu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kaupens.
Kiryu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kaupens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A left lands for Kiryu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaupens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kaupens lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaupens with a nice calf kick.
Kiryu throws a looping overhand right but Kaupens ducks down to avoid it.

Kaupens lands a left and a right that send Kiryu crashing to the mat, dazed. Kaupens thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Kiryu slips a jab and a cross from Kaupens.
Kiryu throws an off balance right hand
and Kaupens counters with a straight right hand.

Kazuma Kiryu's cut is getting worse.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

It looks like Ansis Kaupens has been cut.
Kaupens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kaupens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Kiryu misses the target.
Kaupens has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu swings widly with a right hand
enabling Kaupens to counter with a crisp jab.
Kaupens has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kiryu throws a leg kick
and Kaupens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaupens looks to land a combination but Kiryu avoids it well.
Kaupens connects with a body shot that sends Kiryu's belly button to the back.
Kiryu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kiryu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kaupens ducks right into an uppercut from Kiryu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick and Kiryu moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Kiryu misses with a left hand
and Kaupens counters with a leg kick.
Kiryu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kiryu misses with a hook
and Kaupens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kazuma Kiryu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
A slow jab from Kiryu misses its intended target.
A shot to the liver by Kiryu. Beautiful body shot.
Kiryu misses with a left hand
and Kaupens counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Decent striking displayed by Kiryu there.
Kaupens is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kaupens digs a good body shot into Kiryu's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaupens looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kiryu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kaupens can pounce on him.
Kiryu misses with a leg kick
and Kiryu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kiryu misses with a hook
and Kaupens counters with a straight right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ansis Kaupens dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kaupens feints a jab promting Kiryu to slip. Kaupens then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kiryu slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kaupens swings widly with a right hand
letting Kiryu counter with a right hand.
Kaupens throws a sloppy head kick and Kiryu moves out of range easily.
Kiryu half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kiryu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kaupens misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiryu misses with a hook

and Kaupens counters with a head kick that drops Kiryu to the mat! Kiryu scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Kiryu is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaupens throws a hook but Kiryu blocks it.
Kaupens throws a right hand that misses
and Kiryu counters with a low kick, right behind Kaupens 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Kaupens counter with a right hand.

Jeez, Kazuma Kiryu's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kiryu, as that shot connected.
A swing and a miss from Kiryu.
Kaupens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kiryu throws a low kick but Kaupens avoids it.
Kaupens is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Kiryu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Kaupens misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a leg kick but Kaupens moved away.
Kiryu throws a lazy uppercut
and Kaupens counters with a nice uppercut.
Kiryu misses with a right hand
and Kaupens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Kazuma Kiryu's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ansis Kaupens!
Ansis Kaupens thanked the fans post fight for their support.