PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nati Kuperman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kuperman
vs
Sanders

187 cm
25
183 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

178 cm
21
183 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Knock Out Artistry

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nati Kuperman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Dean Styles and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanders connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kuperman slips a straight right by Sanders.

Kuperman has managed to clinch.
Sanders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuperman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kuperman digs a right hand into Sanders's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sanders's gas tank.
Kuperman holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kuperman tries for a takedown but Sanders manages to get underhooks.
Sanders is trying to break the clinch but Kuperman has him pressed against the cage.
Kuperman is trying to maintain a safe position but Sanders gets an underhook and turns Kuperman into the cage.
Kuperman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nati Kuperman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Sanders.
Kuperman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sanders pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Sanders is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kuperman is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sanders to the mat. Sanders regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sanders escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuperman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuperman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuperman tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanders is retaining full guard.
Sanders is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sanders is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kuperman defends well.
Kuperman wants to pass the guard but Sanders is keeping the position.

Sanders looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kuperman passes into half guard.
Sanders is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wants to control but Kuperman is keeping busy.
Sanders tries to get to full guard but Kuperman has control of the leg.
Sanders is refusing to be controlled, as Kuperman sits in half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sanders wants to control but Kuperman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kuperman throwing shots but Sanders is blocking nicely.
Sanders trying to control but Kuperman postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sanders jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanders fails to land with a series of punches.
Sanders looks gassed!
Kuperman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanders throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sanders shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kuperman is trying to defend but Sanders finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuperman wants to get back to full guard.
Kuperman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanders is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kuperman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Kuperman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanders is aware though and is defending well.
Kuperman keeping full guard, as Sanders tries to pass.
Kuperman keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.

Kuperman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kuperman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sanders trying to control but Kuperman is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kuperman slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanders, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanders takes a swing at Kuperman's ribcage but misses.
Kuperman slips under a jab from Sanders.
Sanders rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuperman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanders slips a jab and a cross from Kuperman.
Sanders misses with a looping left.
Sanders misses with a looping left.
Sanders misses with a straight right.
Sanders tries to bum rush Kuperman with a series of wild strikes but Kuperman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kuperman throws a head kick that misses.
Sanders shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuperman defends it nicely.

Kuperman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
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 Nati Kuperman will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kuperman shoots in but Sanders avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kuperman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanders fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuperman avoids it really well and circles away.
Sanders tries for a takedown but Kuperman circles away easily

and Kuperman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kuperman.
Sanders is trying to hold Kuperman in close to prevent damage but Kuperman has managed to pass into half guard.
Kuperman trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Kuperman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sanders is looking for a sweep. Kuperman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Kuperman wants to free his trapped foot but Sanders is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sanders gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders has his foot on Kuperman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuperman works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuperman passes into half guard.
Sanders wants to improve his position but Kuperman is controlling well.
Kuperman is thwarting Sanders's attempts to control the position.
Sanders is looking for a sweep. Kuperman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sanders actively working from the bottom here.
Kuperman trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Sanders blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuperman.

Kuperman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sanders defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kuperman closes the distance and clinches up with Sanders, looking for a takedown. Kuperman pushes Sanders against the cage but Sanders circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nati Kuperman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuperman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Anthony Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuperman moves away from the strike by Sanders.
A lazy left from Kuperman finds it's target.
Horrible takedown by Sanders or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuperman which made him look bad.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kuperman.
Kuperman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanders.
Sanders scores with a jab. Kuperman acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Kuperman clinches.
Kuperman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanders.
Kuperman is pressed up against the cage. Sanders has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kuperman down to the mat. Kuperman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders slaps away a takedown attempt from Kuperman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kuperman moves out of range of the strikes.
Sanders throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sanders throws a combination that misses

and Kuperman counters by moving into the clinch.
Kuperman fails to pull guard.
Kuperman tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanders avoids the damage to the body.
Sanders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sanders lands a takedown into guard.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuperman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuperman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kuperman prevents Sanders from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuperman not doing much here.
Sanders is looking to improve his position.
Sanders works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sanders has his foot on Kuperman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuperman works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuperman postures up.
Kuperman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kuperman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kuperman wants to control but Sanders is keeping him busy.
Kuperman scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nati Kuperman dominated that second round.
That's time! Kuperman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanders doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kuperman counters by moving into the clinch.

Kuperman gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders wants to control but Kuperman is keeping busy.
Sanders is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kuperman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanders does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kuperman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sanders doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kuperman.
Sanders moves into full guard.

Sanders looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Kuperman is defending well. Sanders quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Kuperman has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Sanders celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anthony Sanders!