PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moj Cro Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Lapshinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapshinov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Moonlight Sonata. Artem Lapshinov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cro Cop
vs
Lapshinov

193 cm
23
226 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
265 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Moj Cro Cop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Artem Lapshinov!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lapshinov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cop has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapshinov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cop is trying to maintain a safe position but Lapshinov gets an underhook and turns Cop into the cage.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Lapshinov lands a knee to the body.
Cop is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
I was talking to Cop's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lapshinov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lapshinov working Cop over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapshinov lands a knee to the head.
Lapshinov looking to throw knees to the head but Cop is blocking nicely.
Lapshinov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cop.
Lapshinov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cop.
Lapshinov tries a knee to the head but Cop blocks it.
Cop is trying to force a seperation but Lapshinov has the dominant position.
Lapshinov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cop is defending well for now.
Lapshinov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cop lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Lapshinov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cop is defending well for now.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Cop dodges an elbow strike from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cop has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cop trying to stall but Lapshinov improves his position.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries a knee to the head but Cop blocks it.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapshinov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cop has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cop has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Lapshinov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cop is defending well for now.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapshinov working Cop over with knees to the body.
Cop stalling in the clinch but Lapshinov improves position.
Cop is trying to break free.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cop is defending well for now.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the head but Cop blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Lapshinov prevents Cop from breaking the clinch.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Cop is trying to break the clinch but Lapshinov has him pressed against the cage.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cop is trying to force a seperation but Lapshinov has the dominant position.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Cop wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Lapshinov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lapshinov tries to clinch there but Cop circles away.
Lapshinov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Artem Lapshinov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cop throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lapshinov.
Cop throws a push kick but Lapshinov slaps the foot to one side.

Lapshinov has managed to clinch.
Lapshinov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cop blocks it with crossed arms.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lapshinov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cop.
Cop working hard to break the clinch.
Lapshinov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cop.
Lapshinov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lapshinov landing knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lapshinov misses with a knee strike.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cop's face.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Lapshinov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lapshinov lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cop avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Cop can't break the clinch.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Cop on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Cop stalling in the clinch but Lapshinov improves position.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov looking to throw knees to the head but Cop is blocking nicely.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cop blocks it with crossed arms.
Lapshinov lands a knee to the head.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cop managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Lapshinov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapshinov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lapshinov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lapshinov landing knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Cop manages to break the clinch.
Cop cracks Lapshinov with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cop has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lapshinov misses with a knee strike.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.

Cop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lapshinov clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lapshinov tries to clinch up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lapshinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Donk. Cop catches Lapshinov right on the button with a cross.
Lapshinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Lapshinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lapshinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lapshinov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cop has had enough of the clinch but Lapshinov keeps him there for the moment.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cop.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cop trying to land knees to the body.
Cop tries to break the clinch but Lapshinov is controlling the position.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Lapshinov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cop has had enough of the clinch but Lapshinov keeps him there for the moment.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Cop blocks an elbow strike.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Lapshinov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cop.
Lapshinov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cop is defending well for now.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cop tries to circle away but Lapshinov has him pinned against the cage.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cop avoids the damage to the body.
Artem Lapshinov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cop avoids it.
Cop looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Cop tries to circle away but Lapshinov has him pinned against the cage.
Lapshinov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cop wants to break free but Lapshinov has control.
Artem Lapshinov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cop blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on Cop's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cop wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cop trying to control the position but instead, Lapshinov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cop into the cage.
Cop tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artem Lapshinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lapshinov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Lapshinov!
Artem Lapshinov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.