PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Gage (ranked 733 p4p, 1581 weight class) and Kaapo Muuri (ranked 104 p4p, 210 weight class). Kaapo Muuri will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gage
vs
Muuri

180 cm
21
221
5 - 0 - 0

199 cm
21
260
6 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Oscar Gage!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaapo Muuri!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Muuri but Muuri pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Gage has Muuri up against the cage in a clinch.
Gage tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Muuri just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gage.

Gage successfully pulls guard.
Muuri told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Gage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muuri would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gage looking for a guillotine here but Muuri defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gage looking for a guillotine here but Muuri defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Muuri can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gage throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Muuri escapes and throws Gage's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Muuri is looking to take a break and control but Gage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gage is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Gage wants to control but Muuri postures up.
Gage is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Muuri is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Gage manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gage wants to get back to full guard.

Muuri gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Gage gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muuri.
Gage is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Muuri is keeping busy.

Gage decides to pull guard.

Gage throws his legs up looking for a submission but Muuri uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Gage's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gage might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gage is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Muuri looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gage is looking for a sweep.

Muuri decides to stand back up.
Oscar Gage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Muuri throws an overhand right that lands on Gage's shoulder, as Gage tries to avoid the shot.

Muuri gets tackled into the cage by Gage. Gage maintains the clinch.
I was talking to Gage's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Muuri pulls Gage into guard.
Muuri seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gage pushing down on Muuri's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gage seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Muuri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Oscar Gage will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Gage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Muuri flicks out a counter leg kick but Gage steps away.
Gage tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Muuri to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Oscar Gage has been cut.

Gage has managed to clinch.
Muuri tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Muuri is pressed up against the cage. Gage has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Muuri down to the mat. Muuri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Muuri tries to keep at a distance but Gage has taken the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Muuri scores with a nice short uppercut.

Gage lands a takedown into guard.

Muuri pushes Gage off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gage rushes Muuri and presses him up against the cage.

Gage drags the fight down to the ground.

Gage is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Muuri defends well.
Kaapo Muuri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Muuri is looking to stand up but Gage won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gage working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Muuri has passed into half guard!
Muuri is keen to just control but Gage is a slippery customer.
Gage misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gage wants to control but Muuri passes into side.
Gage is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gage is trying to control Muuri's posture but Muuri avoids it.

That's two 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.
Gage tries to bench press Muuri off him but Muuri keeps the position.
Muuri working away.
Gage is looking for a sweep.

Muuri decides to stand back up. Muuri steps back and let's Gage get back to his feet.

Gage instigates a clinch.

Gage jumps guard and drags Muuri to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Gage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Muuri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Muuri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Gage has his foot on Muuri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Muuri works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muuri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gage wants to get back to full guard.
Muuri keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Gage looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Muuri pushes past his half guard into mount!
Gage is trying to escape the mount.
Gage regains half guard.
Muuri tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gage knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Muuri controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gage is staying active underneath Muuri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gage manages to get to full guard.

Gage is looking for a triangle but Muuri pushes his legs off easily.

Gage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gage is looking for a triangle but Muuri pushes his legs off easily.
Gage keeping moving, preventing Muuri from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kaapo Muuri will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Oscar Gage's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Muuri scores with a nice right hand.

Gage has managed to clinch.
Gage is trying to pull guard but Muuri turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Muuri lands a right hand.
Muuri lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gage will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Muuri up against the cage.
Muuri lands with a left to the head.
Gage tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Muuri just stands there and leans against the cage.
Oscar Gage has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gage just leaning against Muuri, taking a breather.
Muuri looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Muuri.

Muuri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gage tries to clinch up.
Muuri looks to score with a jab to the body but Gage is just out of range.
Gage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muuri fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gage.
Muuri throws a leg kick but Gage sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gage drops down looking for a counter takedown but Muuri sprawls and moves away.
Gage tries to clinch up.

Muuri lands a big uppercut and Gage crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Gage looks OK. Muuri waves Gage back to his feet!

Gage is rocked!
Gage get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Gage stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the cage but Muuri runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kaapo Muuri!
Kaapo Muuri is the new heavyweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Kaapo Muuri thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.