PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Koch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnoldo Paulakorpi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Paulakorpi's choice of entrance music: Volbeat -Sad Mans Tongue. Michael Koch could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Arnoldo Paulakorpi's chin.

Koch
vs
Paulakorpi

187 cm
22
202 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
205 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

St. Paul's Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Koch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arnoldo Paulakorpi!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulakorpi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koch misses with an uppercut. Paulakorpi saw that one coming.
Koch scores with a body shot.
Koch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Paulakorpi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Paulakorpi just misses with a punch to the body.
Paulakorpi tries a head kick but it misses.

Koch feints and as Paulakorpi raises his hands in defense, Koch changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Paulakorpi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Paulakorpi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Koch is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Paulakorpi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Koch's back instead.

Paulakorpi patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Paulakorpi doesn't have the hooks in and Koch manages to turn into his guard.

Paulakorpi has his foot on Koch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koch works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Paulakorpi looks gassed!
Koch lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Koch is in close to Paulakorpi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Koch scoring with some ground and pound.
Koch slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Koch wants to work for an arm triangle but Paulakorpi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Paulakorpi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Koch working the head and body with strikes.

Paulakorpi is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Koch pulls his head out easily.
Koch is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Paulakorpi taking some punishment here, with Koch in his half guard.
Koch is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Koch looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Koch 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.

Koch is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch lands strikes from half guard.
Koch wants to control but Paulakorpi is keeping him busy.
Koch wants to free his trapped foot but Paulakorpi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Koch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Paulakorpi defends it well.
Paulakorpi missing with punches from the bottom.

Paulakorpi looking for submissions off his back.
Paulakorpi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Koch's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Koch's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Paulakorpi blocks Koch's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Koch is looking to improve his position but Paulakorpi isn't that keen on the idea.
Koch wants to hold on but Paulakorpi pushes him away.

Paulakorpi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Koch throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Koch throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Paulakorpi looking to secure an arm triangle but Koch defends it well.

Paulakorpi looking to secure an arm triangle but Koch defends it well.
Koch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Koch throwing hammer fists to the chest of Paulakorpi. What's that going to do exactly?
Koch wants to hold on but Paulakorpi pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Paulakorpi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Koch throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Koch is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Koch throwing hammer fists to the chest of Paulakorpi. What's that going to do exactly?
Koch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Paulakorpi is working for a guillotine from mount but Koch frees his head quite easily.
Koch tries to hold on but Paulakorpi postures up.

Paulakorpi looking for a guillotine from mount but Koch is having none of it.
Koch working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Koch dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice shot by Koch.
Paulakorpi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A jab from Koch does it's job there.
Koch digs a good body shot into Paulakorpi's ribs.
Koch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Paulakorpi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Paulakorpi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice combination there by Koch.
Koch slips a straight right by Paulakorpi.
Koch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koch throws a one two combo.

It looks like Arnoldo Paulakorpi has been cut.
A punch combination from Koch misses.

Koch shoots in and bounces Paulakorpi off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Paulakorpi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Koch defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koch works over Paulakorpi with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Koch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paulakorpi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Koch has managed to get both his arms back between Paulakorpi's legs - danger averted.
Koch lands a couple of elbows.
Koch pushing down on Paulakorpi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Koch is looking for a kimura but Paulakorpi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Koch to get the leverage.

Paulakorpi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Paulakorpi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Koch thows a huge punch but Paulakorpi dodges it nicely.
Koch passes the guard and advances to mount!
Paulakorpi regains half guard.
Paulakorpi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paulakorpi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulakorpi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Koch is aware though and is defending well.
Paulakorpi looking for a sweep. Not yet Paulakorpi, not yet.
Koch works over Paulakorpi with some ground and pound from guard.
Koch lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Koch chips away with some ground and pound.
Paulakorpi looking for a sweep. Not yet Paulakorpi, not yet.

Koch tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Paulakorpi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Koch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Michael Koch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulakorpi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Paulakorpi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Koch landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Paulakorpi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Koch scores with a couple of nice shots.
Koch works his way into side control.
Koch is working Paulakorpi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Paulakorpi is trying to improve his position.

Koch tries for a kimura but Paulakorpi is defending well.
Koch in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Paulakorpi is looking for a sweep.
Koch working the head and body with strikes.
Paulakorpi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Koch cracks Paulakorpi with a big right hand but Paulakorpi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Paulakorpi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Koch lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Paulakorpi down.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Koch lands a nice shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Paulakorpi.

Koch drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Paulakorpi throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Koch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Koch dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Arnoldo Paulakorpi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Koch throws a series of punches but Paulakorpi avoids them all with ease.
Paulakorpi misses with an uppercut. Koch saw that one coming.
A head kick from Paulakorpi lands but Koch takes it in his stride.
Paulakorpi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koch on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Koch misses with a few strikes there.
Koch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Koch takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Paulakorpi lands with a kick to the temple. Koch shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Paulakorpi tries a head kick but it misses.
Paulakorpi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Koch lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koch misses with a two punch combination.
Paulakorpi throws a right hand that Koch ducks under and follows up with a left that Koch also avoids with ease.
Paulakorpi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Koch avoids the head kick by Paulakorpi.
Michael Koch is winning the standup battle so far.
Koch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulakorpi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koch's head.
Koch slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arnoldo Paulakorpi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paulakorpi lands a front kick.
A combination from Koch does no damage.
Paulakorpi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Koch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Paulakorpi throws out the jab.
Koch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paulakorpi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Koch loads up on a big right hand but Paulakorpi slips the punch.
Paulakorpi avoids the body shot from Koch.
Paulakorpi ducks under a wild hook from Koch.
Paulakorpi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Paulakorpi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Paulakorpi misses with a few strikes there.
Paulakorpi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Paulakorpi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Koch looks to throw the jab but Paulakorpi is out of range.
Paulakorpi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Paulakorpi throws a head kick but Koch moves out of range.
Michael Koch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulakorpi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Paulakorpi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koch with a nice cross.

Koch shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Koch showed some decent athleticism there.
Koch passes to full mount!
Paulakorpi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Paulakorpi is bucking up trying to escape but Koch cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Koch pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Koch blocks Paulakorpi's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Koch lands a big shot there that rocks Paulakorpi but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Paulakorpi is trying desperately to improve position.
Arnoldo Paulakorpi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulakorpi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Koch postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Paulakorpi looks a forlorn figure.
Koch is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Paulakorpi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Koch landing strikes, looking to finish!
Koch has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Paulakorpi's face.
Koch punishing his opponent with strikes.
Paulakorpi is desperately trying to improve his position but Koch has a good base and remains in mount.
Koch punishing his opponent with strikes.
Koch is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Paulakorpi can't escape the position.

Koch is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Paulakorpi is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Koch!