PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Adam Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strange comes to the cage accompanied by Adam Strange - Traveller. Rupponen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: SMC Hoodrats. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Strange
vs
Rupponen

160 cm
21
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

FinnFighters Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adam Strange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Rupponen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rupponen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rupponen wants to free his trapped foot but Strange is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Strange wants to get back to full guard.
Rupponen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rupponen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Strange!
Strange is trying to escape the mount.
Rupponen forces the positional change into back control.
Rupponen really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Strange.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen controlling well, preventing Strange from escaping the position.
Strange prevents Rupponen from getting a body triangle.
Rupponen misses with a punch to the head.
Strange trying to control the action but Rupponen just sinks the hooks in.
Rupponen trying to control.
Rupponen controlling well, preventing Strange from escaping the position.
Rupponen throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Strange defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rupponen's arms.
Strange avoids the strikes from Rupponen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rupponen biding his time, looking for the opening.
Rupponen struggling to land strikes to the head as Strange covers up.
Rupponen is controlling the position but Strange somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Strange manages to get to full guard.
Rupponen forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strange is staying active underneath Rupponen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rupponen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rupponen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Strange is breathing heavily.
Rupponen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Strange is trying to escape the mount.
Rupponen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rupponen with the ground and pound from mount.
Strange is trying to escape the mount.

Rupponen has hold of Strange's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Strange manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange has given up his back.
Rupponen misses with an elbow to the head.
Strange is really stuck here.

Rupponen working for a choke but Strange is defending well.
Strange covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Rupponen has the hooks in. Strange is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Rupponen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Strange has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Strange keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Strange gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rupponen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rupponen passes Strange's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rupponen wants to pass to mount but Strange is defending the position.
Niko Rupponen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rupponen works his way into full mount!
Strange is looking to improve his position but Rupponen isn't that keen on the idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rupponen unloads with some shots from mount but Strange bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange wants to control but Rupponen is having none of it.
Rupponen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rupponen controlling the pace for now.
Rupponen trying to control but Strange is having none of it.

Rupponen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Rupponen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Strange is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rupponen.
Rupponen landing shots from mount.
Rupponen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Strange is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Rupponen has taken his back.

Rupponen looking for the choke from the back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Strange fending off the submission attempt from Rupponen.
Strange tries to roll but Rupponen sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Rupponen looking for the choke from the back.
Rupponen punishes Strange with strikes from the back mount.
Strange tries to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rupponen. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Strange tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Strange is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rupponen controlling his opponent.
Rupponen scoring with strikes but Strange is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen with shots to the head and body - Strange looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rupponen fails to take his opponent's back.
Rupponen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Strange looks a forlorn figure.
Rupponen wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Strange working to try and regain half guard.
Rupponen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rupponen trying to control but Strange is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strange can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rupponen prevents Strange from improving his position.
Rupponen is looking to advance position but Strange won't allow it.
Strange trying to control here.
Rupponen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rupponen works his way into full mount!
Strange tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange tries to improve his position but instead Rupponen has taken his back!

Rupponen is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Strange has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Rupponen has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Strange taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Rupponen doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Niko Rupponen!