PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Niko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahmood al Sayidul Mursaleen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupponen comes to the cage accompanied by SMC Hoodrats. The crowd seem to be enjoying al Sayidul Mursaleen's choice of entrance music: Sokht Lalazar-e-man. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rupponen
vs
al Sayidul Mursaleen

160 cm
19
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Behold The Beast

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Rupponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mahmood al Sayidul Mursaleen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupponen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Rupponen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
al Sayidul Mursaleen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rupponen is controlling him.
Rupponen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rupponen trying to control the position from guard on top but al Sayidul Mursaleen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rupponen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
al Sayidul Mursaleen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
al Sayidul Mursaleen looking to control but Rupponen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rupponen tries to reverse the position but al Sayidul Mursaleen maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Sayidul Mursaleen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rupponen is looking to escape.
Rupponen wants to control but al Sayidul Mursaleen is having none of it.
al Sayidul Mursaleen controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rupponen tries to lock up and control but al Sayidul Mursaleen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rupponen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
al Sayidul Mursaleen tries to control but Rupponen wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
al Sayidul Mursaleen prevents Rupponen from getting the reversal.
al Sayidul Mursaleen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rupponen tries to reverse the position but al Sayidul Mursaleen maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Sayidul Mursaleen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rupponen is looking to escape.
Rupponen is trying to escape the mount.
Rupponen is working hard here to advance position.

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.
al Sayidul Mursaleen can't control as he wanted to and Rupponen manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
al Sayidul Mursaleen is thwarting Rupponen's attempts to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - al Sayidul Mursaleen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
al Sayidul Mursaleen wants to clinch.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown but al Sayidul Mursaleen shows good takedown defense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
al Sayidul Mursaleen lands with a nice body punch.
Rupponen slips a jab and a cross from al Sayidul Mursaleen.

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rupponen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
al Sayidul Mursaleen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
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 Niko Rupponen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

al Sayidul Mursaleen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rupponen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in al Sayidul Mursaleen's guard.
al Sayidul Mursaleen keeping full guard, as Rupponen tries to pass.
Rupponen advances to half guard.
al Sayidul Mursaleen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rupponen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
al Sayidul Mursaleen looks like he's trying to stand up.

Rupponen is working for a submission of some sort.
Rupponen stops al Sayidul Mursaleen from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Sayidul Mursaleen is trying to maintain the position but Rupponen is very close to passing his half guard.
Rupponen is just content to waste time from the top position. al Sayidul Mursaleen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rupponen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. al Sayidul Mursaleen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rupponen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but al Sayidul Mursaleen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rupponen has al Sayidul Mursaleen in his guard.
Rupponen wants to sweep but no luck.

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.

Rupponen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rupponen is trying to keep al Sayidul Mursaleen in close.
Rupponen looking to hit a scissor sweep but al Sayidul Mursaleen is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen trying to keep a closed guard but al Sayidul Mursaleen is proving a slippery customer.
Rupponen wants to sweep here but al Sayidul Mursaleen controlling him for the moment.
al Sayidul Mursaleen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rupponen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
al Sayidul Mursaleen wants to control from the top but Rupponen keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
al Sayidul Mursaleen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rupponen keeps the fight on the outside.
al Sayidul Mursaleen wants to clinch

and Rupponen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Sayidul Mursaleen trying to hold on to Rupponen's head to control him but Rupponen postures up.
Rupponen passes to full mount!
al Sayidul Mursaleen wants to hold on but Rupponen pushes him away.

Rupponen moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, al Sayidul Mursaleen has worked his arm free - good work by al Sayidul Mursaleen!
Rupponen takes a little break here. al Sayidul Mursaleen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Rupponen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rupponen shoots for a double leg takedown but al Sayidul Mursaleen sprawls well. He's pushed Rupponen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rupponen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. al Sayidul Mursaleen did well to prevent Rupponen getting side control.
al Sayidul Mursaleen throws a strike from the bottom but Rupponen passes into side control!
al Sayidul Mursaleen is looking to reverse the position.
Rupponen throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Rupponen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rupponen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
al Sayidul Mursaleen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Sayidul Mursaleen won't allow Rupponen to pass to mount.
al Sayidul Mursaleen trying to hold on to Rupponen's head to control him but Rupponen postures up.
Rupponen wants to free his trapped foot but al Sayidul Mursaleen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
al Sayidul Mursaleen is trying to control but can't.

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.
Rupponen trying to control from half guard but al Sayidul Mursaleen is working away.
Rupponen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
al Sayidul Mursaleen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rupponen throws some wild stikes that al Sayidul Mursaleen manages to avoid easily.
Rupponen avoids the attempt from al Sayidul Mursaleen to control.
Rupponen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Sayidul Mursaleen tries to improve his position but instead Rupponen has taken his back!

al Sayidul Mursaleen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rupponen gets his way!

Rupponen is looking for a choke. al Sayidul Mursaleen gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. al Sayidul Mursaleen manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
al Sayidul Mursaleen passes Rupponen's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen manages to get to full guard.
al Sayidul Mursaleen lands a couple of elbows.
Rupponen trying to keep a closed guard but al Sayidul Mursaleen is proving a slippery customer.
Rupponen is pulling down on al Sayidul Mursaleen's head. It's preventing any offense from al Sayidul Mursaleen, at least for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
al Sayidul Mursaleen postures up in Rupponen's guard and throws a big left but Rupponen blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Rupponen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rupponen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!

Niko Rupponen wins by unanimous decision!