PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Telus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Telus
vs
Rupponen

180 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Telus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Rupponen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Telus throws a hook but Rupponen avoids it easily.
A jab from Telus misses.
Telus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Steve Telus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Telus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Telus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rupponen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Telus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Telus throws a hook but Rupponen blocks it.
Telus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rupponen.
Telus tries to bum rush Rupponen with a series of wild strikes but Rupponen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Telus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rupponen ducks under a wild hook from Telus.
Rupponen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice sprawl there from Telus as Rupponen shoots in.
Rupponen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab by Telus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rupponen slips under a jab.
Rupponen defending well as Telus loads up on a big left hand.
Rupponen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Telus clobbers Rupponen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Telus throws a lazy right hand but Rupponen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Telus pinned against the cage. Telus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steve Telus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Rupponen.
Telus misses with a wild body shot.
Rupponen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Telus tries to avoid it but Rupponen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Telus to the ground. Telus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rupponen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Telus.
Rupponen tries to close the distance and clinch but Telus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Telus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rupponen.

Rupponen has closed the distance and engaged Telus in a clinch.
Rupponen misses with a body punch.
Telus wants to break free but Rupponen has control.
Telus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Telus avoiding damage as Rupponen throws knees to the body.
Telus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rupponen can't find room to land a body shot as Telus controls the action.

Rupponen pulls guard.
Telus trying to control but Rupponen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Telus wants to stand but Rupponen is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Telus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Telus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rupponen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Telus wants to stand but Rupponen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Telus is stalling in the full guard.
Telus could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Telus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
No luck for Rupponen with that takedown attempt.
A jab from Telus misses.
Rupponen moves out of range of the strikes.
Telus stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Telus throws a body punch but Rupponen moves out of range.
Telus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rupponen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Telus.
Telus throws a looping overhand right but Rupponen ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Telus misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rupponen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Telus.
Rupponen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Telus's waist but Telus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rupponen off to one side.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Telus sprawls well. Telus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rupponen gets slowly back to his feet.
Rupponen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Telus.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Telus lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Telus throws a hook to the side of Rupponen's head but Rupponen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rupponen shoots for a double leg takedown but Telus sprawls well. He's pushed Rupponen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Telus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rupponen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Telus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rupponen looks gassed!
Telus thows a left - swing and a miss!
Telus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rupponen.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Telus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Telus stuffs the takedown.
Telus lands a head shot.
Rupponen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Telus dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rupponen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Telus.
The fighters circling - Telus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Telus fails to land with a series of punches.
Telus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rupponen.
Telus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rupponen.
Telus punishes Rupponen's body with a nice straight punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Telus misses the target.
Rupponen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Telus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Telus throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rupponen tries to clinch but Telus moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rupponen staying out of range there.
Rupponen fails with a takedown attempt.
Rupponen is breathing heavily.
No luck for Rupponen with that takedown attempt.
Steve Telus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Rupponen.
Rupponen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen slips under a jab.
Telus cracks Rupponen with a good jab.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Telus but Telus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mikko Rupponen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Telus misses.
Telus missing with a left hand there. Rupponen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Telus ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Telus will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Telus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Telus loads up on a big right hand but Rupponen slips the punch.
Telus scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rupponen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Telus throws out the jab.
Rupponen ducks under a wild hook from Telus.
Rupponen fails to land the takedown.
Rupponen moves out of range as Telus strikes.
Steve Telus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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 gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rupponen.
Telus is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rupponen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rupponen fails to pull guard.
Rupponen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Telus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rupponen jumps guard but Telus stands there with Rupponen around his waist. Rupponen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rupponen.
Telus jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rupponen walks away with a smile on his face. Telus gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Telus misses with a straight left.
Telus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Telus tests Rupponen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rupponen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rupponen tries for a takedown but Telus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Telus throws a hook but Rupponen blocks it.
Rupponen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Telus throws out the jab.
Telus cracks Rupponen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rupponen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Telus throws a series of punches but Rupponen moves out of range.
Telus looks to land a left hand but Rupponen moved out of range nicely.
Telus tries to bum rush Rupponen with a series of wild strikes but Rupponen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rupponen shoots in looking for a takedown. Telus tries to sprawl out of it but Rupponen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Telus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rupponen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Telus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rupponen somewhat.
Telus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Telus throws a hook to the side of Rupponen's head but Rupponen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No joy there for Telus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rupponen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Telus bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rupponen's head.
Rupponen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Telus finds it's way round the side to connect with Rupponen's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rupponen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rupponen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Telus.
Rupponen shoots in and drives through. Telus sprawls well.
A big right from Telus misses.
Telus throws a jab but it's blocked by Rupponen.
Telus throws a head kick that misses.
A big left from Telus misses.
Nice defenses there by Rupponen.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rupponen is defended easily by Telus.
Telus looks to throw the jab but Rupponen is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Telus tries a head kick but it misses.

Rupponen rushes Telus and presses him up against the cage.
Telus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rupponen gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rupponen jumps guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Telus dominated that second round.
That's time! Telus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Telus waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rupponen.
A slow jab from Telus misses its intended target.
Telus throws a lazy right hand but Rupponen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Telus misses with a hook. Rupponen ducked under it nicely.
Telus misses with a hook.
Rupponen shoots in but no luck this time.
Telus is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Telus misses with a looping right.
Telus throws out a loose jab but Rupponen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Telus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rupponen fails with a takedown attempt.
Telus throws a hook to the side of Rupponen's head but Rupponen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rupponen throws a head punch that misses.
Rupponen fails to pull guard.
Steve Telus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Rupponen.
Rupponen struggles to land a body shot inside as Telus controls his hands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rupponen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rupponen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Telus in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Telus fails to pull guard.
Telus wants to get back to striking at distance but Rupponen won't allow it.
Rupponen struggles to land a body shot inside as Telus controls his hands.
Rupponen trying to land knees to the body.
Telus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rupponen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Telus is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Rupponen's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A frustrated look appears on Telus's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Rupponen decides to pull guard.
Telus wants to control from the top but Rupponen keeps moving.
Telus wanted to stand there but Rupponen had control of the position.
Telus wants to control from the top but Rupponen keeps moving.
Telus stands and throws Rupponen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rupponen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Telus is trying to get back to full guard.
Rupponen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Telus is trying to stand up here but Rupponen is controlling him well.
Telus wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Decent striking displayed by Telus there.
Telus throws a series of punches but Rupponen moves out of range.
Rupponen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Telus.
Rupponen shoots for a double leg takedown but Telus sprawls well. He's pushed Rupponen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A nice combination there by Telus.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown but Telus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rupponen has a takedown stuffed.
Rupponen defending well as Telus loads up on a big left hand.
Nice sprawl there from Telus as Rupponen shoots in.
Telus tests Rupponen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Telus lands a with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rupponen closes the distance and clinches.
Rupponen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Telus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rupponen drags the fight down to the ground.
Telus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rupponen's guard.
Mikko Rupponen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Telus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rupponen looking for a guillotine here but Telus defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Rupponen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Telus has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Telus!