PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Dempsey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Sopraano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dempsey
vs
Sopraano

182 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Dempsey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Sopraano!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dempsey does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
No luck for Sopraano with that takedown attempt.
Matt Dempsey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sopraano gets caught flat footed, as Dempsey shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dempsey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dempsey wants to stand but Sopraano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dempsey pushes down on Sopraano's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sopraano manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dempsey being controlled here momentarily.
Dempsey trying to control the position from guard on top but Sopraano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dempsey stands up from Sopraano's guard - Dempsey perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sopraano shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dempsey manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sopraano trying to control the position from guard on top but Dempsey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sopraano passes Dempsey's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sopraano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sopraano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dempsey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sopraano.
Dempsey wants to get back to his feet.

Sopraano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dempsey sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two 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.
Dempsey wants to get back to his feet.
Sopraano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dempsey's head.

Sopraano is working for a kimura but Dempsey is defending it quite comfortably.
Sopraano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sopraano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Sopraano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dempsey sees it coming and defends easily.
Sopraano looks gassed!
Sopraano is looking to take a break and control but Dempsey is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dempsey kicks Sopraano off and gets back to his feet.

Dempsey moves into the clinch successfully.

Sopraano jumps into guard, dragging Dempsey to the mat.
Sopraano keeping full guard, as Dempsey tries to pass.
Sopraano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sopraano might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dempsey kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Dempsey wants to stand but Sopraano is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sopraano keeping moving, preventing Dempsey from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey tries to stand but Sopraano is controlling from the bottom.

Sopraano looking for a guillotine here but Dempsey defends easily.
Sopraano is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dempsey is controlling him.
Sopraano controls Dempsey momentarily but Dempsey frees himself.
Sopraano doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Toni Sopraano will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dempsey misses with a head kick.
Dempsey looks for the body kick but Sopraano saw that one coming.
Dempsey shoots and misses

and Sopraano counters with a shoot takedown. Dempsey fights it but they end up in guard.

Sopraano thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dempsey wants to stand up but Sopraano is controlling him.
Sopraano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dempsey wants to stand up but Sopraano is controlling him.

Sopraano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey can't keep his opponent in guard - Sopraano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sopraano wants to pass to mount but Dempsey is defending the position.
Dempsey looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dempsey keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sopraano controlling the action here.

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.

Sopraano seems to be working for a kimura but Dempsey defends the submission attempt.

Sopraano is looking for a kimura here.

Sopraano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dempsey sees it coming and defends easily.
Sopraano wants to free his trapped foot but Dempsey is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey looks like he's trying to stand up.
Still in half guard, Sopraano seems content to control.
Sopraano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sopraano trying to control from half guard but Dempsey is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sopraano takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Dempsey swinging wildly 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.
Sopraano checks a leg kick.
Sopraano avoids a kick to the body.
Dempsey fails with the takedown.
Dempsey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sopraano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dempsey.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sopraano tries to keep at a distance but Dempsey has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dempsey breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Sopraano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Dempsey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A leg kick checked by Sopraano.
Dempsey works Sopraano's body with a nice hook.
Sopraano gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Dempsey counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dempsey wants to control from the top but Sopraano keeps moving.

Sopraano looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dempsey is looking to stand up but Sopraano won't let him.
Dempsey knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sopraano on the ground.
Sopraano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sopraano trying to control the position here.
Toni Sopraano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dempsey trying to control but Sopraano is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sopraano has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dempsey off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Dempsey shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sopraano manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Dempsey is posturing up here but Sopraano has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Dempsey tries to roll out but it's too tight and Dempsey has to tap! Slick submission there by Sopraano!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Toni Sopraano!