PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vegard Bjorneset (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hempii Sapponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bjorneset
vs
Sapponen

182 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vegard Bjorneset!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hempii Sapponen!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Bjorneset lands but Sapponen takes it in his stride.

Sapponen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bjorneset is trying to get back to full guard.
Bjorneset controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Sapponen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bjorneset is trying to stand up here but Sapponen is controlling him well.
Bjorneset trying to control but Sapponen postures up.
Sapponen stalling.
Bjorneset is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapponen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bjorneset doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sapponen.
Bjorneset looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sapponen controlling the action here.

Bjorneset looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bjorneset tries to roll over but Sapponen keeps him under control.

Sapponen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sapponen looks gassed!

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

Sapponen wants to work for an arm triangle but Bjorneset is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bjorneset manages to get to full guard.
Sapponen preventing the sweep.
Bjorneset keeping moving, preventing Sapponen from controlling successfully.
Bjorneset looking to control.
Sapponen wants to control from the top but Bjorneset keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bjorneset is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bjorneset tries to clinch up but Sapponen circles away and keeps his distance.
Bjorneset goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bjorneset throws a one two combo.

Sapponen is rocked!
Bjorneset works Sapponen's body with a nice hook.
Sapponen is still on wobbly legs! Can Bjorneset finish him?
Bjorneset wants to clinch up but Sapponen keeps it at a distance.

Sapponen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bjorneset looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bjorneset wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sapponen seems to have recovered his senses.
Sapponen passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bjorneset!
Bjorneset is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sapponen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bjorneset has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Sapponen looking to secure an arm triangle but Bjorneset defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Sapponen is working for a guillotine from mount but Bjorneset frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen avoids the attempt from Bjorneset to control.
Sapponen trying to control but Bjorneset is having none of it.
Sapponen with a couple of short strikes.
Bjorneset keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sapponen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bjorneset is looking to escape.
Bjorneset tries to hold on but Sapponen postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hempii Sapponen dominated that 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.

Bjorneset tries to close the distance and clinch but Sapponen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bjorneset doesn't manage to clinch there - Sapponen circles away.
Sapponen shoots in but Bjorneset avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Horrible takedown by Sapponen or perhaps it was just good defense by Bjorneset which made him look bad.
Bjorneset lands with a slapping head kick.
Bjorneset cracks Sapponen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bjorneset fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sapponen tries to move into range but Bjorneset moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sapponen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bjorneset.
Sapponen is breathing heavily.
Bjorneset lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sapponen looks to clinch
and Bjorneset counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bjorneset lands a big head kick that sends Sapponen to the canvas! Bjorneset follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vegard Bjorneset!