PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lally Pop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vass Upp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Pop
vs
Upp

185 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

Good takedowns
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, Lally Pop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vass Upp!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pop misses with a kick to the body.
Upp takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Upp darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pop is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Upp scores with a couple of nice shots.

Upp is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pop is just riding it out for now. Upp eventually gives up the hold.
Pop keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Upp is looking to advance position but Pop won't allow it.
Upp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pop defending well though.
Pop is looking to control Upp's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pop avoid being mounted?
Pop pushes Upp off looking to stand but Upp dives back in and keeps control.

Upp is looking for a kimura but Pop is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Upp to get the leverage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Upp feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upp wants to pass the guard but Pop is keeping the position.
Pop looking to hit a scissor sweep but Upp is one step ahead there.
Upp with a flurry of punches that miss.
Upp lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pop is looking to stand up but Upp isn't so interested in that idea.

Pop is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uppis looking to pass into half guard but Pop pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pop is in guard.
Upp has a closed guard, preventing Pop from standing up.
Upp tries to strike from the bottom.
Pop passes Upp's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Upp is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pop not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Upp tries to get to full guard but Pop has control of the leg.
Pop blocks the strikes from Upp.
Upp looks gassed!
Pop scoring with strikes to the body and head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Upp looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pop is holding on to half guard well.
Upp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pop's head.

Pop is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Upp pulls his head out easily.
Upp trying to mount his opponent but Pop defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Upp is working for a submission of some sort.
Pop wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pop is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Upp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Upp's back!
Pop controlling the position well here. Upp rolled but Pop kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Upp can't escape the position.
Upp is taking damage to the body and head.
Will Pop go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Pop scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Pop lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Pop trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Upp breaks Pop's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pop throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Upp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pop.
Pop tries to bum rush Upp with a series of wild strikes but Upp uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Pop closes the distance and clinches.

Pop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pop throws a low kick but Upp avoids it.

Pop changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Upp looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Pop has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A punch combination from Pop misses.
Pop swinging wilding here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Upp.
Pop wants to control but Upp postures up.
Pop is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Upp's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pop moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pop has control of Upp's left arm, preventing Upp from doing any damage.
Pop trying to keep a closed guard but Upp is proving a slippery customer.
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 Lally Pop will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pop scores with a takedown into Upp's guard.
Upp tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lally Pop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pop forces his way into half guard.
Upp misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Pop stands up from half guard.
Upp throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pop's waist but Pop gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Upp off to one side.
Upp keeps the fight on the outside.
Pop displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Upp circles away from the clinch attempt.

Pop shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Upp looking for submissions off his back.
Upp throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pop prevents Upp from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upp gets back to full guard.
Upp bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pop's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Upp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Upp pushing down on Pop's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Upp trying to pass the guard but Pop defending well.
Upp thows a huge punch but Pop dodges it nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Upp connects with a nice short shot to Pop's temple.
Pop gets back to full guard.
Upp trying to control but Pop is working from the bottom.

Pop is looking for a triangle but Upp pushes his legs off easily.
Pop working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Upp.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Upp drops back looking for a leg! Pop is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pop manages to kick Upp off! Upp jumps back into Pop's guard.
Upp must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pop looking to control.
Upp looking to pass the guard.
Pop is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Upp drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pop manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Upp has Pop in his guard.
Upp keeping moving, preventing Pop from controlling successfully.
Upp throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Upp is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Upp throwing strikes from guard but Pop blocks nicely.
Upp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Upp pushes down on Pop's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Upp is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pop doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Upp.
Pop is trying to stand up here but Upp is controlling him well.

Upp seems to be looking for submissions.
Upp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Upp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pop wants to get back to full guard.
Upp not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.
Pop keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Upp prevents Pop from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pop throws a head kick that misses.

Upp drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Upp throws a big right hand that misses.

Pop is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Upp drops back looking for a leg! Pop is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pop manages to kick Upp off! Upp jumps back into Pop's guard.
Pop is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Upp looking to pass the guard.
Upp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Upp with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lally Pop dominated that second round.
That's time! Pop's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Upp.
Vass Upp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Upp scores with a takedown into Pop's guard.
Upp is pushing down on Pop's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pop is fighting to maintain full guard but Upp has managed to sneak the leg through.
Upp throwing shots but Pop is blocking nicely.
Pop is trying to stand back up but Upp is controlling him
Pop moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Upp works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Upp throwing shots but Pop is blocking nicely.
Upp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pop defending well though.
Pop trying to control but Upp postures up.
Pop regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Upp.
Pop manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pop breaks from Upp's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pop looking to secure an arm triangle but Upp defends it well.
Upp really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pop controlling the pace for now.
Pop wants to control the pace but Upp is squirming around nicely.
Upp working to try and regain half guard.
Upp is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pop scoring with strikes but Upp is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pop sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Upp is trying to escape the mount.

Pop looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Upp is trying to escape the mount but Pop keeps good control and instead manages to take Upp's back.
Upp manages to reverse the position and now he's in Pop's guard. Nice work there by Upp.
Pop wants to get back to his feet but Upp is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Upp with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Upp throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Upp's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Upp passes into half guard.
Upp is pressing down on Pop's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pop is holding on for now.
Upp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pop moves into full guard.
Upp throws a strike but Pop rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Upp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Upp unloads with some shots from mount but Pop bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pop can't escape the position.
Upp punching from mount but Pop doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pop wants to hold on but Upp pushes him away.
Pop slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Upp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pop defending well though.
Upp is looking to take a break and control but Pop is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pop is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Upp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Upp's back!
Pop lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Upp breaks Pop's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Upp trying to control the position from guard on top but Pop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Upp is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Upp throwing strikes but missing.
Vass Upp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Upp throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lally Pop.
Well Pop has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lally Pop!