PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stanley Goodspeed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hempii Sapponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Goodspeed
vs
Sapponen

185 cm
25
210 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
213 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stanley Goodspeed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hempii Sapponen!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapponen is looking to clinch.

Goodspeed has Sapponen up against the cage in a clinch.
Sapponen is struggling to control the position.

Goodspeed's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Goodspeed circles away from the clinch attempt.
Goodspeed misses with a series of wild punches.
Goodspeed waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sapponen.

Goodspeed instigates a clinch.
Goodspeed working hard to break the clinch.

Goodspeed is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sapponen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Goodspeed to the mat. Goodspeed regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Sapponen drops back looking for a leg! Goodspeed is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Goodspeed manages to kick Sapponen off! Sapponen jumps back into Goodspeed's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapponen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Goodspeed dives on top into guard.
Sapponen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sapponen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goodspeed postures up.
Goodspeed is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapponen has wrist control.
Goodspeed postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodspeed with a flurry of punches that miss.
Goodspeed loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Goodspeed trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goodspeed is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapponen has wrist control.
Goodspeed is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapponen has wrist control.
Sapponen has Goodspeed pulled in close to control his posture.
Goodspeed postures up.
Goodspeed has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sapponen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Goodspeed with a flurry of punches that miss.
Goodspeed missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Goodspeed loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodspeed throws a big right hand that misses.
Goodspeed postures up in Sapponen's guard and throws a big left but Sapponen blocks it.
Sapponen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Goodspeed postures up in Sapponen's guard and throws a big left but Sapponen blocks it.
Sapponen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Goodspeed.
Sapponen controls Goodspeed momentarily but Goodspeed frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sapponen is on top in guard.
Goodspeed keeping moving, preventing Sapponen from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sapponen trying to control but Goodspeed is working from the bottom.
Sapponen tries to free his leg and advance position but Goodspeed is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hempii Sapponen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Goodspeed clinches.
Sapponen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Goodspeed just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sapponen stalling the fight.
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 Stanley Goodspeed will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sapponen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Sapponen or perhaps it was just good defense by Goodspeed which made him look bad.
Nice jab there from Goodspeed.

Goodspeed gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sapponen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Goodspeed gets underhooks to prevent Sapponen's takedown attempt.
Stanley Goodspeed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hempii Sapponen.
Goodspeed wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sapponen has him pressed against the cage.

Goodspeed breaks from the clinch.
Sapponen tries to clinch but Goodspeed is having none of it.

Sapponen gets tackled into the cage by Goodspeed. Goodspeed maintains the clinch.
Sapponen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Goodspeed's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapponen prevents Goodspeed from breaking the clinch.
Sapponen keeps control of Goodspeed as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sapponen.
Goodspeed can't break the clinch.
Goodspeed is trying to break the clinch but Sapponen has him pressed against the cage.
Sapponen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Goodspeed is trying to break the clinch but Sapponen is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Sapponen drags the fight down to the ground.
Goodspeed loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sapponen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Goodspeed throws a big right hand that misses.
Sapponen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Goodspeed.
Goodspeed throws and elbow that misses. Sapponen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Goodspeed's guard. Nice move by Sapponen!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Goodspeed holds on and takes a little breather.
Sapponen trying to control but Goodspeed is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodspeed not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sapponen is looking to work some ground and pound but Goodspeed has wrist control.
Sapponen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goodspeed is keeping the position for now.

Sapponen drops back looking for a leg! Goodspeed is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Goodspeed manages to kick Sapponen off! Sapponen jumps back into Goodspeed's guard.
Sapponen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sapponen advances position into side control!

Sapponen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sapponen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sapponen working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Stanley Goodspeed will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sapponen moves in looking to clinch but Goodspeed pushes him off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sapponen is defended easily by Goodspeed.

Sapponen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Goodspeed's guard.
Goodspeed keeping moving, preventing Sapponen from controlling successfully.
Sapponen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sapponen trying to control but Goodspeed is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hempii Sapponen was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Goodspeed clinches up with Sapponen and pushes him back against the cage.
Sapponen misses with a punch on the inside.
Goodspeed is trying to break free.
Sapponen tries to pull guard but Goodspeed won't allow it.
Sapponen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stanley Goodspeed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hempii Sapponen.

Goodspeed manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodspeed keeps the fight on the outside.
Sapponen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Goodspeed throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sapponen avoids the body shot from Goodspeed.
Sapponen is looking to clinch but Goodspeed is avoiding it.
Goodspeed throws a nice looking combination but Sapponen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Goodspeed clinches up against the cage.
Sapponen wants a takedown but no success here.
Goodspeed prevents the takedown attempt.

Goodspeed breaks from the clinch.
Goodspeed throws a body punch but Sapponen moves out of range.

Goodspeed gets a clinch.
Sapponen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Goodspeed just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodspeed is pressed up against the cage. Sapponen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Goodspeed down to the mat. Goodspeed avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Goodspeed will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Goodspeed closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Goodspeed breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sapponen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Goodspeed walks away with a smile on his face. Sapponen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Goodspeed moves into the clinch successfully.
Sapponen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Goodspeed avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen taking a breather.

Goodspeed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stanley Goodspeed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goodspeed misses with a jab, cross combination.

Goodspeed gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Goodspeed can't break the clinch.
Sapponen tries for a takedown but Goodspeed manages to get underhooks.
Sapponen effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Goodspeed gets underhooks to prevent Sapponen's takedown attempt.

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 Stanley Goodspeed.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Goodspeed, 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanley Goodspeed!