PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franz Beckenbauer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Beckenbauer comes to the cage accompanied by Apaga mas não bate . Rupunen has chosen Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. On his way into the cage it seems that Franz Beckenbauer has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Franz Beckenbauer seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Beckenbauer
vs
Rupunen

180 cm
25
210 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

185 cm
29
205 lbs
17 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bushido Clothing
Bushido Clothing

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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franz Beckenbauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beckenbauer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rupunen avoids it really well and circles away.

Beckenbauer takes the fight into the clinch.
Beckenbauer tries to stall but Rupunen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rupunen prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rupunen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Beckenbauer tries to clinch up.
Rupunen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Beckenbauer's head.
Beckenbauer tries to clinch up.
Beckenbauer throws a right hand that Rupunen ducks under and follows up with a left that Rupunen also avoids with ease.
Beckenbauer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rupunen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rupunen throws a body punch but Beckenbauer moves out of range.
Franz Beckenbauer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beckenbauer scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Beckenbauer darts in and clinches Rupunen up against the cage.
Beckenbauer jumps guard but Rupunen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franz Beckenbauer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rupunen is looking to break free of the clinch but Beckenbauer has double underhooks.

Beckenbauer has picked Rupunen up - he's going for a ride! Beckenbauer dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rupunen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rupunen trying to control the position.

Rupunen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Beckenbauer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Beckenbauer drops back looking for a leg! Rupunen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rupunen manages to kick Beckenbauer off! Beckenbauer jumps back into Rupunen's guard.
Rupunen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Beckenbauer 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.

Rupunen looking for a guillotine here but Beckenbauer defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Beckenbauer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckenbauer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rupunen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Beckenbauer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Beckenbauer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rupunen has his hands on Beckenbauer's head, controlling the position.
Rupunen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Beckenbauer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rupunen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rupunen has escaped and now he's on top!
Beckenbauer keeping moving, preventing Rupunen from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rupunen passes Beckenbauer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Beckenbauer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rupunen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Beckenbauer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rupunen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rupunen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rupunen trying to control but Beckenbauer is working from the bottom.

Beckenbauer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rupunen has picked Beckenbauer up and slammed him! Beckenbauer can't keep hold of the triangle and Rupunen manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rupunen lands a few punches from side control.
Rupunen trying to control the action but Beckenbauer is working from the bottom.
Beckenbauer is looking to regain half guard here but Rupunen keeps moving and retains side control.
Rupunen cracks Beckenbauer with a big elbow.
Beckenbauer is trying to get back to half guard.
Beckenbauer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Beckenbauer looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Rupunen pushes past his half guard into mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rupunen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Beckenbauer can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Beckenbauer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rupunen with good strikes from the mount here!
Beckenbauer taking shots to the head.
Beckenbauer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Beckenbauer taking shots to the head.
Rupunen trying to control but Beckenbauer is having none of it.
Rupunen controlling his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rupunen lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Miksu Rupunen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Beckenbauer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rupunen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Beckenbauer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Beckenbauer looking to score a takedown here. Rupunen is defending well but Beckenbauer drives through and ends up in Rupunen's guard.
Beckenbauer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Beckenbauer wants to pass the guard but Rupunen is keeping the position.
Beckenbauer preventing the sweep.
Miksu Rupunen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Beckenbauer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rupunen has his foot on Beckenbauer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Beckenbauer works his way back into a safe position though.
Beckenbauer looking to pass the guard.
Beckenbauer is looking to advance position but Rupunen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Beckenbauer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rupunen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Beckenbauer to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Beckenbauer's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rupunen struggling to keep hold of the position.
Beckenbauer is really stuck here.

Rupunen tightening his grip on Beckenbauer, looking for the choke.

Rupunen is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Beckenbauer defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Rupunen looking to break Beckenbauer's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Beckenbauer remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rupunen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Beckenbauer wants to escape the position.

Rupunen tightening his grip on Beckenbauer, looking for the choke.
Rupunen controlling from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beckenbauer defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rupunen's arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beckenbauer tries to break free.
Rupunen is trying to stick to Beckenbauer's back but Beckenbauer is turning into Rupunen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rupunen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Beckenbauer.

Rupunen wriggles free and stands up.
Franz Beckenbauer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rupunen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Beckenbauer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rupunen as he jumps to the side.
Beckenbauer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rupunen throws a right hand that Beckenbauer ducks under and follows up with a left that Beckenbauer also avoids with ease.
Beckenbauer shoots in and drives through. Rupunen sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen scores with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Beckenbauer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rupunen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Beckenbauer misses with a low kick as Rupunen jumps back.
Beckenbauer fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franz Beckenbauer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beckenbauer misses with a takedown attempt
and Rupunen counters with a three punch combo that has Beckenbauer backing up. Beckenbauer nods at Rupunen to acknowledge the strikes.

Beckenbauer is rocked!
Beckenbauer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rupunen.
Oh Beckenbauer is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Beckenbauer walks right into a perfectly timed right hook and goes down hard! He's out cold! The ref cradles Beckenbauer limp body while Rupunen jumps on to the cage and waves to the roaring crowd. Wow that was just a brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Miksu Rupunen!