PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaarlo Kuningas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupunen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kuningas
vs
Rupunen

182 cm
20
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaarlo Kuningas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupunen shoots in but Kuningas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kuningas wants to clinch up but Rupunen keeps it at a distance.
Kuningas throws a series of punches but Rupunen avoids them all with ease.
Rupunen falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kuningas counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rupunen!
Rupunen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kuningas.
Kuningas content just to control the position here.
Rupunen tries to lock up and control but Kuningas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rupunen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kuningas wants to stand but Rupunen is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Rupunen is looking to improve his position but Kuningas isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kuningas.
Kuningas avoids the attempt from Rupunen to control.
Rupunen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kuningas with shots to the head and body - Rupunen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rupunen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rupunen regains half guard.
Rupunen wants to get back to his feet.
Rupunen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rupunen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuningas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rupunen has his hands on Kuningas's head, controlling the position.

Rupunen is looking for a triangle but Kuningas pushes his legs off easily.
Rupunen looks gassed!
Kuningas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuningas wants to pass the guard but Rupunen is keeping the position.
Rupunen trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuningas looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuningas is pushing down on Rupunen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rupunen is fighting to maintain full guard but Kuningas has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rupunen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rupunen.
Rupunen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kuningas trying to get back to full guard but Rupunen takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rupunen landing punches.
Kuningas wants to hold on but Rupunen pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuningas is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Rupunen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rupunen content just to control the position here.
Kuningas is bucking up trying to escape but Rupunen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kuningas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rupunen landing strikes, looking to finish!
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rupunen has his takedown stuffed

and Kuningas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kuningas.

Rupunen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuningas is looking to stand up but Rupunen won't let him.
Rupunen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rupunen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rupunen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kuningas can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kuningas working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rupunen is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Kuningas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Rupunen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rupunen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Miksu Rupunen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kuningas is looking for a sweep.
Rupunen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rupunen working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuningas tries to buck Rupunen off but Rupunen is having none of it.
Kuningas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rupunen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kuningas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kuningas wants to sweep here but Rupunen controlling him for the moment.
Kuningas is looking to stand up but Rupunen isn't so interested in that idea.

Kuningas looking for a guillotine here but Rupunen defends easily.
Rupunen preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuningas wants to stand up but Rupunen is controlling him.
Rupunen postures up.

Rupunen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rupunen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rupunen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kuningas down.
Rupunen in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kuningas is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Kuningas is trying to get back to half guard.
Kuningas struggling a bit here.
Kuningas is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miksu Rupunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuningas throws a combination that misses

and Rupunen counters with a takedown into side control.
Kuningas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rupunen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rupunen stands up and beckons Kuningas to his feet.
Kaarlo Kuningas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rupunen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rupunen keeps the fight on the outside.

Kuningas clinches.
Rupunen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kuningas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuningas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rupunen.

Rupunen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kuningas clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rupunen is trying to stick to Kuningas's back but Kuningas 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 Kuningas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rupunen looking for a sweep. Not yet Rupunen, not yet.
Rupunen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuningas looking to pass the guard.
Kuningas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rupunen is on top in guard.

Kuningas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rupunen trying to control but Kuningas is working from the bottom.
Rupunen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rupunen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two 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.

Rupunen stands and steps away. Kuningas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rupunen gets the takedown into side control.
Kuningas wants to control but Rupunen postures up.
Kuningas wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
What's Kuningas going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Kuningas struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuningas manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rupunen's best efforts.
Kuningas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kuningas controls Rupunen momentarily but Rupunen frees himself.
Kuningas is looking to stand up but Rupunen isn't so interested in that idea.
Kuningas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rupunen manages to get himself to full guard.
Kuningas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kuningas tries to stand but Rupunen is controlling from the bottom.
Kuningas wants to control from the top but Rupunen keeps moving.

That's four 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.

Rupunen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rupunen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kuningas.
Kaarlo Kuningas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rupunen avoids the head kick by Kuningas.
Rupunen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kuningas counters with a head kick. That will keep Rupunen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Rupunen gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuningas wants to get back to his feet.

Rupunen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kuningas rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rupunen's guard! Nice work there by Kuningas!

And that's the end of the fight!
Miksu Rupunen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rupunen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miksu Rupunen!