PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Riku Reipas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Page Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knight has chosen like moths to flames as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Reipas
vs
Knight

175 cm
27
148 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

183 cm
28
144 lbs
14 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Reipas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Page Knight!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Reipas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Knight misses with the combination.
Knight stuffs the takedown.
Knight misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knight throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Knight circles away easily
and Knight counters with a three punch combo that has Reipas backing up. Reipas nods at Knight to acknowledge the strikes.
Knight misses with a hook. Reipas ducked under it nicely.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knight as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Reipas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Knight changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Reipas shoots for a double leg takedown but Knight sprawls well. He's pushed Reipas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Knight is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Reipas shoots in and drives through. Knight sprawls well.
Reipas shoots in looking for a takedown. Knight tries to sprawl out of it but Reipas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knight manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Reipas looks to score with a jab to the body but Knight is just out of range.
Knight throws out a powerful jab.
Knight throws a series of punches but Reipas moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Knight. No joy for Reipas on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Reipas shoots in and bounces Knight off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Reipas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reipas works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Reipas is looking for a kimura here.
Reipas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knight's head.
Knight is trying to get back to full guard.
Reipas is thwarting Knight's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to improve his position but Reipas is controlling well.
Knight is not content to let Reipas control the position.
Knight is in trouble now - Reipas has advanced to mount!
Knight is in all sorts of trouble here.
Reipas tries to control but Knight wriggling away.
Knight gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reipas moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reipas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Reipas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Knight tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reipas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Knight managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Reipas.
Reipas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Knight's legs.
Reipas lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reipas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Knight prevents Reipas from improving position.

Reipas is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Knight knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Reipas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Reipas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Reipas dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Reipas misses with a takedown
and Knight connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Reipas shoots and misses
and Knight counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reipas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Reipas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knight misses with a series of wild punches.
Knight cracks a nice hook into Reipas's ribs.
Reipas thows a body shot but no joy.
Knight looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Reipas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knight manages to avoid it.
Reipas tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.
Knight misses with a wild body shot.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knight sprawls well. Knight wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Reipas gets slowly back to his feet.
Knight throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reipas.
Page Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knight throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight looks to land a combination but Reipas avoids it well.
Knight misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knight misses with a wild combination.
Reipas shoots in for a double leg but Knight sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Knight scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Reipas shoots in for a double leg but Knight sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Knight looks to land a combination but Reipas avoids it well.
A shot to the liver by Knight. Beautiful body shot.
Page Knight is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reipas slips a jab and a cross from Knight.
Knight misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knight will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reipas shoots for a double leg takedown but Knight sprawls well. He's pushed Reipas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice body punch from Reipas.
Knight is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Reipas rather than just go for the knockout.
Knight defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reipas.
Knight rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Reipas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown but Knight shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Reipas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Knight counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reipas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knight.
Knight ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Knight swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Reipas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Knight quickly recovers to half guard.
Knight trying to control but Reipas postures up.
Knight is trying to stand.
Reipas is looking to advance position but Knight won't allow it.
Knight is not content to let Reipas control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to get back to full guard.
Reipas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Reipas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Reipas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Knight is just riding it out for now. Reipas eventually gives up the hold.
Knight wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reipas slows the pace down in half guard.
Knight is looking to control Reipas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knight avoid being mounted?

Reipas seems to be working for a kimura but Knight defends the submission attempt.
Knight is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight is looking to control Reipas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knight avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Page Knight will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Reipas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Reipas tries to land a leg kick but Knight saw it coming and moves away.
Knight misses with an uppercut. Reipas saw that one coming.
A combination from Knight does no damage.
Knight swats away the attempt to clinch by Reipas.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Knight throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Knight throws a right hand that Reipas ducks under and follows up with a left that Reipas also avoids with ease.
Reipas shoots in but Knight avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Knight cracks a nice hook into Reipas's ribs.
Knight throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reipas.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knight as he avoids it easily.
Knight throws an overhand right that lands on Reipas's shoulder, as Reipas tries to avoid the shot.
Reipas shoots in for a takedown but Knight shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Reipas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reipas.
Reipas moves in looking to clinch but Knight pushes him off.
Knight throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Reipas or perhaps it was just good defense by Knight which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reipas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knight sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Knight swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Reipas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Knight's guard now.
Knight looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Reipas postures up.
Reipas postures up in Knight's guard and throws a big left but Knight blocks it.
Knight working a defensive guard here.
Reipas advances to half guard.
Reipas is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reipas is trying to work for a kimura but Knight is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reipas trying to mount his opponent but Knight defends it.
Knight is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Reipas working Knight over with strikes.
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. Reipas connects with a nice short shot to Knight's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reipas is just content to waste time from the top position. Knight takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Knight not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Knight utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reipas trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.
Reipas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knight throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Reipas stopping the sweep attempt from Knight.
Reipas trying to control the position from guard on top but Knight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reipas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reipas stops Knight from standing up.
Reipas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Reipas throwing strikes from guard but Knight blocks nicely.
Reipas looking to pass the guard.
Knight controls Reipas momentarily but Reipas frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reipas throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riku Reipas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reipas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Reipas!