PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ilmari Reponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeSean Mccoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ilmari Reponen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Reponen
vs
Mccoy

182 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ilmari Reponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, LeSean Mccoy!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mccoy forces Reponen back against the cage and clinches.
Mccoy digs a right hand underneath Reponen's ribcage. Reponen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Reponen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mccoy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Mccoy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mccoy takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mccoy in particular looking to stall.
Reponen trying to hold on to Mccoy's head to control him but Mccoy postures up.
Reponen is looking to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reponen is trying to control but can't.
Reponen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Reponen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mccoy.
Mccoy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mccoy stays in close to Reponen's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mccoy postures up and lands a big shot to Reponen's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reponen seems keen to control Mccoy's posture.
Mccoy wants to pass the guard but Reponen is keeping the position.
Reponen pulls Mccoy in close to prevent any damage.
Mccoy wants to pass the guard but Reponen is keeping the position.
Mccoy throws a strike but Reponen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Reponen wants to pass the guard but Mccoy is keeping the position.
Mccoy wants to stand and escape but Reponen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Reponen has gone for a leg lock! Mccoy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Reponen's guard.
Mccoy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mccoy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mccoy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mccoy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mccoy trying to control the position from guard on top but Reponen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mccoy sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mccoy passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Reponen wants to improve his position but Mccoy is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy is just content to waste time from the top position. Reponen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Reponen is trying to control the position but Mccoy postures up.
Reponen is breathing heavily.
Mccoy controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mccoy pushes down on Reponen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mccoy wants to control but Reponen is keeping him busy.
Mccoy working over Reponen with some ground and pound. Reponen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mccoy tries to pass to full mount but Reponen defends it.
Mccoy is controlling the pace.

Mccoy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Reponen defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reponen trying to control but Mccoy postures up.
Reponen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mccoy prevents Reponen from standing back up.
Reponen is looking to improve his position.
Mccoy is just content to waste time from the top position. Reponen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reponen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mccoy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Reponen's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeSean Mccoy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Reponen.
Mccoy leaves Reponen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Mccoy is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Reponen's half guard.
Mccoy wants to pass to mount but Reponen is defending the position.
Mccoy lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Mccoy seems to be working for a kimura but Reponen defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reponen is staying active underneath Mccoy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mccoy in particular looking to stall.
Reponen wants to improve his position but Mccoy is controlling well.
Mccoy working the head and body with strikes.

Mccoy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Reponen tries to get to full guard but Mccoy has control of the leg.

Reponen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mccoy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reponen keeps working.
Mccoy drops an elbow to the side of Reponen's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy is trying to control the action in half guard but Reponen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Reponen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mccoy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Reponen controls Mccoy momentarily but Mccoy frees himself.
Mccoy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mccoy trying to control but Reponen is working from the bottom.
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!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. LeSean Mccoy wasn't active enough on the ground.

Mccoy has closed the distance and engaged Reponen in a clinch.
Mccoy is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilmari Reponen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mccoy turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Reponen being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy trying to control the action but Reponen is working from the bottom.
Reponen is letting Mccoy control him for a moment.
Mccoy tries to move to mount but Reponen blocks the move with his legs.
Reponen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mccoy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Reponen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Reponen!
Mccoy controlling his opponent.
The referee warns Reponen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mccoy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mccoy lands a big shot there that rocks Reponen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reponen is trying desperately to improve position.
Mccoy looking to control and managing it successfully.

Mccoy working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeSean Mccoy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Mccoy clinches with his opponent.
Reponen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mccoy after a bit of a struggle.
Mccoy is pressed up against the cage. Reponen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mccoy down to the mat. Mccoy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Reponen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mccoy to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mccoy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mccoy is stalling in the full guard.
Reponen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mccoy trying to control but Reponen is working from the bottom.
Mccoy lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reponen keeping full guard, as Mccoy tries to pass.
Mccoy controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mccoy trying to control but Reponen is working from the bottom.
Reponen looking for a sweep. Not yet Reponen, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mccoy rushes Reponen and presses him up against the cage.
Reponen wants to take the fight to the mat but Mccoy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilmari Reponen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mccoy works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Reponen trying to keep a closed guard but Mccoy is proving a slippery customer.
LeSean Mccoy has got the better of the ground game so far.

Reponen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reponen trying to control the position.
Mccoy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reponen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mccoy controls the pace.
Mccoy slips nicely into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mccoy slows the pace down in half guard.
Reponen trying to control here.
Mccoy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mccoy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reponen to the mat! Reponen manages to get full guard.
Mccoy stopping the sweep attempt from Reponen.
Mccoy trying to control the position from guard on top but Reponen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy pushes down on Reponen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Reponen trying to hold on to Mccoy's head to control him but Mccoy postures up.
Mccoy frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Reponen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mccoy is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Reponen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Reponen is squirming around, avoiding Mccoy's attempts to control the action.
Mccoy with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mccoy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccoy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Mccoy working for a submission but Reponen is keeping him at bay.
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!
Mccoy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ilmari Reponen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
LeSean Mccoy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mccoy controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeSean Mccoy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mccoy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LeSean Mccoy!