PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hempii Sapponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Lipton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lipton's choice of entrance music: Pearl Jam - Black. Joe Lipton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sapponen
vs
Lipton

180 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
19
198 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

Good takedowns
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

FUEL

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hempii Sapponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Lipton!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lipton tries to keep at a distance but Sapponen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sapponen dodges an elbow strike from Lipton.
Lipton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lipton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sapponen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lipton prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Lipton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sapponen's brow.
Sapponen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lipton smiles and moves away.

Lipton has Sapponen up against the ropes in a clinch.

Sapponen ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sapponen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Sapponen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lipton postures up.

Lipton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lipton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sapponen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapponen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lipton's guard.
Sapponen forces his way into half guard.

Sapponen seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lipton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lipton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sapponen looking to sit in guard and control but Lipton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sapponen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lipton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Sapponen is tightening it up a little... Lipton has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Lipton reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Lipton taps out! nice BJJ there by Sapponen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hempii Sapponen!