PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joonatan Lehkosuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupunen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. Lehkosuo has chosen Metallica - Fuel as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rupunen
vs
Lehkosuo

185 cm
20
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonatan Lehkosuo!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupunen throws a head kick that misses.
No luck for Lehkosuo with that takedown attempt.
Rupunen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rupunen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Lehkosuo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rupunen is pressing down on Lehkosuo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lehkosuo is holding on for now.
Lehkosuo wants to get back to full guard.
Rupunen is keen to just control but Lehkosuo is a slippery customer.
Lehkosuo is trying to maintain the position but Rupunen is very close to passing his half guard.
Lehkosuo missing with punches from the bottom.

Lehkosuo looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehkosuo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lehkosuo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rupunen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rupunen clinches up against the cage.

Rupunen breaks the clinch.

Rupunen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Lehkosuo!

Rupunen has hold of Lehkosuo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Lehkosuo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Lehkosuo wants to hold on but Rupunen pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehkosuo is working to get back to half guard.
Rupunen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Rupunen working for a guillotine from mount but Lehkosuo is in no mood to give up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rupunen controlling from the full mount.
Rupunen takes Lehkosuo's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Rupunen.
Rupunen is not going to allow Lehkosuo to sit and survive in this position.
Rupunen controlling the position well here. Lehkosuo rolled but Rupunen kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Lehkosuo wants to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lehkosuo is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Lehkosuo tries to escape the position.
Lehkosuo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lehkosuo looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rupunen lands a shot to the body.
Lehkosuo breaks Rupunen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Rupunen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rupunen is trying to control the position but Lehkosuo postures up.
Lehkosuo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rupunen is keeping the position for now.

Rupunen has his feet on Lehkosuo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Rupunen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lehkosuo keeping moving, preventing Rupunen from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lehkosuo has his takedown stuffed

and Rupunen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lehkosuo's guard now.

Rupunen stands and steps away. Lehkosuo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lehkosuo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lehkosuo duly obliges.
Rupunen has his takedown stuffed

and Lehkosuo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rupunen!

Lehkosuo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rupunen has worked his arm free - good work by Rupunen!
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!
Rupunen is pushing Lehkosuo's head away, looking to escape. Lehkosuo manages to hold on to the position though.

Lehkosuo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rupunen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lehkosuo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rupunen gets back to full guard.
Rupunen has Lehkosuo pulled in close to control his posture.

Rupunen pushes Lehkosuo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lehkosuo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rupunen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lehkosuo's guard now.

Lehkosuo is looking for a triangle here but Rupunen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rupunen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lehkosuo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lehkosuo struggling a bit here.
Lehkosuo is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Rupunen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rupunen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rupunen unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rupunen controlling his opponent.
Lehkosuo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Rupunen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rupunen.
Rupunen in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Lehkosuo is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen advances to mount.
Rupunen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rupunen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rupunen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lehkosuo looks a forlorn figure.
Rupunen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miksu Rupunen dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Lehkosuo shoots and misses

and Rupunen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rupunen.
Miksu Rupunen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rupunen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lehkosuo trying to control the position.
Rupunen 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.
Rupunen pushing down on Lehkosuo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rupunen drops an elbow to the side of Lehkosuo's head.

Rupunen decides to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rupunen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lehkosuo fails with the takedown
and Rupunen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rupunen gets a takedown into half guard.
Rupunen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rupunen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rupunen working over Lehkosuo with some ground and pound. Lehkosuo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rupunen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehkosuo tries to get to full guard but Rupunen has control of the leg.

Rupunen in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Lehkosuo tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Rupunen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Miksu Rupunen!