PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Vipunen
vs
Rua

182 cm
23
195 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Combat Pro Formula

MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antero Vipunen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Rua!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.

Vipunen gets a takedown into half guard.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.
Vipunen wants to pass the guard but Rua is defending well.
Vipunen throws a strike but Rua avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Vipunen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vipunen is one step ahead there.
Vipunen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vipunen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is looking to stand up but Vipunen isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua works over Vipunen's head and body with a nice combination.

Vipunen is rocked!
A punch combination from Rua misses.

Vipunen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rua tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vipunen cracks Rua with a big right hand but Rua just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Vipunen lands an elbow.
Rua sneaks back into half guard.
Rua wants to control but Vipunen is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.

Vipunen is trying to work for a kimura but Rua is defending well.
Rua moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vipunen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vipunen wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rua is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vipunen tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rua has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Rua jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Vipunen manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen misses with a strike from the bottom.
Vipunen is looking to regain half guard here but Rua keeps moving and retains side control.
Rua has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Vipunen!
Rua takes Vipunen's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.
Vipunen rolls, trying to escape but Rua keeps control of the position.

Rua working for the choke.
Vipunen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rua's guard. Nice work there by Vipunen.
Vipunen is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vipunen!
Rua looking to control but Vipunen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Rua get's back to his feet.
Rua misses with a hook.
Rua lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vipunen defending well as Rua loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Rua dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rua tries to land a leg kick but Vipunen saw it coming and moves away.
Rua attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Vipunen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Vipunen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rua moves into full guard.
Rua is looking to stand up but Vipunen isn't so interested in that idea.
Vipunen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rua's head.
Vipunen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rua holds on and takes a little breather.
Vipunen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Rua has his foot on Vipunen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vipunen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen throws a strike but Rua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Vipunen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vipunen manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Vipunen's guard.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Vipunen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vipunen manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Vipunen's guard.
Rua is breathing heavily.

Vipunen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vipunen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rua is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vipunen is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rua jumps into side control!
Vipunen tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.
Vipunen is trying to work for a sweep but Rua has mounted him!

Vipunen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rua.
Vipunen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Vipunen trying to get back to full guard but Rua takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Vipunen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rua lands a jab-cross combination.
Rua misses with a wild combination.

Vipunen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to stand back up but Vipunen is controlling him
Rua trying to hold on to Vipunen's head to control him but Vipunen postures up.
Rua slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vipunen tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Vipunen throws and elbow that misses. Rua uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vipunen's guard. Nice move by Rua!
Vipunen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Vipunen goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rua is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wanderlei Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua scores with a one two! Vipunen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Oh Vipunen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rua throws out a leg kick but Vipunen moves out of range and Rua only half commits.
Vipunen seems to have got his legs back now.

Vipunen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vipunen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rua regains full guard. Nicely done.

Vipunen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rua manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Vipunen has Rua in his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vipunen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Rua stalling.
Rua is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vipunen gets back to full guard.
Vipunen wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Vipunen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rua tries to stand but can't do so whilst Vipunen controls his leg.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Vipunen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rua wants to free his trapped foot but Vipunen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vipunen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vipunen wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wanderlei Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vipunen is on top in guard.
Rua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vipunen throws a big right hand that misses.
Vipunen stops Rua from standing up.

Rua is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Vipunen frees his head nicely. Oh but Rua has switched to an armbar! Vipunen is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Wanderlei Rua!