PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Warren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernesti Koppinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Warren
vs
Koppinen

183 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arturo Warren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ernesti Koppinen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Koppinen with that takedown attempt.
Koppinen tries for a takedown but Warren sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Warren closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Koppinen did well to prevent Warren getting side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Koppinen wants to get back to full guard.
Koppinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Warren is working away from the top position though.
Koppinen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Warren seems to be working for a kimura but Koppinen defends the submission attempt.
Koppinen is trying to control but can't.
Koppinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Warren.

Koppinen manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren closes the distance but Koppinen moves to the side
and Koppinen counters with a nice body kick.
Koppinen shoots in and drives through. Warren sprawls well.
Arturo Warren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesti Koppinen.
Koppinen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Koppinen counters with a shoot takedown. Warren fights it but they end up in guard.
Warren tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Warren's head.
Warren wants to control the position but Koppinen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Warren is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koppinen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Koppinen wants to stand up but Warren is controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Warren lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Warren is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Koppinen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Koppinen's back!

Koppinen fending off the submission attempt from Warren.
I really don't envy Koppinen right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Warren looking to break Koppinen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Koppinen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Warren will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Warren doesn't have the hooks in and Koppinen manages to turn into his guard.

Koppinen gets to his feet. Warren looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Warren tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Koppinen counters with a left and a right that stings Warren.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warren tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Koppinen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Koppinen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koppinen working some strikes from top position.
Koppinen is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Koppinen gets to his feet. Warren looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesti Koppinen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Koppinen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ernesti Koppinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Warren tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Warren tries to roll over but Koppinen keeps him under control.
Koppinen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Koppinen wants to take a breather but Warren is having none of it.
Warren tries to get to full guard but Koppinen has control of the leg.
Warren taking some punishment here, with Koppinen in his half guard.
Koppinen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ernesti Koppinen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Koppinen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Warren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Warren really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Warren stuffs the takedown attempt from Koppinen. Koppinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Koppinen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Warren pinned against the cage. Warren gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Arturo Warren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesti Koppinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Warren closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Koppinen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Koppinen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Koppinen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Koppinen is trying to stand up here but Warren is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warren looks to land a strike but Koppinen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Warren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Warren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Warren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koppinen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Koppinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Warren.
Koppinen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Warren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Warren is looking to work some ground and pound but Koppinen has wrist control.
Warren trying to stand up but can't free himself from Koppinen's guard.

Koppinen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Warren throwing strikes from guard but Koppinen blocks nicely.
Warren scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Warren throws a big right hand that misses.
Koppinen working a defensive guard here.
Warren is looking to work some ground and pound but Koppinen has wrist control.
Koppinen trying to keep a closed guard but Warren is proving a slippery customer.
Warren distracts Koppinen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
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!
Warren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Warren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Warren stops Koppinen from standing up.
Koppinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koppinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Warren throws a big elbow that misses.
Koppinen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Arturo Warren will probably get the nod.
That's time! Warren'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!

Warren moves to clinch but Koppinen breaks away

and Koppinen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Warren's guard now.
Warren can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koppinen controls the pace.
Let's hope that Koppinen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Koppinen advances position into side control!
Warren is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Warren is looking for a sweep.
Koppinen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Warren down.
Warren takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Warren's face as Koppinen controls the position.
Warren is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Koppinen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Warren is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Warren gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koppinen trying to control but Warren is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warren tries to reverse the position but Koppinen maintains control.
Warren throwing hammer fists to the chest of Koppinen. What's that going to do exactly?
Koppinen looking to control but Warren is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koppinen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Koppinen controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warren is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Warren wants to control but Koppinen is having none of it.
Koppinen scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Warren is rocked!
Koppinen lands a big shot to the head and Warren winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ernesti Koppinen!
In his post fight interview, Ernesti Koppinen gave a big smile as he said 'No johan nyt oli helppoo, and same in english "Well that was easy".'.