PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abel Koponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kin Sackett (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 prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Koponen
vs
Sackett

187 cm
31
215 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

198 cm
26
219 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite 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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Koponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kin Sackett!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sackett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koponen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sackett tries to clinch there but Koponen circles away.
Koponen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sackett feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Koponen wants to sweep here but Sackett controlling him for the moment.
Sackett must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Koponen keeping moving, preventing Sackett from controlling successfully.

Sackett decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Koponen, up you get!
Sackett shoots in for a takedown but Koponen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Koponen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Koponen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Koponen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Koponen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koponen working the ground and pound but Sackett is defending the strikes.
Koponen cracks Sackett with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sackett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Koponen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sackett tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Sackett holding both Koponen 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koponen throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Sackett really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koponen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sackett fending off the submission attempt from Koponen.
Sackett is trying to break free.
Koponen is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Sackett. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Sackett trying to control but not successfully.
Sackett is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Koponen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Koponen has got one arm under Sackett's chin. This could be trouble... Sackett trying to control the other hand but Koponen gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Sackett has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Abel Koponen!
A relieved looking Abel Koponen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.