PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saippua Kauppias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wilson Mitchell (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.

Kauppias
vs
Mitchell

165 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Saippua Kauppias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Wilson Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kauppias fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kauppias thows a leg kick but Mitchell checks it
and Mitchell counters with a right hand to the body.
Mitchell lands a jab to the nose.
Kauppias misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mitchell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kauppias thinking.
Saippua Kauppias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mitchell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kauppias.
Decent striking displayed by Mitchell there.
Kauppias has his takedown stuffed
and Mitchell counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saippua Kauppias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kauppias throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kauppias takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mitchell sizes up Kauppias with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Some bone on bone action there as Mitchell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mitchell stuffs the takedown.
Kauppias fails with the takedown.

Kauppias drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kauppias is looking to work some ground and pound but Mitchell has wrist control.
Mitchell is trying to keep Kauppias in close.
Kauppias throwing strikes but missing.
Kauppias engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kauppias throwing strikes from guard but Mitchell blocks nicely.
Kauppias is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kauppias working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauppias lands a couple of digs.
Mitchell working a defensive guard here.
Kauppias stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mitchell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kauppias keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mitchell's head.
Kauppias throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mitchell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mitchell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kauppias. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mitchell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kauppias pushes down on Mitchell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
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!
Mitchell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kauppias.
Nice strikes from Kauppias there.

Kauppias is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mitchell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kauppias.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauppias thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mitchell's head.
Kauppias has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mitchell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kauppias.
Kauppias tries to pass to full mount but Mitchell defends it.

Kauppias wants to work for an arm triangle but Mitchell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kauppias missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mitchell has hold of Kauppias's hands but Kauppias slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Well, if Kauppias is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kauppias has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kauppias scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kauppias content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Saippua Kauppias wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mitchell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kauppias.

Kauppias closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mitchell quickly recovers to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saippua Kauppias dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kauppias looks for a takedown but Mitchell sprawls well.
Mitchell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kauppias.
No luck for Kauppias with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saippua Kauppias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kauppias throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mitchell's waist but Mitchell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kauppias off to one side.
No luck for Kauppias with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Kauppias with that takedown attempt.
Mitchell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kauppias.
Kauppias misses with a shot to the body
and Kauppias takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kauppias goes for a double leg but Mitchell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mitchell continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mitchell is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mitchell is pressed up against the cage. Kauppias has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mitchell down to the mat. Mitchell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kauppias shoots in and drives through. Mitchell sprawls well.
Kauppias fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mitchell avoids it really well and circles away.
Kauppias throws an off balance right hand
enabling Mitchell to counter with a crisp jab.
Wilson Mitchell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kauppias shoots in but Mitchell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mitchell scores with a one two! Kauppias had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kauppias changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mitchell tries to avoid it but Kauppias manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mitchell to the ground. Mitchell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mitchell scores with a one two! Kauppias had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mitchell scores with a shot to the body.
Kauppias shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mitchell but Mitchell pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kauppias shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mitchell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kauppias is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitchell working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kauppias accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kauppias works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mitchell wants to get back to full guard.
Kauppias moves nicely into side control.
Kauppias controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kauppias is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Mitchell looks calm but he's in trouble here. Kauppias gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Mitchell is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Kauppias lets go of the hold and Mitchell can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Saippua Kauppias!