PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuriy Chupalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antoni Vivaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chupalov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Gamora - Veneno . Antoni Vivaldi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Yuriy Chupalov's chin.

Chupalov
vs
Vivaldi

174 cm
25
169 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yuriy Chupalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Antoni Vivaldi!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Vivaldi.
Vivaldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice takedown defense from Vivaldi. No joy for Chupalov on that attempt.
Chupalov moves in looking to clinch but Vivaldi pushes him off.
Chupalov wants to clinch.
An inside leg kick from Chupalov misses.
Chupalov throws a right and a left that both miss.

Vivaldi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chupalov's guard.
Vivaldi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Chupalov wants to stand but Vivaldi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chupalov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vivaldi.
Vivaldi stops Chupalov from standing up.
Vivaldi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Chupalov wants to control the position but Vivaldi says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Vivaldi not doing much here.
Vivaldi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Chupalov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Chupalov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Helsinki Fight Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vivaldi content just to control the position here.
Vivaldi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Chupalov looks a forlorn figure.
Chupalov is looking to improve his position but Vivaldi isn't that keen on the idea.
Chupalov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
We've been informed that Vivaldi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chupalov is looking to get to half guard.
Vivaldi lands a big shot there that rocks Chupalov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Vivaldi landing strikes from the mount.
Vivaldi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vivaldi lands a couple of good shots and Chupalov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoni Vivaldi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vivaldi connects with a high kick.

It looks like Yuriy Chupalov has been cut.
Vivaldi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Chupalov defends well and Vivaldi ends up having to push Chupalov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vivaldi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chupalov is looking to clinch but Vivaldi is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Vivaldi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vivaldi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chupalov, pushing him back against the cage.
Chupalov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vivaldi to keep the fight standing.
Vivaldi is looking to control Chupalov's arms but Chupalov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vivaldi has his back to the cage.
Chupalov looking to throw knees to the head but Vivaldi is blocking nicely.
Chupalov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vivaldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chupalov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vivaldi fails to pull guard.
Chupalov throws a head punch that misses.
Chupalov swings wildly with an uppercut but Vivaldi uses good head movement to avoid it.

Vivaldi pulls guard effortlessly.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vivaldi can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chupalov with a flurry of punches that miss.

Vivaldi kicks Chupalov off and gets to his feet.

Vivaldi has taken the fight to the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Chupalov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vivaldi is trying to force a seperation but Chupalov has the dominant position.

Chupalov manages to break the clinch.
Vivaldi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chupalov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vivaldi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Vivaldi.
Yuriy Chupalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chupalov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Chupalov clinches up with Vivaldi and pushes him back against the cage.
Chupalov misses with some punches.
Chupalov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vivaldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuriy Chupalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vivaldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chupalov clinches.

Vivaldi jumps into guard, dragging Chupalov to the mat.
Chupalov wants to control from the top but Vivaldi keeps moving.

Vivaldi is working an open guard so Chupalov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Vivaldi pushes Chupalov up against the cage in a clinch.
Vivaldi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A frustrated look appears on Chupalov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Chupalov lands a left hand.
A head punch on the inside from Chupalov fails to land.
Vivaldi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vivaldi avoids the elbow strike from Chupalov, against the cage.
Vivaldi is trying to drag Chupalov to the mat but Chupalov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A frustrated look appears on Chupalov's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chupalov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vivaldi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chupalov can't get the takedown.
Vivaldi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Chupalov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vivaldi is looking to break free of the clinch but Chupalov has double underhooks.
A hook to the body from Chupalov.

Vivaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vivaldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Vivaldi throws a head kick that misses.
Chupalov tries to clinch up.
Chupalov moves in looking to clinch but Vivaldi pushes him off.

Chupalov instigates a clinch.
Yuriy Chupalov has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chupalov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vivaldi avoids it.

Vivaldi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yuriy Chupalov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chupalov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Vivaldi's head.

It looks like Antoni Vivaldi has been cut.
Vivaldi tries a head kick but it misses.

Vivaldi instigates a clinch.
Vivaldi tries to pull guard but Chupalov holds him up against the cage and eventually Vivaldi drops back down to his feet.
Vivaldi fails to pull guard.
Vivaldi is breathing heavily.

Vivaldi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut lands for Chupalov. That snapped Vivaldi's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No joy there for Vivaldi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown attempt by Chupalov or perhaps it was just good defense by Vivaldi, which made it look bad.

Vivaldi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoni Vivaldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Chupalov is looking to clinch but Vivaldi is avoiding it.
Despite the aggression on Vivaldi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Vivaldi gets tackled into the cage by Chupalov. Chupalov maintains the clinch.
Chupalov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vivaldi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Chupalov smiles and moves away.
Chupalov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Chupalov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Chupalov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A left hand lands to the body for Chupalov.

Chupalov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chupalov tries to clinch up but Vivaldi circles away and keeps his distance.
Vivaldi throws a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chupalov is looking to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Vivaldi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Vivaldi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chupalov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vivaldi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chupalov has a takedown stuffed.
Vivaldi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chupalov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vivaldi scores with a head kick. Chupalov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Chupalov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Chupalov has managed to clinch.

Vivaldi breaks the clinch.
Vivaldi stuffs the takedown.
Chupalov wants to clinch.

Vivaldi tries to keep at a distance but Chupalov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vivaldi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Chupalov to keep the fight standing.
Yuriy Chupalov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antoni Vivaldi.
Chupalov stalling against the cage.

Vivaldi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chupalov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Chupalov trying to control but Vivaldi is working from the bottom.
Chupalov preventing the sweep.

Chupalov gets to his feet. Vivaldi looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Chupalov enables Vivaldi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Chupalov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chupalov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Vivaldi manages to pass to side control.

Chupalov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chupalov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Vivaldi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vivaldi lands in his opponent's guard.
Vivaldi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chupalov's head.
Chupalov is trying to control the position but Vivaldi postures up.
Vivaldi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Chupalov punching to the body, from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vivaldi scoring with some ground and pound.
Vivaldi prevents Chupalov from getting back to his feet.
Chupalov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vivaldi dodges the punch combination from Chupalov.

Chupalov tries to sprawl but Vivaldi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vivaldi controlling the pace.
Vivaldi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Chupalov defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antoni Vivaldi.
I've got Vivaldi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antoni Vivaldi!
Yuriy Chupalov spoke after the fight, saying 'He won ... i lost ... not much to say really ... '.