PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mose Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anto Kapunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anto Kapunen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hodge
vs
Kapunen

197 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
23
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mose Hodge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anto Kapunen!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodge keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hodge stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hodge wants it to stay on the feet.

Kapunen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kapunen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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.
Kapunen slows the pace down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapunen scoring with punches from side control.
Hodge is trying to improve his position.
Hodge wants to control but Kapunen postures up.
Hodge tries to bench press Kapunen off him but Kapunen keeps the position.
Hodge is trying to buck Kapunen off.
Hodge manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kapunen's best efforts.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kapunen in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
It looks like Kapunen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kapunen prevents Hodge from standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kapunen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kapunen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Hodge is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kapunen pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kapunen stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hodge looking for submissions off his back.
Kapunen wants to pass the guard but Hodge is defending well.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hodge tries to get to full guard but Kapunen has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hodge gets caught napping as Kapunen dives in and scores a takedown. Hodge manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anto Kapunen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hodge gets a clinch.
Hodge tries to pull guard but Kapunen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hodge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Kapunen is trying to trip Hodge. He has hold of a leg but Hodge is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kapunen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kapunen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kapunen tries to stand but Hodge is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hodge trying to control the position.
Hodge is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kapunen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapunen content to stall in guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kapunen pushes down on Hodge's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kapunen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kapunen fails to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kapunen lands with some strikes.
Kapunen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hodge?

Kapunen looking to secure an arm triangle but Hodge defends it well.
Hodge tries to control the position but Kapunen now has his back.

Kapunen is looking for the choke from the back position but Hodge is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge tries to roll but Kapunen sticks to his back.
Kapunen controls the position.
Kapunen is continuing to stall.
Hodge wants to get back to his feet.
Hodge is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Kapunen has the hooks in. Hodge is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hodge tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Kapunen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hodge turns into him and now he's in Kapunen's guard.
Kapunen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hodge wants to control from the top but Kapunen keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kapunen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hodge doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hodge manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anto Kapunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hodge tries to clinch there but Kapunen circles away.
And Kapunen tries to counter it with a takedown but Hodge pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mose Hodge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hodge is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kapunen feints the counter takedown.
Kapunen closes the distance and clinches up with Hodge, looking for a takedown. Kapunen pushes Hodge against the cage but Hodge circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kapunen tries to keep at a distance but Hodge has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hodge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kapunen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kapunen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hodge after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kapunen gets control of Hodge's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kapunen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hodge loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kapunen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kapunen has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Wolves Den $200 Elite Circuits. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Hodge in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hodge throwing strikes but missing.
Kapunen is trying to keep Hodge in close.
Kapunen keeping moving, preventing Hodge from controlling successfully.
Kapunen controlling Hodge's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kapunen trying to strike off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kapunen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Hodge was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mose Hodge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anto Kapunen.
Kapunen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hodge displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kapunen.
Hodge throws a big counter combination but Kapunen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Hodge has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kapunen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kapunen passes Hodge's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hodge manages to get to full guard.
Kapunen looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kapunen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hodge looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kapunen is one step ahead there.
Kapunen passes Hodge's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mose Hodge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anto Kapunen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kapunen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anto Kapunen.
I've got Kapunen 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anto Kapunen!