PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Renaldo Slater (ranked 6485 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oto Rupjais (ranked 7978 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Slater
vs
Rupjais

205 cm
24
162 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Renaldo Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oto Rupjais!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupjais fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Rupjais has managed to clinch.

Slater pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rupjais trying to control but Slater is working from the bottom.
Rupjais stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Slater swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Slater is controlling Rupjais's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater wants to stand up but Rupjais is controlling him.
Slater looking for a sweep. Not yet Slater, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater keeping moving, preventing Rupjais from controlling successfully.
Slater wants to stand up but Rupjais is controlling him.

Slater escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rupjais gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rupjais wants to pass the guard but Slater is keeping the position.
Rupjais throws a strike but Slater rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rupjais wants to stand but Slater is controlling the position.
Slater throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rupjais works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rupjais working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Slater.
Rupjais utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Slater distracts Rupjais with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupjais trying to control the position.
Slater throwing strikes but missing.
Slater chips away with some ground and pound.
Slater is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Slater preventing the sweep.
Slater throws an elbow that misses. Rupjais uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Slater's guard. Nice move by Rupjais!

Slater wants to sweep but no luck.
Slater keeping moving, preventing Rupjais from controlling successfully.
Slater managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupjais preventing the sweep.
Slater is working hard here to advance position.
Slater is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rupjais working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Slater controls Rupjais momentarily but Rupjais frees himself.
Slater will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Slater is adopting a defensive guard.
Rupjais trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Slater not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rupjais must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Slater is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rupjais.
Rupjais shoots in but no luck this time.
Renaldo Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oto Rupjais.
Rupjais is looking to clinch but Slater is avoiding it.
Slater feinted with a counter takedown.
Rupjais misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Slater half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Slater closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renaldo Slater dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rupjais tries to close the distance and clinch up but Slater swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Slater lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Rupjais fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Slater avoids it really well and circles away.
Slater appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Oto Rupjais is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rupjais lands a jab-cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rupjais getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Slater avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slater swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rupjais closes this distance looking for a takedown but Slater circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupjais fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Slater avoids it really well and circles away.
Slater tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rupjais manages to circle out of the way.
Renaldo Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oto Rupjais.
Rupjais shoots in for a takedown but Slater shows good takedown defense.
Slater shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rupjais pinned against the cage. Rupjais gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rupjais shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Slater as he avoids it easily.
Rupjais shoots in looking for a takedown but Slater manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rupjais's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rupjais is breathing heavily.
Slater tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupjais shoots in for a takedown but Slater shows good takedown defense.
Rupjais misses with a takedown
and Slater counters with a two punch combo.
Slater wants to clinch.
Rupjais changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Slater closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Slater really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slater is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rupjais is just riding it out for now. Slater eventually gives up the hold.
Slater lands with a punch from half guard.
Rupjais on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Slater looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rupjais with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Slater slips a nice elbow through Rupjais's hands, connecting with Rupjais's forehead.
Slater seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Slater prevents Rupjais from improving his position.
Rupjais has hold of Slater's hands but Slater slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slater is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rupjais is just riding it out for now. Slater eventually gives up the hold.
Slater lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rupjais wants to sweep but Slater has passed to side control!
Slater cracks Rupjais with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Slater stands up and beckons Rupjais to his feet.
Renaldo Slater is winning the standup battle so far.

Rupjais gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renaldo Slater dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Slater slaps away a takedown attempt from Rupjais, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Slater drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rupjais sprawls and moves away.
Rupjais closes this distance looking for a takedown but Slater circles away.
It looked like Slater wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rupjais gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Slater moves into the clinch.
Renaldo Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oto Rupjais.
Rupjais jumps guard but Slater turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rupjais prevents a body shot from Slater.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater is trying to pull guard but Rupjais turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Slater ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Slater no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Slater is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Slater drops an elbow to the side of Rupjais's head.
Rupjais takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rupjais actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Slater there.

Slater is trying to work for a kimura but Rupjais is defending well.
Ground and pound from Slater.
Slater working over Rupjais with some ground and pound. Rupjais looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Slater is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rupjais is just riding it out for now. Slater eventually gives up the hold.
Rupjais has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Slater is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupjais is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Slater is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rupjais doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Slater.
Rupjais is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Slater's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Slater's back!
Slater is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rupjais can do to turn this around?
Slater trying to control the position but Rupjais manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupjais controlling well, preventing Slater from escaping the position.
Rupjais somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Rupjais keeps control of the position as Slater tries to break free.
Slater trying to control the hands but Rupjais breaks the grip.
Slater controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.

Slater fending off the submission attempt from Rupjais.
Slater breaks Rupjais's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Slater accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Slater working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rupjais's head.
Slater has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rupjais is proving hard to escape from.
Slater throws an elbow that misses. Rupjais uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Slater's guard. Nice move by Rupjais!

Rupjais with a flurry of punches that miss.
Slater pulls Rupjais in close to his closed guard and prevents Rupjais from doing any damage or advancing position.
Slater is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Oto Rupjais has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Renaldo Slater is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slater is pulling down on Rupjais's head. It's preventing any offense from Rupjais, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renaldo Slater showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Slater, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renaldo Slater!