PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monroe Spence (ranked 5831 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalja Kuuppa (ranked 6656 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalja Kuuppa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Spence
vs
Kuuppa

176 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Monroe Spence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalja Kuuppa!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spence misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuuppa.
Kuuppa looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Spence shoots and misses
and Kuuppa counters with a straight right hand.
Spence dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuuppa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kuuppa unleashes a big counter combination but Spence bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Kuuppa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kuuppa lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spence is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Spence is trying to control the position but Kuuppa postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spence had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuuppa defends it easily.

Spence is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kuuppa presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuuppa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spence fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monroe Spence. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Spence jumps guard and drags Kuuppa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kuuppa prevents Spence from getting back to his feet.
Kuuppa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Spence might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spence wants to get back to his feet but Kuuppa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kuuppa won't allow Spence to sweep him here.
Kuuppa wants to stand but Spence has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Spence is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Spence is really struggling to control Kuuppa but he's trying to hold on to the position.

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.

Spence scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Spence fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuuppa takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kalja Kuuppa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spence shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spence missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spence sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuuppa defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spence seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Spence is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuuppa defends it well.

Spence is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Spence looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kuuppa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kuuppa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Spence scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuuppa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Spence.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spence's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Spence postures up in Kuuppa's guard and throws a big left but Kuuppa blocks it.
Spence really is a fat lump.
Spence throwing strikes from guard but Kuuppa blocks nicely.
Kuuppa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spence scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monroe Spence dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kuuppa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spence.
Spence is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuuppa can do to turn this around?
Kuuppa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kuuppa wants it to stay on the feet.
Kuuppa connects with a body shot.
Spence darts in looking for a takedown but Kuuppa gets double underhooks and turns Spence into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monroe Spence. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuuppa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Spence appears to be looking for a big counter.
A combination from Spence does no damage.
Kuuppa tries to clinch but Spence moves out of range.
Kuuppa fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuuppa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Spence to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Spence with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence lands a couple of elbows.
Spence chips away with some ground and pound.
Spence postures up and lands a big shot to Kuuppa's brow.
Spence with a flurry of punches that miss.
Spence 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.
Spence lands a couple of digs.
Kuuppa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spence.
Spence landing with the ground and pound.
Kuuppa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spence's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuuppa controls Spence momentarily but Spence frees himself.
Spence with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Spence with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuuppa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Spence looking to score a takedown here. Kuuppa is defending well but Spence drives through and ends up in Kuuppa's guard.

Kuuppa has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Spence has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spence can't break the clinch.
Kuuppa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kuuppa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Spence is keeping busy.
Spence jumps guard but Kuuppa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Spence jumps into guard, dragging Kuuppa to the mat.
Kuuppa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spence looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Spence wants to get back to his feet but Kuuppa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kuuppa landing some decent shots from guard.
Kuuppa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spence works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Spence escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuuppa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spence keeping full guard, as Kuuppa tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monroe Spence dominated that second round.
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. And we move into the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Kuuppa. No joy for Spence on that attempt.

Spence fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kuuppa to the ground. Spence is now in Kuuppa's guard.
Spence throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spence's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Spence distracts Kuuppa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Spence is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spence scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuuppa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spence throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuuppa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spence working some strikes from top position.
Spence in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Spence trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spence is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuuppa has wrist control.
Kuuppa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spence throws a right and a left that Kuuppa avoids nicely.
Spence swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuuppa.

That's two 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.
Spence throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Spence looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Spence is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kuuppa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monroe Spence. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuuppa moves into the clinch successfully.
Kuuppa tries a body shot but Spence blocks it.
Spence jumps guard but Kuuppa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kuuppa wants to break the clinch but can't.

Spence jumps guard and drags Kuuppa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Monroe Spence overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuuppa is working Spence over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kuuppa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuuppa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kuuppa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kuuppa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Spence trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kalja Kuuppa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kuuppa gets to his feet. Spence looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kuuppa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Spence looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kuuppa!

Kuuppa throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Monroe Spence is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuuppa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
It looked like Spence was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa slips a jab and a cross from Spence.
Spence is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Spence 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.

Kuuppa is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Spence jumps guard but Kuuppa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kuuppa is trying to push Spence away but Spence has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuuppa is pushing Spence up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Spence keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuuppa's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalja Kuuppa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spence has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monroe Spence!