PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalja Kuuppa (ranked 8031 p4p, 545 weight class) and Tyler Scott (ranked 5323 p4p, 473 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kuuppa
vs
Scott

210 cm
19
250 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalja Kuuppa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Scott!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Kuuppa lands.

It looks like Tyler Scott has been cut.

Scott gets a clinch.
Kuuppa wants to break free but Scott has control.

Scott manages to break the clinch.
Scott scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kuuppa doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from Kuuppa finds it's way through Scott's defenses.
A leg kick checked by Scott.
Kuuppa wants to clinch

and Scott counters with a shoot takedown. Kuuppa fights it but they end up in guard.
Scott is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Scott postures up.
Kuuppa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Scott is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Scott is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuuppa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scott wants to pass the guard but Kuuppa is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Scott instigates a clinch.
Kuuppa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuuppa misses with a punch on the inside.
Scott lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kuuppa backwards.

Scott manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa digs a good body shot into Scott's ribs.
Scott throws a head kick but Kuuppa moves out of range.

Scott shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kuuppa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Scott is working Kuuppa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Scott looking to pass the guard.
Scott showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Scott looking to pass the guard.
Scott throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuuppa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scott drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kuuppa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kuuppa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kuuppa!

Kuuppa decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Kuuppa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Scott's guard.

Kuuppa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Scott has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuuppa has managed to get both his arms back between Scott's legs - danger averted.
Kuuppa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kuuppa won't allow Scott to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kuuppa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Kuuppa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Scott has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuuppa has managed to get both his arms back between Scott's legs - danger averted.
Kuuppa wants to pass the guard but Scott is keeping the position.
Scott is pulling down on Kuuppa's head. It's preventing any offense from Kuuppa, at least for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Scott throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kuuppa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kuuppa tries to keep at a distance but Scott has taken the fight into the clinch.
Scott has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kuuppa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Scott dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tyler Scott's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuuppa throws a head kick but Scott moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Kuuppa misses.
Kuuppa swinging wildly here.
Scott avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kuuppa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kuuppa shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Scott eats them both and turns towards Kuuppa to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Kuuppa tries to keep at a distance but Scott has taken the fight into the clinch.
Scott looking for a takedown.

Scott jumps guard and drags Kuuppa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Scott working for a triangle but Kuuppa defends it easily.

Scott is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott pulls Kuuppa in to control the position.
Kuuppa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Scott wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Scott utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuuppa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kuuppa working some strikes from top position.
Scott controlling the position.
Scott looking to control.
Kuuppa throwing strikes but missing.
Scott pulls Kuuppa in close to his closed guard and prevents Kuuppa from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa preventing the sweep.
Kuuppa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Scott looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Scott utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Scott wants to sweep here but Kuuppa controlling him for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kuuppa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Scott pulls Kuuppa in close to prevent any damage.
Kuuppa slips nicely into half guard.
Scott moves into full guard.
Kuuppa preventing the sweep.
Scott is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Kuuppa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Scott really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuuppa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuuppa slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott is trying to get back to full guard.
Scott tries to kick Kuuppa off but Kuuppa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Scott is looking for a sweep. Kuuppa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kuuppa 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kuuppa escapes and gets back to his feet.
Kuuppa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Scott.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalja Kuuppa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyler Scott's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Scott moves into the clinch successfully.
Scott avoids the elbow strike from Kuuppa, against the cage.
Scott drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kuuppa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kuuppa works Scott's body with a nice hook.
Kalja Kuuppa is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuuppa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
An inside leg kick from Kuuppa misses.
Kuuppa misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuuppa lunges at Scott with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Scott's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kuuppa counters with a nice uppercut.
Kuuppa lands with a nice body punch.
Scott takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuuppa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Scott.
Kalja Kuuppa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Scott.
Scott fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuuppa throws a combination. Scott tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kuuppa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Scott is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kalja Kuuppa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice shot by Kuuppa.
Scott blocks a leg kick.
Scott moves out of range as Kuuppa throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Scott drops his hands momentarily and Kuuppa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kuuppa lands with a good body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuuppa scores with a one two! Scott had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Scott gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Scott.
Kuuppa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Scotts head.

Scott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kuuppa 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.

Scott manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Kuuppa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Scott did well to prevent Kuuppa getting side control.

Kuuppa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Scott sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa throwing shots but Scott is blocking nicely.

Kuuppa is trying to work for a kimura but Scott is defending well.

Scott looking for submissions off his back.
Kuuppa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Scott's head.
Kuuppa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kuuppa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Scott's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuuppa winds up and cracks Scott with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kalja Kuuppa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Scott is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuuppa pulls his head out easily.
Kuuppa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuuppa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Scott tries to get to full guard but Kuuppa has control of the leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Scott can do anything to dispel that myth.

Scott kicks Kuuppa off and gets back to his feet.

Scott has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kuuppa is looking to break free of the clinch but Scott has double underhooks.
Kuuppa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Scott has him pressed against the cage.
Kuuppa swings wildly with an uppercut but Scott uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalja Kuuppa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuuppa 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalja Kuuppa!