PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Preston Driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teukka Korpi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Korpi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Raised Fist - Friends And Traitors. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Driver
vs
Korpi

180 cm
24
168 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
160 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Preston Driver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teukka Korpi!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Driver on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Preston Driver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korpi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Korpi cracks a nice hook into Driver's ribs.

Korpi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Driver to the mat! Driver manages to get full guard.
Korpi wants to pass the guard but Driver is keeping the position.
Korpi pushes down on Driver's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Korpi prevents Driver from standing back up.
Korpi passes the guard and advances to mount!
Korpi looking to finish with strikes here!
Korpi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Driver is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Korpi tries to control but Driver wriggling away.

Korpi swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Driver is now in Korpi's guard. A big mistake from Korpi there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korpi wants to sweep here but Driver controlling him for the moment.
Driver trying to stand up but can't free himself from Korpi's guard.
Korpi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Korpi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Driver can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Driver has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Korpi is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Korpi has an active guard here but Driver has managed to pass into half guard.

Korpi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Korpi looks gassed!
Korpi wants to control but Driver is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Driver postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Korpi to stand up.
Driver looks to throw the jab but Korpi is out of range.
Korpi shoots for a takedown but Driver saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Korpi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Driver sprawls well initially but Korpi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Driver wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Driver pushes Korpi off but Korpi dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korpi working the head and body with strikes.

Korpi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Driver knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Driver tries to escape but Korpi is in control.

Korpi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Driver tries to escape but Korpi is in control.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Korpi ducks under a wild hook from Driver.
Korpi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Korpi ducks under a wild hook from Driver.
Korpi connects with the punch.
Korpi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Driver throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Driver does no damage.
Driver walks into a stiff left hand from Korpi.
A head kick misses from Korpi.
No joy there for Driver, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Korpi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Driver throws a right and a left that Korpi avoids nicely.
Korpi scores with a head kick.
Korpi tries a head kick but it misses.
Korpi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Driver. Driver circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Driver takes a jab right on the kisser.
Korpi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Driver backs up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teukka Korpi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Korpi moves into the clinch successfully.
Driver dodges an elbow strike from Korpi.
Korpi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Driver.
Driver wants a takedown.
Korpi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Korpi tries a knee to the head but Driver blocks it.
Korpi tries to land knees in the clinch but Driver avoids the damage to the body.
Driver blocks the elbow strike.
Driver drops down looking for an ankle pick but Korpi pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Preston Driver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Driver connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Korpi tries to clinch there but Driver circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Korpi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Korpi showed some decent athleticism there.
Korpi prevents Driver from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korpi wants to advance to full mount but Driver doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korpi trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.
Driver wants to stand but Korpi is controlling the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Korpi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Korpi distracts Driver with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Korpi pushes down on Driver's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Driver is trying to stand.

Korpi wants to work for an arm triangle but Driver is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Driver kicks off Korpi and gets to his feet.
Korpi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Korpi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Driver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver fails to land with a series of punches.
Driver misses with a hook. Korpi ducked under it nicely.
Korpi is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Driver throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Driver misses.
Korpi ducks under a wild hook from Driver.
Korpi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Korpi throws out a powerful jab.
Korpi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Driver avoids the head kick by Korpi.
Korpi blocks a jab.
Driver throws a left and a right that both miss
and Korpi counters with a nice leg kick.
Driver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Korpi lands a head kick!
Korpi works over Driver's head and body with a nice combination.
Driver missing with a left hand there. Korpi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Preston Driver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Driver throws an overhand right that lands on Korpi's shoulder, as Korpi tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korpi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Preston Driver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Driver swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Korpi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Driver is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Korpi tries a head kick but it misses.

Korpi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Korpi showed some decent athleticism there.

Korpi seems to be looking for submissions.
Driver is trying to stand up here but Korpi is controlling him well.
Korpi works his foot free and advances to mount.
Korpi works his way to his opponent's back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Driver is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korpi struggling to keep hold of the position.
Driver is trying to get back to his feet but Korpi has full control of the position and if anything, Driver has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Korpi working for the choke.
Driver controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Korpi is landing with strikes from the back.

Korpi tightening his grip on Driver, looking for the choke.
Driver has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teukka Korpi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Driver lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Driver.
Driver misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circling - Driver throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Driver misses with a straight right.
Korpi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Driver throws a looping overhand right but Korpi ducks down to avoid it.
Korpi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Korpi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Driver takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Korpi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Korpi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korpi throws a head kick that half lands.
Korpi scores with a jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Korpi throws a body punch but Driver moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Korpi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Korpi.
Korpi tries to clinch but Driver moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driver scores with a nice right hand.
Korpi misses with a two punch combination.
Driver lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Korpi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Korpi is looking to take a break and control but Driver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Driver pushes Korpi off looking to stand but Korpi dives back in and keeps control.
Korpi is looking to take a break and control but Driver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Korpi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Driver fails to land with a series of punches.
Driver takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Driver is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Driver uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Korpi.
Korpi lands a head kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Driver misses the target.
Nice defenses there by Korpi.
Korpi throws a looping overhand right but Driver ducks down to avoid it.
Korpi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Driver.

Korpi clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Korpi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Driver's brow.
Korpi throws an elbow but it misses.
Knees to the body from Korpi.
Driver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Korpi just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Driver jumps guard but Korpi stands there with Driver around his waist. Driver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Driver avoids the elbow strike from Korpi, against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Korpi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Preston Driver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Driver misses with a series of wild punches.
Korpi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Korpi dodges the punch combination from Driver.
Driver throws a jab when Korpi was well out of range.
Driver throws a combination that misses
and Korpi counters with a straight right hand.
Korpi's corner calls for a 1-2. Korpi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Korpi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Korpi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Driver circles away from the clinch attempt.

Driver gets caught flat footed, as Korpi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Korpi won't allow Driver to get back to his feet.
Teukka Korpi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Korpi drops back looking for a leg! Driver is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Driver manages to kick Korpi off! Korpi jumps back into Driver's guard.
Driver keeping full guard, as Korpi tries to pass.
Driver keeping moving, preventing Korpi from controlling successfully.
Preston Driver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Korpi stops Driver from standing up.
Korpi advances to half guard.
Korpi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Korpi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Korpi misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teukka Korpi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Korpi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teukka Korpi!