PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Léonard Lucy (ranked 569 p4p, 1162 weight class) and Hannu Karpo (ranked 81 p4p, 167 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lucy
vs
Karpo

190 cm
36
197
21 - 16 - 0

186 cm
30
191
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

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 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Léonard Lucy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hannu Karpo!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karpo shoots in but Lucy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Karpo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucy moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Karpo.
Lucy moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lucy works Karpo's body with a nice hook.
Karpo missing with a left hand there. Lucy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lucy throwing a counter right hand but Karpo manages to avoid it.
A low kick lands for Lucy.

Karpo instigates a clinch.
Lucy lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Hannu Karpo has been cut.
Lucy misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Lucy.
Lucy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lucy tries a knee to the head but Karpo blocks it.
Lucy has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A hook to the body from Lucy.

Karpo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karpo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hannu Karpo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Karpo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucy lands a right hook to the body.
Karpo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lucy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Karpo's head backwards.
Lucy takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Karpo blocks a head kick by Lucy.

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

Lucy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karpo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karpo slips nicely into half guard.
Lucy won't allow Karpo to pass to mount.
Lucy trying to hold on to Karpo's head to control him but Karpo postures up.
Karpo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karpo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Karpo wants to control but Lucy is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lucy.
Karpo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lucy is keeping the position for now.

Lucy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karpo throwing strikes but missing.
Karpo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lucy has his hands on Karpo's head, controlling the position.

Lucy throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Karpo escapes and throws Lucy's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucy wants to control but Karpo postures up.

Karpo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lucy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Karpo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lucy rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Karpo's guard! Nice work there by Lucy!
Lucy wants to pass the guard but Karpo is keeping the position.
Karpo is trying to keep Lucy in close.
Karpo has his hands on Lucy's head, controlling the position.
Lucy preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karpo keeping moving, preventing Lucy from controlling successfully.
Karpo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lucy looking for subs off his back but Karpo has passed one foot through into half guard.
Karpo prevents Lucy from improving his position.
Karpo works his way into full mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hannu Karpo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hannu Karpo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

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

Lucy looking for a guillotine here but Karpo defends easily.
Karpo looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karpo pushing down on Lucy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lucy trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucy is pressing down on Karpo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Lucy has his foot on Karpo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karpo works his way back into a safe position though.
Karpo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Lucy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Karpo defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lucy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karpo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Karpo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Karpo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karpo advances to half guard.
Karpo is trying to control the action in half guard but Lucy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lucy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Karpo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Karpo's back!
Karpo has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Hannu Karpo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karpo trying to control the hands but Lucy breaks the grip.
Lucy wants to control but Karpo is keeping busy.
Karpo is in bad spot here.
Karpo trying to control the hands but Lucy won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucy keeps control of the position as Karpo tries to break free.

Lucy is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Karpo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Lucy is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Karpo has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Lucy is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Karpo showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lucy looking for the choke from the back.
Lucy is trying to stick to Karpo's back but Karpo is turning into Lucy. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lucy's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Karpo.
Lucy pulls Karpo in to control the position.

Lucy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Karpo looking to pass the guard.
Lucy working a defensive guard here.
Karpo wants to pass the guard but Lucy is keeping the position.

Lucy is looking for a triangle but Karpo pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucy keeping full guard, as Karpo tries to pass.
Karpo passes Lucy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lucy wants to control but Karpo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lucy wants to improve his position but Karpo is controlling well.
Karpo passes to side control.

Karpo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lucy is trying to control Karpo's posture but Karpo avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Karpo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hannu Karpo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Karpo tries to clinch up
and Lucy counters with a stiff right hand.
Lucy scores with a sloppy right hand. Karpo should have avoided that one.
Karpo throws a leg kick that misses.
Lucy throwing a counter right hand but Karpo manages to avoid it.
Karpo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Karpo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hannu Karpo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lucy tries a low kick but Karpo avoids it.
A big right from Lucy misses.
Karpo scores with a nice right hand.
Karpo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lucy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Karpo shoots for a takedown but Lucy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karpo just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromLucy.
Karpo tries to clinch up but Lucy circles away and keeps his distance.
Karpo misses with a right hand
and Lucy counters with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karpo shoots in for a double leg but Lucy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucy tries to land a leg kick but Karpo saw it coming and moves away.
Lucy misses with a looping left.
Karpo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Karpo just misses with a punch to the body.
Lucy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karpo.
A clash of legs there as Lucy blocks the low kick.
Karpo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Karpo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lucy throws out a leg kick but Karpo moves out of range and Lucy only half commits.
Karpo needs to keep his hands up - Lucy had a free shot at his head there.
Nice shot lands for Karpo.
Lucy lands a right hook to the body.
Lucy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Karpo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Karpo misses its intended target.
Lucy 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Lucy, right into the meat of the thigh.
Karpo tries to clinch but Lucy is having none of it.
Lucy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Karpo tries to clinch up.
It looked like Lucy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lucy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lucy scores with a nice right hand.
Lucy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lucy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lucy throws a leg kick that misses.
Karpo is looking to clinch but Lucy is avoiding it.
Karpo walks into a jab.
Karpo defending well as Lucy loads up on a big left hand.
Karpo is looking for the big counter here.
Decent striking displayed by Karpo there.
Karpo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lucy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karpo manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karpo lands with an uppercut that bounces Lucy off the cage and back into range.
Karpo tried to score with a low kick but Lucy checks it.
Lucy takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Karpo misses with a takedown attempt
and Lucy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Léonard Lucy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannu Karpo.
Lucy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karpo with a nice cross.
A head kick misses from Lucy.
A low kick lands for Karpo.
Karpo stalks Lucy and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lucy's face. Lucy staggers backwards, shaken.
Lucy lands a right hook to the body.

Karpo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lucy, pushing him back against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Karpo gets through Lucy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lucy scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucy struggles to land a body shot inside as Karpo controls his hands.
Lucy scores with a nice hook to the head.
Karpo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lucy working aggressively here.
Karpo throws a head punch that misses.
Lucy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karpo's elbow.
Karpo scores with a shoulder strike.
Lucy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Lucy.
Karpo looking for a takedown.
Karpo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lucy digs a right hand into Karpo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Karpo's gas tank.
A short body shot lands from Lucy as the two fighters clinch.
Lucy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Karpo's face.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karpo misses with the head strike.
Lucy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lucy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Léonard Lucy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karpo tries to pull guard but Lucy won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Léonard Lucy.
I think Karpo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannu Karpo!
Hannu Karpo decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.