PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Korppila (ranked 880 p4p, 1089 weight class) and Apollo Rocky (ranked 130 p4p, 158 weight class). Korppila's entrance music is Mustasch - The Mauler. A fine choice. Apollo Rocky has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Korppila
vs
Rocky

180 cm
25
203
9 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
199
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Un-Kaged Nutrition
Champion Apparel

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 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Korppila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Apollo Rocky!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocky just misses with a punch to the body.
Rocky throws an overhand right that lands on Korppila's shoulder, as Korppila tries to avoid the shot.
Korppila appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rocky wants to clinch up but Korppila keeps it at a distance.
Rocky lands a right hook to the body.
Rocky wants to clinch.

Rocky moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korppila blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rocky fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Korppila goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rocky misses with a knee strike.
Rocky misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korppila drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rocky crunches a lovely knee into Korppila's ribcage.
Rocky lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Korppila backwards.
Rocky working Korppila over with knees to the body.
Korppila is looking to control Rocky's arms but Rocky gets an underhook and turns him. Now Korppila has his back to the cage.
Korppila looking for a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rocky.
Rocky tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Korppila wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Korppila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still in the clinch, Rocky scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rocky gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Korppila.
Korppila has Rocky pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rocky manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rocky tries to land a knee to the head but Korppila blocks with his arms.
A short right from Korppila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Korppila has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rocky regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rocky looking for a sweep. Not yet Rocky, not yet.
Korppila trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rocky looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rocky wants to stand but Korppila is controlling the position.
Korppila throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rocky wants to stand and escape but Korppila is having none of it.
Korppila with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Korppila pushes down on Rocky's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Korppila missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Korppila lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rocky tries to roll over but Korppila keeps him under control.
Rocky blocking the ground and pound attempt from Korppila.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korppila looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocky is concentrating on defense, preventing Korppila from advancing position.
Rocky is trying to stand.
Korppila working the head and body with strikes.
Rocky tries to roll over but Korppila keeps him under control.
Korppila drops an elbow to the side of Rocky's head.

Rocky is rocked!
Korppila stops Rocky from getting back to his feet.
Rocky is still in real trouble! Can Korppila finish him?
Korppila is looking to advance position but Rocky won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocky moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rocky seems to have recovered his senses.

Korppila has gone for a leg lock! Rocky slips out almost immediately though and dives into Korppila's guard.

Rocky stopping the sweep attempt from Korppila.
Korppila manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rocky manages to get himself to full guard.

Rocky is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocky trying to control the action but Korppila is working from the bottom.
Korppila wants to improve his position but Rocky is controlling well.
Korppila is pressing down on Rocky's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Korppila looking for a guillotine here but Rocky defends easily.

Korppila is looking for a triangle but Rocky pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Rocky dominated that 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.

Rocky scores with a jab. Korppila acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rocky misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Korppila decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rocky's guard.
Korppila missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Korppila passes into half guard.
Rocky is trying to stand up here but Korppila is controlling him well.
Rocky is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Korppila lands with a punch from half guard.
Korppila prevents Rocky from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Korppila is trying to work for a kimura but Rocky is defending well.
Rocky is looking for a sweep. Korppila is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rocky blocking the ground and pound attempt from Korppila.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocky is looking to improve his position.
Rocky is looking to control Korppila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rocky avoid being mounted?

Korppila is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rocky has managed to free his arm - good work.
Korppila missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rocky slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Korppila is looking to work some ground and pound but Rocky has wrist control.
Rocky seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Korppila pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rocky is keeping the position for now.
Korppila postures up in Rocky's guard and throws a big left but Rocky blocks it.
Korppila looking to pass the guard.
Rocky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocky wants to sweep here but Korppila controlling him for the moment.
Rocky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Korppila chips away with some ground and pound.
Korppila working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rocky looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Korppila prevents Rocky from getting back to his feet.
Korppila tries to free his leg and advance position but Rocky is retaining full guard.
Korppila lands a couple of elbows.
Korppila 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.
Korppila distracts Rocky with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Korppila throws an elbow that misses. Rocky uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Korppila's guard. Nice move by Rocky!

Korppila trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Korppila bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rocky's guard.

Korppila stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocky swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Korppila working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rocky's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korppila postures up in Rocky's guard and throws a big left but Rocky blocks it.
Rocky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Korppila throwing strikes but missing.
Korppila throws a big right hand that misses.
Korppila wants to pass the guard but Rocky is keeping the position.
Rocky is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Korppila is controlling him.
Tom Korppila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Korppila is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Korppila won't allow Rocky to sweep him here.
Rocky is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Korppila trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Korppila throwing strikes but missing.
Korppila sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rocky's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Korppila.
Rocky tries to roll over but Korppila keeps him under control.
Rocky tries to kick Korppila off but Korppila keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Korppila thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Korppila takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rocky gets full guard.
Rocky has control of Korppila's left arm, preventing Korppila from doing any damage.
Rocky wants to stand up but Korppila is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Korppila throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rocky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Korppila throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rocky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rocky controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Korppila dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rocky looks to land a left hand but Korppila moved out of range nicely.
Rocky tries to clinch but Korppila is having none of it.
Korppila staying out of range there.

Korppila shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rocky manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rocky manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Korppila looking for a takedown.
Rocky tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Korppila blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Korppila has Rocky pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rocky manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Korppila.
Korppila tries to score a body lock takedown but Rocky shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Korppila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Korppila tries for a takedown but Rocky manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rocky landing knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rocky lands a hook that snaps the head of Korppila backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocky gets through Korppila's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rocky working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Korppila wants a takedown.
Rocky unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rocky is struggling to control the position.
Rocky leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rocky gets underhooks to prevent Korppila's takedown attempt.
Rocky with a knee to the head.
Rocky working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Korppila tries for a takedown but Rocky manages to get underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rocky.
Rocky scores with a shot to the side of Korppila's head.
Rocky pushes Korppila back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
I was talking to Korppila's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocky landing knees to the body.
Korppila is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rocky pulls him back up using the underhooks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rocky using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Korppila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rocky scores with a shot to the side of Korppila's head.
Korppila working aggressively here.
Rocky lands a hook to the side of the head.

Korppila is rocked!
Rocky working Korppila over with knees to the body.
Oh Korppila is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rocky lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rocky using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Korppila's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rocky lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Korppila avoiding damage as Rocky throws knees to the body.
Rocky has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Korppila working aggressively here.
Rocky scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korppila has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rocky avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rocky has Korppila pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Korppila is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Rocky - that's hurt Korppila badly! Oh, another knee lands and Korppila is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Korppila doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Apollo Rocky!
Apollo Rocky very nearly forgot to thank Champion Apparel amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Tom Korppila was interviewed post fight and said 'Well didn’t that suck? He may have beaten me, but could he outwrestle a bear? I don’t think so.'.