PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rick Rypien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastien Linne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linne has chosen Arcturus - The Chaos Path as his entrance music. Sebastien Linne has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rick Rypien's chin.

Rypien
vs
Linne

175 cm
20
160 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Rypien!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastien Linne!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rypien works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rypien cracks Linne with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rypien misses with a hook.
Linne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rypien.
Nice takedown defense from Rypien. No joy for Linne on that attempt.
A head kick misses from Linne.

Linne is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rypien's half guard.
Linne throwing shots but Rypien is blocking nicely.
Linne is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rypien is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rypien really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Linne tries to control but Rypien wriggling away.
Rypien is in all sorts of trouble here.
Linne avoids the attempt from Rypien to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linne cracks Rypien with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rypien is looking to improve his position but Linne isn't that keen on the idea.
Linne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
BOOM! Linne connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rypien is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Linne wants to control the pace but Rypien is squirming around nicely.
Rypien is wriggling around trying to escape.
Linne can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rypien is looking to escape.

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.
Linne lands a big elbow.
Rypien is squirming around, avoiding Linne's attempts to control the action.

Linne goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rypien is on top in guard.

Linne has his foot on Rypien's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rypien works his way back into a safe position though.
Rypien wants to control from the top but Linne keeps moving.
Rypien throwing strikes from guard but Linne blocks nicely.

Rypien drops back looking for a leg! Linne is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linne manages to kick Rypien off! Rypien jumps back into Linne's guard.
Rypien trying to control the position from guard on top but Linne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rypien postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Linne is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rypien, into his guard.
Linne stays in close to Rypien's body and controls the position.
Linne won't allow Rypien to sweep him here.

Rypien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Linne gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Linne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Linne throwing strikes from guard but Rypien blocks nicely.
Rypien preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Linne trying to control the position from guard on top but Rypien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rypien is looking for a triangle here but Linne uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rypien wants to control but Linne postures up.

Linne thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Linne working the head with strikes.
Rypien is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Linne off and has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastien Linne dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rypien jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Linne misses with a kick to the body.
Linne shoots in for a double leg but Rypien sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Linne slips a jab from Rypien.
Linne throws a body punch but Rypien moves out of range.

Linne clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Rypien's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Linne tries to pull guard but Rypien won't allow it.
Good body shot from Linne.
Linne works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rypien can't break the clinch.
Linne tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rypien smiles and moves away.
Rick Rypien has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Linne.
Rypien throws the left hand but Linne avoids the punch easily.
Linne blocks a jab.

Linne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Linne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rypien is in a horrible position here. Linne smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rypien is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rypien is looking to improve his position but Linne isn't that keen on the idea.
Linne has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rypien's face.
Linne working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Rypien is rocked!
Linne loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Rypien scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Linne land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Linne stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sebastien Linne! Sebastien Linne retains his lightweight title!