PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John McLachlan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Kuoppala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McLachlan comes to the cage accompanied by Funeral For a Friend - 'History'. Kuoppala has chosen Children of Bodom - Warheart as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McLachlan
vs
Kuoppala

178 cm
25
181 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

181 cm
23
183 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Meet the Future

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John McLachlan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexander Kuoppala!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuoppala scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
McLachlan avoids the body shot from Kuoppala.
McLachlan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kuoppala listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from McLachlan.
McLachlan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McLachlan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Kuoppala pushes McLachlan up against the cage in a clinch.
McLachlan dodges an elbow strike from Kuoppala.
Kuoppala lands with a left to the head.
Kuoppala comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McLachlan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuoppala pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kuoppala prevents McLachlan from breaking the clinch.
Kuoppala using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McLachlan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuoppala can't find room to land a body shot as McLachlan controls the action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kuoppala stops a takedown attempt from McLachlan.
Come on Kuoppala - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kuoppala misses with a punch to the body.
Kuoppala is stalling here.
Kuoppala struggles to land a body shot inside as McLachlan controls his hands.
Kuoppala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kuoppala lands an elbow just above McLachlan 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuoppala prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McLachlan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McLachlan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kuoppala pulls his leg out and moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kuoppala.
Kuoppala dips to his left and cracks McLachlan with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McLachlan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McLachlan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Alexander Kuoppala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kuoppala.
Kuoppala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuoppala lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLachlan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuoppala doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kuoppala feints and then cracks McLachlan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McLachlan down.
McLachlan avoids a punch combination nicely.
McLachlan connects with a looping right hand.

McLachlan tries to keep at a distance but Kuoppala has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kuoppala comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kuoppala misses with an elbow strike.
Kuoppala stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kuoppala pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLachlan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kuoppala after a bit of a struggle.
Kuoppala with a knee to the head.
Kuoppala stalling against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuoppala lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McLachlan backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuoppala connects with a knee to the head.
Kuoppala lands an elbow just above McLachlan 's eye.
A knee to the head by Kuoppala.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Kuoppala dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McLachlan fails with the takedown.
McLachlan misses with an uppercut.
Alexander Kuoppala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Kuoppala misses.
Kuoppala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

McLachlan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kuoppala was covering up waiting for the punch and McLachlan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
McLachlan works over Kuoppala with some ground and pound from guard.
McLachlan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuoppala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McLachlan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLachlan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kuoppala keeping moving, preventing McLachlan from controlling successfully.
McLachlan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuoppala is keeping the position for now.
McLachlan works over Kuoppala with some ground and pound from guard.
McLachlan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLachlan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuoppala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because John McLachlan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kuoppala fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kuoppala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McLachlan moves away.
Kuoppala fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kuoppala works McLachlan's body with a nice hook.
Kuoppala scores with the left hand. McLachlan knows he should have avoided that one.
Kuoppala looks to score with a jab to the body but McLachlan is just out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuoppala walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kuoppala buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kuoppala throws a nice outside leg kick.
Alexander Kuoppala seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLachlan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kuoppala. Kuoppala obviously looking to wear him down.
Kuoppala scores with a jab to the body.
Kuoppala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McLachlan tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McLachlan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuoppala connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McLachlan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

McLachlan dives in and scores a takedown into Kuoppala's guard.
McLachlan throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuoppala keeping moving, preventing McLachlan from controlling successfully.
McLachlan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McLachlan passes Kuoppala's left leg - he's now in half guard.
McLachlan is stalling here. Kuoppala is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! McLachlan seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kuoppala has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLachlan manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John McLachlan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McLachlan slips a jab from Kuoppala.
McLachlan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuoppala moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuoppala scores with a spinning back kick!
Sloppy strikes from Kuoppala. Those never looked like landing.
Kuoppala throws a one two combo.
Kuoppala is looking to slow McLachlan down with leg kicks.
Kuoppala misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kuoppala fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McLachlan.
McLachlan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A punch combination from Kuoppala misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McLachlan tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kuoppala scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Kuoppala does it's job there.
McLachlan looks to score with a jab to the body but Kuoppala is just out of range.
McLachlan is looking to wear down Kuoppala with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kuoppala throws a series of punches but McLachlan moves out of range.
Kuoppala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kuoppala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McLachlan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kuoppala. Kuoppala obviously looking to wear him down.
McLachlan just misses with a punch to the body.
McLachlan throws a lazy right hand but Kuoppala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kuoppala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McLachlan moves away.
Kuoppala ducks under a wild hook from McLachlan.
Nice uppercut lands for Kuoppala. That snapped McLachlan's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLachlan slips a jab from Kuoppala.
Nice cross by Kuoppala.
McLachlan takes a swing at Kuoppala's ribcage but misses.
McLachlan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kuoppala throws an off balance right hand
and McLachlan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big left from McLachlan misses.
McLachlan misses with an uppercut
and Kuoppala counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheers as McLachlan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kuoppala doesn't seem phased though.
Kuoppala blocks a jab.
McLachlan misses with a takedown attempt - Kuoppala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McLachlan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuoppala throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Kuoppala.
McLachlan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kuoppala uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McLachlan.
Kuoppala staying out of range there.
McLachlan digs a good body shot into Kuoppala's ribs.
Horrible takedown by McLachlan or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuoppala which made him look bad.
Kuoppala stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kuoppala avoids the body shot from McLachlan.
Kuoppala scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kuoppala lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuoppala tries to clinch up but McLachlan circles away and keeps his distance.
Kuoppala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kuoppala throws a nice looking combination but McLachlan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuoppala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuoppala tries to clinch but McLachlan is having none of it.
Kuoppala bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McLachlan's head backwards.
McLachlan throws a hook but Kuoppala avoids it easily.
Nice cross by Kuoppala.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuoppala throws a right hand that McLachlan ducks under and follows up with a left that McLachlan also avoids with ease.
McLachlan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLachlan looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

McLachlan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kuoppala's half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Kuoppala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuoppala 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Kuoppala!
Alexander Kuoppala decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.