PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Finn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Kuoppala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Finn comes to the cage accompanied by Von Bondies - C'mon c'mon. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Finn
vs
Kuoppala

182 cm
41
174 lbs
39 - 19 - 1

181 cm
27
183 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

BeastMode
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 39 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey Finn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexander Kuoppala!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finn connects with a single shot there.
Kuoppala throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Finn closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kuoppala did well to prevent Finn getting side control.
Finn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Finn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuoppala's head.
Finn stalling.
Kuoppala controlling the position well.
Finn content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuoppala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Finn.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Finn is working for a submission of some sort.
Finn controlling the pace.
Finn working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finn throwing shots but Kuoppala is blocking nicely.

Finn 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.
Finn 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.
Finn is looking to take a break and control but Kuoppala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kuoppala trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kuoppala is refusing to be controlled, as Finn sits in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Finn scores with a hook to the body. Kuoppala takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kuoppala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Finn sprawls well. Finn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kuoppala gets slowly back to his feet.
Mickey Finn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuoppala gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Finn counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuoppala takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Finn closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Finn lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finn trying to control but Kuoppala is working from the bottom.
Kuoppala avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Finn wants to control from the top but Kuoppala keeps moving.
Finn throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Finn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuoppala is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Finn is controlling him.
Finn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kuoppala is looking to sweep but instead, Finn has passed into half guard.
Finn wants to take a breather but Kuoppala is having none of it.
We've been hearing good reports from Finn's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Finn is pressing down on Kuoppala's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kuoppala is holding on for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kuoppala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Finn pulls his head out easily.
Finn is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Finn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kuoppala moves in looking to clinch but Finn pushes him off.
Finn swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Finn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuoppala can do to turn this around?
Finn just misses with a punch to the body.

Finn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Finn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Finn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuoppala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Finn throws a big right hand that misses.
Finn stops Kuoppala from standing up.
Finn is stalling in the full guard.
Finn stopping the sweep attempt from Kuoppala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finn trying to control but Kuoppala is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Finn is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kuoppala is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuoppala throws a counter combo.

Finn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mickey Finn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Finn tries to pass to full mount but Kuoppala defends it.
Finn wants to control but Kuoppala is keeping him busy.
Kuoppala is looking for a sweep. Finn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Finn is trying to control. Kuoppala wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn trying to pass the guard but Kuoppala defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finn scores with a body shot.
Kuoppala shoots in but Finn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Finn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kuoppala looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kuoppala takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kuoppala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Finn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kuoppala tries to sprawl but Finn drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Finn works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuoppala holds on to Finn around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Finn looking to control but Kuoppala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Finn putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Finn scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kuoppala?
Finn is landing with some decent strikes but Kuoppala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finn working Kuoppala over with strikes here.
Finn fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Finn with a couple of short strikes.
Finn landing punches.
Kuoppala tries to hold on but Finn pushes him away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuoppala is in all sorts of trouble here.
Finn has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kuoppala's face.
Finn trying to control but Kuoppala is having none of it.
Kuoppala takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Finn dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Finn getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Finn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Finn wants to control but Kuoppala is keeping him busy.
Finn tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Finn works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Finn moves into full mount!
Kuoppala is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finn punching from mount but Kuoppala doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Finn connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finn wants to control the pace but Kuoppala is squirming around nicely.
Kuoppala is bucking up trying to escape but Finn cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Finn is landing with some decent strikes but Kuoppala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kuoppala takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Finn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuoppala is looking to escape.
Finn dominating with strikes here.
Finn working Kuoppala over with strikes here.
Kuoppala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn working the ground and pound effectively.
Finn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuoppala is looking to escape.
Kuoppala wants to hold on but Finn pushes him away.
Finn with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finn breaks from Kuoppala's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kuoppala tries to reverse the position but Finn maintains control.
Finn working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kuoppala sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Finn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuoppala keeps working.
Kuoppala trying to control from the bottom.
Alexander Kuoppala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finn stalling.
Finn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuoppala defending well though.
Finn looks to land a strike but Kuoppala avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Finn trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuoppala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuoppala trying to control the position.
Finn distracts Kuoppala with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Finn controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Finn throwing strikes from guard but Kuoppala blocks nicely.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mickey Finn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Finn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Finn has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:24
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:24
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Finn!
A victorious Mickey Finn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.