PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cera comes to the ring accompanied by These Eyes. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cera
vs
Vipunen

167 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Cera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antero Vipunen!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vipunen swivels and escapes.
Cera darts in looking for a takedown but Vipunen gets double underhooks and turns Cera into the ropes.

Cera darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Cera'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.
Vipunen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Vipunen punching from the bottom.
Vipunen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vipunen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cera looking to pass the guard.
Cera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vipunen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vipunen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen wants to sweep here but Cera controlling him for the moment.
Cera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cera tries to free his leg and advance position but Vipunen is retaining full guard.
Vipunen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cera is one step ahead there.
Vipunen trying to strike off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice body punch from Vipunen.
Cera takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cera shoots in looking for a takedown but Vipunen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Vipunen.

Vipunen gets caught napping as Cera dives in and scores a takedown. Vipunen manages to retain guard.
Cera trying to control but Vipunen is working from the bottom.

Cera drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vipunen dives on top into guard.

Cera keeping moving, preventing Vipunen from controlling successfully.
Vipunen won't allow Cera to sweep him here.
Vipunen postures up in Cera's guard and throws a big left but Cera blocks it.
Cera keeping moving, preventing Vipunen from controlling successfully.

Vipunen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vipunen has managed to get both his arms back between Cera's legs - danger averted.
Vipunen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vipunen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cera keeping moving, preventing Vipunen from controlling successfully.

Cera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cera keeping moving, preventing Vipunen from controlling successfully.

Cera working for submissions but it's allowed Vipunen to get to half guard.
Cera wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vipunen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vipunen.
Vipunen wants to control but Cera is keeping him busy.
Cera is pressing down on Vipunen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vipunen throws a big elbow that misses.
Cera working a defensive guard here.

Cera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vipunen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vipunen won't allow Cera to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antero Vipunen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vipunen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vipunen misses with a straight left.
Cera tries to counter with a takedown but Vipunen is quick to defend against it.
Cera shoots in and drives through. Vipunen sprawls well.
Vipunen shoots in but no luck this time.
Vipunen digs a good body shot into Cera's ribs.
Cera fails to land the takedown.
Vipunen feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vipunen looks to land a left hand but Cera moved out of range nicely.
Vipunen lands with a straight right. Cera didn't see that one coming.
Vipunen thuds his right hand into Cera's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Vipunen.

It looks like Michael Cera has been cut.
Vipunen leaves Cera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vipunen with the counter takedown but Cera avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vipunen misses the shot to the body.

Cera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Cera is looking for a kimura here.
Michael Cera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cera working the head and body with strikes.
Vipunen felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen trying to control here.

Cera wants to work for an arm triangle but Vipunen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vipunen wants to control but Cera is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cera lands with a punch from half guard.

Cera wants to work for an arm triangle but Vipunen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cera seems to be looking for submissions.
Cera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vipunen tries to roll over but Cera keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cera is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cera blocks the strikes from Vipunen.
Vipunen missing with punches from the bottom.
Vipunen trying to hold on to Cera's head to control him but Cera postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Cera is working for a submission of some sort.
Cera misses with a head shot. Vipunen uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cera tries to free his leg and advance position but Vipunen is retaining full guard.
Vipunen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vipunen takes a swing at Cera's ribcage but misses.
Cera attempts a counter takedown but Vipunen avoids it well and moves away.
Antero Vipunen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vipunen scores with a jab to the body.
Cera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vipunen circles away.
Cera takes a body punch but keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Vipunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Cera's cut.
That's time! Cera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vipunen shoots in and drives through. Cera sprawls well.
Vipunen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cera as he jumps to the side.
Cera appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vipunen as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vipunen misses with a hook to the body

and Cera counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Cera is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vipunen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cera.
Cera passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cera is putting a hurting on Vipunen here, landing some big shots from side control.

Cera tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vipunen regains half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Vipunen is pressing down on Cera's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cera throws an elbow that misses. Vipunen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cera's guard. Nice move by Vipunen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Cera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vipunen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vipunen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cera wants to sweep here but Vipunen controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cera has his foot on Vipunen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vipunen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cera has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vipunen has passed into side control.
Cera takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Vipunen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
You can see the frustration on Cera's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cera is not content to let Vipunen control the position.
Vipunen scoring with punches and elbows.
Vipunen wants to control but Cera is keeping him busy.
Cera is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Vipunen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Antero Vipunen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cera really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Vipunen wants to control the pace but Cera is squirming around nicely.
Cera is looking to get to half guard.
Vipunen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vipunen controlling the pace for now.
Michael Cera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vipunen tries to control but Cera wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antero Vipunen.
I've got Vipunen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antero Vipunen!
In defeat, Michael Cera stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will come back stronger, Thanks everyone'.