PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jasun Wharton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Wharton
vs
Vipunen

165 cm
27
142 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
20
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jasun Wharton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antero Vipunen!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wharton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wharton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Vipunen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Antero Vipunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vipunen throws out a loose jab but Wharton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wharton is looking to counter punch.
Wharton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wharton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vipunen throws out the jab.
Wharton scores with a body shot.
Wharton slips a straight right by Vipunen.
Wharton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vipunen throws out the jab.
Wharton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vipunen misses the jab.
Wharton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wharton lands with a straight right. Vipunen didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen throws a body shot but no joy.
Wharton swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Vipunen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Wharton counters with a nice uppercut.
Vipunen lands a right hook to the body.
Vipunen throws a body shot but no joy.

Wharton gets a double leg takedown into Vipunen's guard.
Wharton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vipunen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vipunen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vipunen looking to control but Wharton passes into half guard.
Wharton winds up and cracks Vipunen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen is trying to get back to full guard.
Vipunen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Vipunen is looking to control Wharton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vipunen avoid being mounted?
Vipunen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Vipunen is staying active underneath Wharton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wharton wants to pass to mount but Vipunen is defending the position.
Vipunen is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Wharton jumps into side control!
Wharton advances to full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wharton working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wharton putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wharton scoring with strikes but Vipunen is staying in there.
Vipunen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Vipunen is looking for a sweep. Wharton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Wharton is trying to work for a kimura but Vipunen is defending well.
Wharton looks to land a strike but Vipunen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wharton wants to control from the top but Vipunen keeps moving.
Vipunen is trying to control the position but Wharton postures up.
Wharton landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vipunen is trying to control the position but Wharton postures up.
Wharton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vipunen's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vipunen throws a hook but Wharton avoids it easily.
Wharton on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wharton lands a lovely overhand right.
Vipunen misses with a looping left.
Wharton takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wharton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vipunen shoots in looking for a takedown but Wharton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vipunen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wharton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wharton is looking to counter punch.
A big right from Vipunen misses.
Vipunen misses with an uppercut
enabling Wharton to counter with a crisp jab.
Vipunen takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wharton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wharton shoots in looking for a takedown. Vipunen tries to sprawl out of it but Wharton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vipunen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed right hand from Vipunen misses the target.
Wharton half committed to a counter leg kick.
Wharton looks to score with a jab to the body but Vipunen is just out of range.
Vipunen misses with a straight left.
Wharton swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Good exchange - Wharton coming out on top.
Vipunen lands a jab to the head.
Vipunen throws a hook but Wharton blocks it.
As Vipunen tries to get set, Wharton tries to push him back and clinch up but Vipunen manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen throws a series of punches but Wharton moves out of range.
Vipunen throws a series of punches but Wharton moves out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Vipunen blocks the leg kick.
Vipunen slips under a jab from Wharton.
Vipunen misses with an uppercut
and Wharton counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vipunen thinking.
Antero Vipunen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wharton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vipunen moves away.
Vipunen misses with a left hand
and Wharton counters with a stiff right hand.
Wharton connects with a right hand. Vipunen shakes it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Wharton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wharton works over Vipunen with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wharton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vipunen tries to strike from the bottom.
Vipunen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vipunen wants to control from the top but Wharton keeps moving.

Wharton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jasun Wharton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Wharton is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Vipunen frees his head nicely. Oh but Wharton has switched to an armbar! Vipunen is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Jasun Wharton!