PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sampo Suopursu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickard Franzen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Suopursu
vs
Franzen

180 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
195 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sampo Suopursu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickard Franzen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franzen swings widly with a right hand
letting Suopursu counter with a right hand.

Suopursu takes the fight into the clinch.

Franzen manages to break the clinch.
Suopursu throws a jab but it's blocked by Franzen.
Franzen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Suopursu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Franzen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Suopursu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franzen controls Suopursu momentarily but Suopursu frees himself.
Suopursu controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franzen controlling the position.
Suopursu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Suopursu has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Franzen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Decent striking displayed by Franzen there.
Suopursu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Franzen doesn't seem bothered though.
Franzen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Suopursu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Franzen just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Suopursu is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Franzen's half guard.
Suopursu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Suopursu is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Franzen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Franzen controlling the position well.

Suopursu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suopursu slows the pace down in half guard.

Suopursu is trying to work for a kimura but Franzen is defending well.
Suopursu wants to take a breather but Franzen is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Suopursu controlling the action here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Suopursu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Suopursu slows the pace down in half guard.

Suopursu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franzen defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Suopursu wants to control but Franzen is keeping him busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampo Suopursu dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Suopursu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Franzen slips under a jab.
Franzen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Suopursu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franzen manages to avoid it.
Rickard Franzen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franzen.
Suopursu misses with an uppercut.
Franzen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Suopursu looks to score with a jab to the body but Franzen is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suopursu misses with a body shot.

Suopursu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Suopursu takes a little break here. Franzen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suopursu tries to advance to mount but Franzen denies him.

Suopursu swings around for an armbar but Franzen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Suopursu's guard.
Franzen is looking to work some ground and pound but Suopursu has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Suopursu keeping moving, preventing Franzen from controlling successfully.

Franzen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Suopursu pulls Franzen in close to his closed guard and prevents Franzen from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suopursu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franzen manages to get himself to full guard.

Suopursu wants to pass the guard but Franzen is keeping the position.
Sampo Suopursu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franzen is trying to control the position but Suopursu postures up.
Franzen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Suopursu controls the pace.
Suopursu's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suopursu slips nicely into half guard.
Suopursu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franzen can do to turn this around?
Suopursu with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Suopursu is trying to control. Franzen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Franzen is looking to control Suopursu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Franzen avoid being mounted?
Suopursu is looking to take a break and control but Franzen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Suopursu 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.

That's four 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.
Suopursu is keen to just control but Franzen is a slippery customer.
Franzen is looking for a sweep. Suopursu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Suopursu is looking for a kimura but Franzen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Suopursu to get the leverage.
Suopursu trying to control the action but Franzen is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Suopursu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Franzen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampo Suopursu dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Franzen connects with a right hand. Suopursu shakes it off.
Franzen gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Suopursu counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Franzen!
Franzen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Suopursu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Franzen prevents Suopursu from improving position.
Franzen is not content to let Suopursu control the position.
Suopursu passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Franzen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franzen wants to control but Suopursu is having none of it.
Suopursu controlling the position easily from mount.
Franzen is desperately trying to improve his position but Suopursu has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suopursu controlling from the full mount.
Suopursu is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's two 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.
Suopursu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Suopursu jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Franzen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Franzen and Suopursu has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Franzen is not content to let Suopursu control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suopursu controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Suopursu laying and praying for a moment but Franzen takes advantage and regains half guard.
Sampo Suopursu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Suopursu perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Suopursu scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Suopursu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franzen.
Rickard Franzen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Suopursu slips under a jab.
Sampo Suopursu is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Franzen.
Franzen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Suopursu misses its target.
Franzen misses with an uppercut
and Suopursu counters with a stiff right hand.
Franzen shoots in for a takedown but Suopursu shows good takedown defense.
Good shot there by Suopursu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Suopursu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Franzen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Suopursu is looking to wear down Franzen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Suopursu closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Franzen did well to prevent Suopursu getting side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sampo Suopursu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Suopursu 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sampo Suopursu!