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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rupert Whiston (ranked 5123 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (ranked 4992 p4p, 0 weight class). Ari Kantola has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 175 cm
34
223 lbs
14 - 15 - 1 |
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185 cm
40
220 lbs
34 - 19 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
14 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rupert Whiston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
34 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kantola takes the fight into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Kantola.
Kantola throws a knee to the head but misses.
Whiston tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kantola slowing the pace effectively.
Kantola misses with a knee strike.
Whiston ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Whiston no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Whiston pulls Kantola in close to his closed guard and prevents Kantola from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kantola controls from within his opponent's guard.
Whiston looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kantola controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whiston wants to sweep but no luck.
Kantola trying to control the position from guard on top but Whiston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola is stalling in the full guard.
Whiston looking for a sweep. Not yet Whiston, not yet.
We've been hearing good reports from Whiston'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.
Whiston is working hard here to advance position.
Kantola trying to control but Whiston is working from the bottom.
Kantola stays in close to Whiston's body and controls the position.
Whiston managing to control the position.
Whiston lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Whiston not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kantola trying to keep a closed guard but Whiston is proving a slippery customer.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Whiston's guard.
Kantola passes Whiston's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Whiston is looking to improve his position.
Whiston is trying is best to control the position here.
Whiston wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.
Kantola slows the pace down in half guard.
Kantola wants to pass the guard but Whiston is defending well.
Whiston is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kantola wants to free his trapped foot but Whiston is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Whiston is holding on to half guard well.
Whiston is looking to improve his position.
Kantola tries to pass the half guard into mount. Whiston knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola content to control rather than advance.
Whiston manages to get to full guard.
Kantola controlling from the top position.
It looks like Kantola might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kantola is continuing to stall.
Kantola is fighting to break Whiston's control of his arms but Whiston is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kantola wants to control from the top but Whiston keeps moving.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Whiston.
Kantola tries to buck Whiston off but Whiston is having none of it.
Whiston trying to control the action but Kantola is working from the bottom.
Kantola trying to remain calm as Whiston controls from the top position.
Kantola is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Whiston off and has taken his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kantola has good solid back control here.
Whiston rolls, trying to escape but Kantola keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Ari Kantola 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.
Whiston shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kantola is trying to defend but Whiston finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kantola makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kantola.
Kantola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whiston looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Whiston has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kantola pulls Whiston in close to his closed guard and prevents Whiston from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whiston is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kantola pulls Whiston in close to prevent any damage.
Kantola keeping moving, preventing Whiston from controlling successfully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whiston engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kantola trying to control the position.
Whiston trying to control but Kantola is working from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whiston closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Whiston tries to pass to full mount but Kantola defends it.
Kantola controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kantola is pressing down on Whiston's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Whiston's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Whiston holds on and takes a little breather.
Rupert Whiston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whiston can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kantola controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Whiston is on top in guard.
Kantola looking to control.
Whiston is fighting to break Kantola's control of his arms but Kantola is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kantola is trying to control the position but Whiston postures up.
Whiston stopping the sweep attempt from Kantola.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Kantola can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Whiston controls the pace.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whiston stopping the sweep attempt from Kantola.
Kantola looking to control.
Whiston passes Kantola's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kantola wants to improve his position but Whiston is controlling well.
Kantola wants to control the action here but instead Whiston manages to pass to full mount!
Kantola is trying to escape the mount.
Whiston looking to control and managing it successfully.
Whiston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kantola can do to turn this around?
Kantola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kantola doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whiston takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Whiston seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kantola for as long as he can get away with.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Whiston.
Kantola manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Well, if Whiston is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kantola makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kantola.
Whiston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rupert Whiston 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!
Whiston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whiston lands in his opponent's guard.
Kantola has control of Whiston's left arm, preventing Whiston from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whiston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kantola is keeping the position for now.
Kantola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whiston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whiston sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola controlling the position.
Kantola is trying to keep Whiston in close.
Whiston controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola is trying to keep Whiston in close.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Whiston circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kantola forces Whiston back against the cage and clinches.
Kantola lands an elbow that stopped Whiston in his tracks for a moment.
It looks like Rupert Whiston has been cut.
Kantola working aggressively here.
Kantola misses with a knee strike.
Kantola connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whiston's face.
Whiston is trying to trip Kantola. He has hold of a leg but Kantola is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Whiston persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Whiston looking to pass the guard.
Kantola seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kantola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whiston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Whiston tries to free his leg and advance position but Kantola is retaining full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whiston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kantola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Whiston wants to control but Kantola is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Whiston is controlling Kantola's trapped leg to prevent Kantola from advancing to side control.
Whiston tries to roll over but Kantola keeps him under control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kantola is pressing down on Whiston's thigh, looking to free his foot. Whiston is holding on for now.
Whiston is trying to maintain the position but Kantola is very close to passing his half guard.
My spies in 3Band MMA ($500/week) inform me that Kantola has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kantola stalling.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whiston is trying to control but can't.
Whiston is not content to let Kantola control the position.
Whiston is concentrating on defense, preventing Kantola from advancing position.
Kantola is looking to advance position but Whiston won't allow it.
Kantola is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Whiston is trying is best to control the position here.
Whiston tries to roll over but Kantola keeps him under control.
Kantola performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Whiston is not content to let Kantola control the position.
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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Kantola has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kantola fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kantola gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Whiston engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Whiston'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.
Kantola looking for a sweep. Not yet Kantola, not yet.
Whiston is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kantola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whiston manages to get himself to full guard.
Whiston wants to sweep but no luck.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rupert Whiston.
I think Whiston has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ari Kantola!
Ari Kantola decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
31% |
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