PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Niko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kumina Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupponen comes to the cage accompanied by SMC Hoodrats. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rupponen
vs
Sato

160 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Coffee Shop (Cheapest recovery in Dam!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Rupponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kumina Sato!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato tries to clinch there but Rupponen circles away.

Rupponen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rupponen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rupponen trying to control from Sato's half guard. Sato has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rupponen looking to pass the guard.
Sato is controlling Rupponen's posture.
Sato looking to control.
Rupponen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sato is retaining full guard.
Rupponen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rupponen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rupponen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sato!
Sato gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rupponen is thwarting Sato's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rupponen uses his free foot to push down on Sato's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sato.
Sato is trying desperately to improve position.
Rupponen wants to control the pace but Sato is squirming around nicely.
Rupponen forces the positional change into back control.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Sato tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries to lock up and control but Rupponen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rupponen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sato is looking to escape.
Rupponen content just to control the position here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sato is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rupponen wants to take Sato's back but he can't do it this time.
Rupponen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rupponen is trying to take his opponent's back.
Sato is squirming around, avoiding Rupponen's attempts to control the action.
Sato wants to hold on but Rupponen pushes him away.
Sato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rupponen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Niko Rupponen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sato tries to land a leg kick but Rupponen saw it coming and moves away.

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.
Sato tries to clinch up.

Sato has closed the distance and engaged Rupponen in a clinch.
Rupponen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sato walks away with a smile on his face. Rupponen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rupponen dodges the punch combination from Sato.
Sato throws a series of punches but Rupponen avoids them all with ease.
Rupponen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sato swivels and escapes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rupponen keeps the fight on the outside.
Sato tries to close the distance and clinch but Rupponen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rupponen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sato tries to clinch up but Rupponen circles away and keeps his distance.
Sato swings for the body but Rupponen moves out of range.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sato as he avoids it easily.
Sato fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rupponen shoots in looking for a takedown. Sato tries to sprawl out of it but Rupponen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kumina Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown but Sato shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Rupponen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rupponen tries for a takedown but Sato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sato circles away.
Sato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rupponen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sato looks to score with a jab to the body but Rupponen is just out of range.
Sato wants to clinch.
Sato scoring well with a low kick there.
Sato tries to clinch there but Rupponen circles away.
Rupponen throws a sloppy head kick and Sato moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rupponen moves out of range of the strikes.
Sato is looking to clinch.
Sato misses with a head kick.
Rupponen shoots in but no luck this time.
Rupponen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sato tries to clinch up.
Sato stuffs the takedown.
Rupponen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rupponen blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen swats away the attempt to clinch by Sato.
Sato motions for Rupponen to come forward. Sato throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sato misses with a leg kick.
Sato doesn't manage to clinch there - Rupponen circles away.
Sato tries to close the distance and clinch but Rupponen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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.
Rupponen keeps the fight on the outside.
Rupponen checks a leg kick.
Rupponen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sato throws out the jab.
Rupponen swats away the attempt to clinch by Sato.
Sato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rupponen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rupponen clinches up with Sato and pushes him back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rupponen is trying to drag Sato to the mat but Sato just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rupponen gets control of Sato's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rupponen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kumina Sato will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rupponen closes the distance and pushes Sato back into the cage.

Rupponen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sato clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sato is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sato just trying to survive but Rupponen is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rupponen tries to get the hooks in deep but Sato pushed the leg off.
What can Sato do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
You can see the frustration on Sato's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rupponen just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Sato looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Rupponen slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato is keeping busy.
Rupponen is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Sato is really stuck here.
Rupponen tries to get the hooks in deep but Sato pushed the leg off.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Niko Rupponen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Horrible takedown by Rupponen or perhaps it was just good defense by Sato which made him look bad.
Rupponen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sato clinches but Rupponen breaks the clinch

and Rupponen counters with a single leg into guard. Sato didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen wants to control from the top but Sato keeps moving.
Rupponen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sato is keeping the position for now.
Rupponen is working hard here to advance position.
Rupponen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sato can't keep his opponent in guard - Rupponen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sato is refusing to be controlled, as Rupponen sits in half guard.
Rupponen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rupponen mounts Sato! Really nice guard pass there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato wants to hold on but Rupponen pushes him away.
Sato is controlling an arm, preventing Rupponen from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Rupponen wants to control the pace but Sato is squirming around nicely.
Sato wants to hold on but Rupponen pushes him away.
Sato really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rupponen pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Rupponen avoids the attempt from Sato to control.
Rupponen trying to control but Sato is having none of it.
Sato tries to lock up and control but Rupponen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Sato swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Rupponen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sato is looking to escape.
Rupponen controlling the position easily from mount.
Rupponen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sato for as long as he can get away with.
Rupponen is trying to take his opponent's back.
Sato working to try and regain half guard.
Sato is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Rupponen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rupponen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!

Niko Rupponen wins by unanimous decision!