PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Risto Perkele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rupunen's choice of entrance music: Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Perkele
vs
Rupunen

189 cm
20
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Risto Perkele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkele changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rupunen tries to avoid it but Perkele manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rupunen to the ground. Rupunen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rupunen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Perkele fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Perkele tries to clinch up.
Perkele fails in his attempt to clinch.
Perkele tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rupunen swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Risto Perkele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Perkele tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rupunen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rupunen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rupunen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Perkele is proving hard to escape from.
Rupunen preventing the sweep.
Perkele being controlled here, momentarily.
Perkele utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Perkele wants to improve his position but instead Rupunen has moved into half guard.

Rupunen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rupunen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rupunen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Perkele.
Rupunen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Perkele tries to get to full guard but Rupunen has control of the leg.
Perkele is breathing heavily.
Rupunen working over Perkele with some ground and pound. Perkele looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rupunen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Perkele trying to hold on to Rupunen's head to control him but Rupunen postures up.

Rupunen stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen misses with a takedown attempt

and Perkele counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rupunen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Perkele won't allow Rupunen to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perkele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rupunen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Perkele has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rupunen is pulling down on Perkele's head to control his posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Perkele accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rupunen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rupunen controlling the position.
Rupunen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Perkele manages to get himself to full guard.
Rupunen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Perkele is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Perkele is on top in guard.
Rupunen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rupunen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Perkele wants to get back to his feet.
Perkele trying to control here.
Perkele is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rupunen wants to control but Perkele is keeping him busy.
Still in half guard, Rupunen seems content to control.
Perkele wants to get back to full guard but Rupunen has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rupunen content just to control the position here.
Perkele is working to get back to half guard.
Rupunen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rupunen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Perkele to take his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miksu Rupunen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Perkele with a poor takedown
and Rupunen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Perkele gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rupunen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rupunen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Perkele tries to roll over but Rupunen keeps him under control.

Rupunen decides to stand up.

Rupunen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Perkele to the mat! Perkele manages to get full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Perkele looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rupunen passes into side control.
Perkele struggling a bit here.
Rupunen is breathing heavily.
Perkele is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rupunen off and has taken his back!
Perkele tries to get the hooks in deep but Rupunen pushed the leg off.
Rupunen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Perkele's guard. Nice work there by Rupunen.
Perkele tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rupunen won't allow Perkele to get back to his feet.
Rupunen passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rupunen in particular looking to stall.
Rupunen prevents Perkele from improving his position.
Rupunen is trying to control the action in half guard but Perkele is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Perkele trying to control from the bottom.
Perkele tries to roll over but Rupunen keeps him under control.
Perkele moves into full guard.
Perkele is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rupunen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Perkele swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Perkele throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rupunen counters with a takedown into side control.
Perkele is looking to regain half guard here but Rupunen keeps moving and retains side control.
Perkele can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele trying to control but Rupunen flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Perkele trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
You can see the frustration on Perkele's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Rupunen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Perkele tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Perkele tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rupunen looking to control but Perkele is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Perkele that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rupunen landing shots from mount.
Rupunen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Perkele to take his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Rupunen gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Rupunen gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Rupunen apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Rupunen closes the distance but Perkele moves to the side
and Perkele counters with a nice uppercut.
Perkele is looking to clinch.
Perkele looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rupunen is fending him off so far but Perkele persists. Nope, Rupunen circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Risto Perkele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rupunen lands with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Perkele gets caught flat footed, as Rupunen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rupunen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Rupunen 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.
Rupunen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Perkele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rupunen is stalling in the full guard.
Rupunen wants to control from the top but Perkele keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miksu Rupunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Perkele forces Rupunen back against the cage and clinches.
Perkele with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Perkele gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rupunen regains guard.
Rupunen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Perkele is one step ahead there.
Rupunen is trying to keep Perkele in close.

Rupunen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rupunen misses with a takedown attempt - Perkele sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Perkele lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Perkele.
Rupunen throws a hook to the side of Perkele's head but Perkele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rupunen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Perkele is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rupunen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rupunen has escaped and now he's on top!
Perkele looking to control.
Perkele is looking to stand up but Rupunen isn't so interested in that idea.
Perkele keeping moving, preventing Rupunen from controlling successfully.
Perkele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two 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.
Perkele controls Rupunen momentarily but Rupunen frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rupunen is looking to land body kicks.
Perkele tries to clinch up.
Rupunen is looking to land body kicks.

Rupunen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rupunen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Perkele is squirming around, avoiding Rupunen's attempts to control the action.
Rupunen prevents Perkele from getting the reversal.
Perkele is working hard here to advance position.
Rupunen lands a big shot there that rocks Perkele but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele wants to hold on but Rupunen pushes him away.
Rupunen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rupunen content just to control the position here.
Perkele wants to control but Rupunen is having none of it.
The referee warns Perkele that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rupunen controlling the position easily from mount.
Rupunen with a couple of short strikes.
Rupunen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Miksu Rupunen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rupunen landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele is trying to escape the mount.
Perkele wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Rupunen controlling his opponent.
Perkele tries to lock up and control but Rupunen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Perkele is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Rupunen goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Perkele is on top in guard.

Perkele gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele with a lazy takedown attempt

so Rupunen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Risto Perkele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rupunen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miksu Rupunen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rupunen 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miksu Rupunen!