PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Teppo Turma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupponen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. SMC Hoodrats kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Niko Rupponen has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Turma
vs
Rupponen

190 cm
21
157 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
155 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Turma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Rupponen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Rupponen with that takedown attempt.
Rupponen closes the distance and clinches up with Turma, looking for a takedown. Rupponen pushes Turma against the cage but Turma circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Rupponen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Turma is trying to defend but Rupponen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Turma wants to get back to his feet.

Turma kicks off Rupponen and gets to his feet.
A slow jab from Turma misses its intended target.
Rupponen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Teppo Turma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rupponen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Turma. Turma circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rupponen throws out a loose jab but Turma uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Rupponen.
Turma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Turma thows a body shot but no joy.
Turma really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Turma throws out a loose jab but Rupponen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rupponen ducks under a wild hook from Turma.
Turma tries to bum rush Rupponen with a series of wild strikes but Rupponen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rupponen lands a nice looking body shot.
Rupponen avoids the body shot from Turma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turma misses with a hook. Rupponen ducked under it nicely.
Rupponen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rupponen slips under a jab from Turma.
Turma misses with a body shot.
Turma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rupponen. Turma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice shot lands for Rupponen.
Rupponen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Turma as he jumps to the side.
Teppo Turma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Rupponen.
A swing and a miss from Turma.

Rupponen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Turma was covering up waiting for the punch and Rupponen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Turma is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rupponen is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen throws a big right hand that misses.
Rupponen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Turma wants to stand up but Rupponen is controlling him.
Rupponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Turma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Turma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Turma looks to land a right hand but Rupponen moved out of range.
Turma throws a series of punches but Rupponen avoids them all with ease.
Rupponen ducks under a wild hook from Turma.
Rupponen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Turma misses.
Rupponen misses with an uppercut. Turma saw that one coming.
Rupponen fails with a takedown attempt.
Rupponen misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen misses the shot to the body.
Rupponen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Turma.
Turma walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice straight punches there by Rupponen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rupponen.
Turma lunges at Rupponen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rupponen's hand.
Rupponen fails with the takedown.
Rupponen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rupponen thows a body shot but no joy.
Turma thows a body shot but no joy.
Rupponen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Turma napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Turma is trying to get back to half guard.
Turma is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rupponen off and has taken his back!
Turma looking to hold on to the position here but Rupponen rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Turma decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rupponen, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Turma misses with a straight right.
A big left from Turma misses.
Rupponen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Rupponen or perhaps it was just good defense by Turma which made him look bad.
Turma looks to score with a jab to the body but Rupponen is just out of range.
Rupponen looks to land a left hand but Turma moved out of range nicely.
Rupponen jabs at Turma's body.
Turma lands a head shot.
Rupponen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Turma.
Teppo Turma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Turma throws a nice looking combination but Rupponen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rupponen staying out of range there.
Turma is breathing heavily.
Rupponen connects with a solid leg kick.
Rupponen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Turma swings for the body but Rupponen moves out of range.
Rupponen looks to land a combination but Turma avoids it well.
Rupponen ducks under a wild hook from Turma.
Turma throws a jab but it's blocked by Rupponen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rupponen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Turma.
Turma looks to land a left hand but Rupponen moved out of range nicely.
Turma throws a combination that misses
and Turma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Turma throws a hook but Rupponen blocks it.
Turma misses with a straight left.
Rupponen lands with an overhand left.
Rupponen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rupponen scores with a body shot.
Turma throws a big shot that misses.
Rupponen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rupponen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rupponen dodges the punch combination from Turma.
Rupponen misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turma throws a hook but Rupponen avoids it easily.
Rupponen cracks Turma with an open hand slap.
Rupponen throws a jab but it's blocked by Turma.
Turma moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Turma throws a right hand that Rupponen ducks under and follows up with a left that Rupponen also avoids with ease.
Rupponen misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen misses with a series of wild punches.
Turma misses the body punch

and Rupponen counters with a single leg into guard. Turma didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Turma keeping moving, preventing Rupponen from controlling successfully.

Rupponen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rupponen content to stall in guard here.
Turma keeping moving, preventing Rupponen from controlling successfully.
Turma is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rupponen landing with the ground and pound.
Turma is looking to stand up but Rupponen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rupponen connects with a couple of short punches.
Rupponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Turma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turma wants to stand but Rupponen is controlling the position.
Turma is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rupponen trying to control but Turma is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rupponen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turma looking for a sweep but Rupponen has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rupponen tries to control but Turma wriggling away.
Rupponen with a couple of short strikes.

Rupponen has hold of Turma's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Turma manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Turma tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rupponen avoids the attempt from Turma to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Turma wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Turma is trying desperately to improve position.
Turma is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rupponen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Turma trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rupponen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Turma is trying to stand.
Rupponen raining down shots from the mount!
Rupponen tries to control but Turma wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rupponen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Turma is not content to let Rupponen control the position.

Turma throws Rupponen to one side and escapes!

Rupponen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rupponen lands in his opponent's guard.
Rupponen trying to control but Turma is working from the bottom.
Turma wants to stand up but Rupponen is controlling him.
Rupponen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rupponen wants to control from the top but Turma keeps moving.
Rupponen is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen looking to sit in guard and control but Turma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rupponen has a closed guard, preventing Turma from standing up.

Turma stands up from Rupponen's guard - Turma perhaps looking for a knockout.
A big left from Turma misses.
Turma misses the body punch
and Rupponen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rupponen slips a straight right by Turma.

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.
Turma misses with a body shot.
Rupponen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Turma scores with a hook to the body. Rupponen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turma. Rupponen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Turma stuffs the takedown attempt from Rupponen. Rupponen gets slowly back to his feet.
Rupponen blocks a jab.
Turma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rupponen moves away.
Rupponen throws the left hand but Turma avoids the punch easily.
Rupponen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rupponen.
Rupponen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rupponen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rupponen missing with a left hand there. Turma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Turma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Turma looks to throw the jab but Rupponen is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rupponen. Turma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rupponen throws a jab but it's blocked by Turma.
Rupponen drops his hands momentarily and Turma takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rupponen punishes Turma's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turma misses with a straight right.
Rupponen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Turma.
Turma scores with a punch to the head.
Turma throws a body punch but Rupponen moves out of range.

Rupponen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Turma to the mat! Turma manages to get full guard.
Rupponen throwing strikes from guard but Turma blocks nicely.
Niko Rupponen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Turma is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rupponen is controlling him.
Turma wants to sweep but no luck.
Turma wants to stand but Rupponen is controlling the position.
Rupponen trying to control but Turma is working from the bottom.
Rupponen prevents Turma from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen trying to control but Turma is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Turma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rupponen.
Nice defenses there by Rupponen.
Turma with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rupponen to score with a decent uppercut.
Turma thuds his right hand into Rupponen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Turma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rupponen.
Rupponen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Turma at a distance.
Rupponen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Turma.
Rupponen slips under a jab from Turma.

Rupponen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rupponen is looking to take a break and control but Turma is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Rupponen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rupponen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Rupponen!