PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Atte Kumpulainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tot Ziens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ziens has chosen Coconuts as his entrance music. Tot Ziens will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kumpulainen
vs
Ziens

175 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

189 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Atte Kumpulainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tot Ziens!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumpulainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kumpulainen is looking to clinch.
Kumpulainen is looking to clinch.
Ziens keeps the fight on the outside.

Ziens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kumpulainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Ziens prevents Kumpulainen from breaking the clinch.
Kumpulainen tries to stall but Ziens uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ziens.
Kumpulainen tries to stall but Ziens uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ziens has had enough of the clinch but Kumpulainen keeps him there for the moment.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Ziens won't allow it.

Kumpulainen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kumpulainen keeping moving, preventing Ziens from controlling successfully.

Kumpulainen scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kumpulainen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ziens decides to pull guard.
Kumpulainen stopping the sweep attempt from Ziens.
Kumpulainen postures up.

Ziens throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kumpulainen uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen gets to mount! Ziens was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Ziens is looking to improve his position but Kumpulainen isn't that keen on the idea.
Ziens tries to hold on but Kumpulainen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kumpulainen is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Atte Kumpulainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch up

and Ziens counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ziens.
Ziens fails to pull guard.
Still in the clinch, Ziens scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kumpulainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Ziens has double underhooks.

Ziens pulls guard successfully.
Kumpulainen wanted to stand there but Ziens had control of the position.
Ziens controls Kumpulainen momentarily but Kumpulainen frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziens working a defensive guard but Kumpulainen passes into half guard.
Kumpulainen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Kumpulainen is breathing heavily.

Kumpulainen postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ziens to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kumpulainen darts in trying to clinch

and Ziens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Atte Kumpulainen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ziens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ziens counters by moving into the clinch.

Kumpulainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ziens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kumpulainen clinches but Ziens breaks the clinch

and Ziens holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ziens can't get the takedown.
Atte Kumpulainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tot Ziens.
Ziens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kumpulainen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kumpulainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ziens drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Ziens holds him up against the cage and eventually Kumpulainen drops back down to his feet.
Kumpulainen is looking to control Ziens's arms but Ziens gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kumpulainen has his back to the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ziens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Ziens won't allow it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziens avoiding damage as Kumpulainen throws knees to the body.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ziens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kumpulainen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Ziens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ziens.

Ziens gets a clinch.

Kumpulainen successfully pulls guard.
Ziens trying to control but Kumpulainen is working from the bottom.
Ziens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kumpulainen is keeping the position for now.
Ziens trying to control but Kumpulainen is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Ziens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kumpulainen keeping moving, preventing Ziens from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziens is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch but Ziens moves away

and Ziens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ziens misses with a knee strike.
Ziens misses with an elbow over the top.

Kumpulainen pulls guard effortlessly.

Kumpulainen kicks Ziens off and gets to his feet.
Ziens misses with a few strikes there.
Ziens shoots for a double leg takedown but Kumpulainen sprawls well. He's pushed Ziens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch up
and Ziens counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ziens moves into the clinch.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Ziens won't allow it.
Kumpulainen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kumpulainen connects with a knee to the head.
Ziens lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kumpulainen fails to pull guard.
Ziens can't get the takedown.
Ziens tries to throw a body punch but Kumpulainen avoids it by throwing Ziens back against the cage.
Ziens tries to land knees in the clinch but Kumpulainen avoids the damage to the body.
Kumpulainen is trying to break free.
Kumpulainen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kumpulainen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Kumpulainen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kumpulainen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Atte Kumpulainen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kumpulainen clinches but Ziens breaks the clinch

and Ziens moves into the clinch.
Ziens lands a nice knee to the body.

Kumpulainen jumps guard.
Ziens trying to control the position from guard on top but Kumpulainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kumpulainen pushes Ziens off and gets back to his feet.

Ziens clinches up against the cage.
Kumpulainen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Ziens holds him up against the cage and eventually Kumpulainen drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ziens unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kumpulainen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ziens scores with a knee to the head.
Kumpulainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Ziens won't allow it.
Kumpulainen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kumpulainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kumpulainen pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ziens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ziens is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen keeping moving, preventing Ziens from controlling successfully.
Ziens sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ziens throws a strike but Kumpulainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen won't allow Ziens to get back to his feet.
Ziens looking to control.
Ziens wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Ziens clinches up against the cage.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Ziens won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atte Kumpulainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ziens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Knees to the body from Ziens.
Kumpulainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ziens throws an elbow that misses.
Kumpulainen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ziens smiles and moves away.
Kumpulainen wants to clinch

and Ziens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kumpulainen is trying to stall.
Ziens looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ziens tries to land knees in the clinch but Kumpulainen avoids the damage to the body.

Kumpulainen pulls guard.
Kumpulainen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kumpulainen pushes Ziens off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch up

and Ziens moves into the clinch.
Tot Ziens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ziens tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kumpulainen's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tot Ziens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kumpulainen 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atte Kumpulainen!