PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Niko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Kolari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rupponen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to SMC Hoodrats. Sami Kolari will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rupponen
vs
Kolari

160 cm
23
155 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

173 cm
26
155 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Rupponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Kolari!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupponen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kolari. Kolari obviously looking to wear him down.
Kolari throws a wild body kick that Rupponen sees coming a mile off.

Rupponen scores a takedown into full mount!
Kolari is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rupponen unloads with some shots from mount but Kolari bucks and avoids them well.
Rupponen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kolari is squirming around, avoiding Rupponen's attempts to control the action.
Rupponen is landing with some decent strikes but Kolari is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rupponen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kolari because Rupponen loaded up on that one.
Rupponen working the ground and pound effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolari tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rupponen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kolari tries to hold on but Rupponen postures up.
Rupponen cracks Kolari with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rupponen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kolari?
Kolari bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rupponen is looking to sweep but instead, Kolari has passed into half guard.
Rupponen controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Kolari is looking for a kimura but Rupponen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kolari to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen is staying active underneath Kolari, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rupponen is controlling Kolari's trapped leg to prevent Kolari from advancing to side control.

Kolari is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kolari is looking for a kimura but Rupponen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kolari to get the leverage.
Rupponen is not content to let Kolari control the position.
Kolari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen kicks off Kolari and gets to his feet.
Rupponen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kolari as he jumps to the side.
Rupponen shoots in looking for a takedown. Kolari tries to sprawl out of it but Rupponen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kolari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kolari.
Kolari throws a leg kick but Rupponen checks it.
Rupponen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kolari.
Rupponen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kolari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rupponen somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Rupponen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rupponen tries for a takedown but Kolari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolari throws a lazy right hand but Rupponen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rupponen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kolari sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rupponen feints and as Kolari raises his hands in defense, Rupponen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rupponen won't allow Kolari to sweep him here.
Kolari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rupponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kolari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kolari looking to control.
Rupponen trying to control but Kolari is working from the bottom.
Rupponen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Niko Rupponen just wasn't active enough.
Kolari scores with a nice strike.
Nice sprawl there from Kolari as Rupponen shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen dominated that round.
That's time! Rupponen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rupponen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kolari can't do much from the bottom here.
Kolari sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kolari trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rupponen manages to pass to mount!
Kolari sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rupponen is thwarting Kolari's attempts to control the position.
Kolari is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rupponen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rupponen's back!

Kolari is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rupponen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Rupponen showing good submission defense here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupponen trying to control but not successfully.

Kolari is looking for the choke from the back position but Rupponen is controlling his hands well.
Kolari throwing sloppy strikes.
Kolari is trying to stick to Rupponen's back but Rupponen is turning into Kolari. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kolari's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rupponen.

Kolari escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rupponen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kolari is breathing heavily.
Rupponen chips away with some ground and pound.

Kolari has his foot on Rupponen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rupponen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rupponen throwing strikes from guard but Kolari blocks nicely.
Rupponen 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.
Rupponen won't allow Kolari to sweep him here.
Kolari keeping moving, preventing Rupponen from controlling successfully.
Rupponen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kolari is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Rupponen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kolari keeping moving, preventing Rupponen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kolari is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rupponen defends well.
Kolari working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rupponen.
Rupponen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Kolari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rupponen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kolari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kolari keeping moving, preventing Rupponen from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rupponen stays in close to Kolari's body and controls the position.
Rupponen cracks Kolari with a solid left hand.
Kolari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rupponen cracks Kolari with a solid left hand.

Kolari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kolari can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rupponen controls the pace.
Rupponen trying to control but Kolari is working from the bottom.
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 Niko Rupponen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kolari tries to sprawl but Rupponen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rupponen is trying to control the action in half guard but Kolari is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kolari is looking for a sweep. Rupponen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rupponen misses with a head shot. Kolari uses the momentum to regain guard.
Rupponen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Niko Rupponen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kolari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kolari trying to keep a closed guard but Rupponen is proving a slippery customer.
Kolari lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rupponen!
Kolari with a couple of short strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kolari swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rupponen is now in Kolari's guard. A big mistake from Kolari there, giving up the dominant position!
Kolari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rupponen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kolari keeping moving, preventing Rupponen from controlling successfully.
Rupponen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Niko Rupponen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kolari leaves Rupponen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kolari lands with a slapping head kick.
Kolari does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Niko Rupponen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kolari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Niko Rupponen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kolari throws a sloppy head kick and Rupponen moves out of range easily.
Kolari throws a leg kick but Rupponen moved away.
Kolari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sami Kolari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kolari thows a body shot but no joy.
Kolari thuds a left hand into Rupponen's body.
Rupponen shoots in looking for a takedown but Kolari manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rupponen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kolari is looking to chop away at Rupponen's legs.
Kolari throws a wild body kick that Rupponen sees coming a mile off.
Kolari tried to score with a low kick but Rupponen checks it.
Rupponen shoots in for a double leg but Kolari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Rupponen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rupponen shoots in but Kolari avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kolari lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rupponen will feel that in the morning.
Kolari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kolari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kolari tried to score with a low kick but Rupponen checks it.
Rupponen checks a low kick from Kolari.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kolari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupponen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kolari.

Rupponen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kolari is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rupponen off and has taken his back!
Rupponen trying to control the action but Kolari just sinks the hooks in.

Kolari tightening his grip on Rupponen, looking for the choke.

Rupponen is having to fend off submission attempts from Kolari, who is looking to sink in the choke. Kolari doesn't have the hooks in though and Rupponen manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Kolari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

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