PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenshin Say (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antero Vipunen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Say
vs
Vipunen

200 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
244 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshin Say!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antero Vipunen!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Say scores with a takedown into Vipunen's guard.
Vipunen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Say stands and steps away. Vipunen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Say closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Say is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vipunen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vipunen prevents Say from moving into mount.

Say tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Say working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Say working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Say looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Say is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Vipunen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vipunen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vipunen controlling the action here.

Say has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Vipunen escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Vipunen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vipunen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Say tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vipunen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vipunen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Say tries to bench press Vipunen off him but Vipunen keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen advances nicely into full mount.
Vipunen controlling from the full mount.
Say keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vipunen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Say can't escape the position.
Vipunen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
You get the feeling that Say really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Say is looking to improve his position but Vipunen isn't that keen on the idea.
Vipunen won't let Say get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Say really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Say regains half guard.
Say is looking for a sweep. Vipunen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Say is trying to stand back up but Vipunen is controlling him
Vipunen prevents Say from improving his position.
Vipunen is taking a breather. Say says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Say is pressing down on Vipunen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Say looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vipunen passes into half guard.
Vipunen is keen to just control but Say is a slippery customer.
Say has a hand on Vipunen's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Vipunen takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Say manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen prevents Say from standing back up.
Say wants to get back to full guard but Vipunen has mounted him!
Vipunen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Say is trying to escape the mount.
Vipunen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Say is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vipunen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Say is in all sorts of trouble here.
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 Kenshin Say will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vipunen throws a jab but it's blocked by Say.

Say decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Say is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vipunen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Say.

Say wants to work for an arm triangle but Vipunen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Say stands up out of the half guard.
Say thuds his shin into the meat of Vipunen's side.
Say showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vipunen.
A head kick misses from Say.
Say throws a series of punches but Vipunen avoids them all with ease.
Say shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vipunen as he avoids it easily.
Vipunen misses with a series of wild punches.
Say on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Say avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vipunen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Say counters with a head kick. That will keep Vipunen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Vipunen circles away from the clinch attempt.

Say closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Say tries for a kimura but Vipunen is defending well.
Vipunen wants to control but Say postures up.

Say looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Say working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Say has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Vipunen!
Say fails to take his opponent's back.

Say is working for a guillotine from mount but Vipunen frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Say working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Say stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Say avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Say slips a jab and a cross from Vipunen.

Say bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Say is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vipunen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vipunen is trying to control Say's posture but Say avoids it.

Say tries for a kimura but Vipunen is defending well.

Say wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vipunen, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Say has knee on belly momentarily but Vipunen bucks him off and regains half guard.

Say is working for a submission of some sort.
Vipunen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Vipunen wants to get back to his feet.
Vipunen trying to control but Say postures up.
Vipunen tries to get to full guard but Say has control of the leg.

Say looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Say wants to clinch up but Vipunen keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Say closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vipunen circles away.

Vipunen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Say sprawls well initially but Vipunen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Say on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Vipunen seems content to control.
Say is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vipunen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vipunen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Say in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vipunen working Say over with strikes here.
Say bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Say trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vipunen's guard.

Say stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshin Say dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vipunen misses with a head kick.
Vipunen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Say counters with a shoot takedown. Vipunen fights it but they end up in guard.

Say is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vipunen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vipunen has escaped and now he's on top!

Say looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vipunen passes into half guard.
Vipunen prevents Say from standing back up.
Say tries to roll over but Vipunen keeps him under control.

Say looking for subs from the bottom but Vipunen mounts him!
Say tries to reverse the position but Vipunen maintains control.
Vipunen controlling from the full mount.
Vipunen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen prevents Say from getting the reversal.
Say regains half guard.

Vipunen moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Say.
Vipunen trying to control the position but Say is working away.
Vipunen controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Say gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Say pushes Vipunen off but Vipunen dives into side control.
Say tries to bench press Vipunen off him but Vipunen keeps the position.

Say explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kenshin Say is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vipunen swinging wilding here.
Say tries to close the distance and clinch but Vipunen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Say tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vipunen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Say wants to clinch but Vipunen slips to the side

and Vipunen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vipunen.
Vipunen misses with a body punch.
Say fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Say tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vipunen smiles and moves away.

Say shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Say has control of Vipunen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Vipunen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Vipunen wants to control but Say is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Say wants to take Vipunen's back here but Vipunen is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Kenshin Say overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Say jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Vipunen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Vipunen and Say has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Vipunen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Say asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Vipunen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Say is trying to get back to full guard.
Say is working hard here to advance position.

Vipunen decides to return to a standing position.

Say scores with a takedown into Vipunen's guard.
Say is pushing down on Vipunen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vipunen is fighting to maintain full guard but Say has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen is trying to control but can't.

Say is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Vipunen is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kenshin Say!