PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sepi Kumpulainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupunen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rupunen
vs
Kumpulainen

185 cm
25
205 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

195 cm
21
221 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sepi Kumpulainen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupunen shoots for a double leg takedown but Kumpulainen sprawls well. He's pushed Rupunen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rupunen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kumpulainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rupunen is looking to clinch but Kumpulainen is avoiding it.
Kumpulainen punishes Rupunen's body with a nice straight punch.
Rupunen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kumpulainen tries to avoid it but Rupunen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kumpulainen to the ground. Kumpulainen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Kumpulainen as Rupunen shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miksu Rupunen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kumpulainen misses with a low kick as Rupunen jumps back.
Rupunen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rupunen closes the distance and clinches up with Kumpulainen, looking for a takedown. Rupunen pushes Kumpulainen against the cage but Kumpulainen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rupunen shoots in looking for a takedown but Kumpulainen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rupunen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rupunen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kumpulainen scores with a jab.
Rupunen throws a body punch but Kumpulainen moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rupunen. Kumpulainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rupunen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kumpulainen connects with the punch.
Kumpulainen cracks Rupunen with a good jab.
Donk. Kumpulainen catches Rupunen right on the button with a cross.

Kumpulainen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rupunen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kumpulainen tries to advance to mount but Rupunen denies him.
Kumpulainen tries to advance position but instead Rupunen slips a leg back in to half guard.
Kumpulainen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rupunen's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kumpulainen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rupunen is trying to get back to full guard.
Kumpulainen slips a nice elbow through Rupunen's hands, connecting with Rupunen's forehead.
Rupunen wants to control but Kumpulainen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kumpulainen is nestled in close to Rupunen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rupunen won't allow Kumpulainen to pass to mount.
Rupunen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rupunen is trying to get back to full guard.
Kumpulainen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rupunen defending well though.
Kumpulainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rupunen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rupunen actively working from the bottom here.
Rupunen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rupunen wants to sweep but no luck.

Rupunen is looking for a triangle here but Kumpulainen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rupunen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kumpulainen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rupunen wants to control but Kumpulainen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen trying to control the action but Rupunen is working from the bottom.
Rupunen is looking to reverse the position.
Rupunen is trying to control Kumpulainen's posture but Kumpulainen avoids it.
Kumpulainen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rupunen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kumpulainen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kumpulainen tries to advance to mount but Rupunen denies him.
Rupunen can't do much from the bottom here.
Rupunen tries to buck Kumpulainen off but Kumpulainen is having none of it.
Rupunen wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Rupunen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kumpulainen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen laying and praying for a moment but Rupunen takes advantage and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kumpulainen wants to free his trapped foot but Rupunen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rupunen tries to get to full guard but Kumpulainen has control of the leg.

Rupunen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kumpulainen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rupunen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kumpulainen.
Rupunen trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rupunen tries for a takedown but Kumpulainen circles away easily
and Kumpulainen counters with a three punch combo that has Rupunen backing up. Rupunen nods at Kumpulainen to acknowledge the strikes.

Kumpulainen closes the distance and clinches.
Kumpulainen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kumpulainen is pressed up against the cage. Rupunen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kumpulainen down to the mat. Kumpulainen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miksu Rupunen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kumpulainen has Rupunen up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rupunen.
Kumpulainen looking to slow down the pace here.

Rupunen has clasped his hands together around Kumpulainen's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kumpulainen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rupunen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kumpulainen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rupunen.
Rupunen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Rupunen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kumpulainen, who protects the arm well.
Kumpulainen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Rupunen is looking for a kimura here.
Kumpulainen trying to hold on to Rupunen's head to control him but Rupunen postures up.
Rupunen moves into full mount! Kumpulainen won't be happy about that!
Kumpulainen is working to get back to half guard.
Rupunen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kumpulainen's face.
Rupunen lands with some strikes.
Rupunen controlling his opponent.
Kumpulainen tries to lock up and control but Rupunen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen looking to control but Kumpulainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kumpulainen can't escape the position.
Kumpulainen tries to hold on but Rupunen postures up.
Rupunen with shots to the head and body - Kumpulainen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rupunen content just to control the position here.
Kumpulainen tries to hold on but Rupunen postures up.
Rupunen is landing with some decent strikes but Kumpulainen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupunen looking to isolate an arm here. Kumpulainen doesn't see it coming and as Rupunen extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Rupunen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Miksu Rupunen!