PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sepi Kumpulainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Benz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kumpulainen
vs
Benz

172 cm
28
143 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

171 cm
25
156 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Firebird Designs
Broken Halo Pride Nutrition

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sepi Kumpulainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Benz!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kumpulainen takes the fight into the clinch.
Benz digs a right hand into Kumpulainen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kumpulainen's gas tank.
Nice body punch from Benz - that landed with a thud.
Benz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kumpulainen fails to pull guard.
Kumpulainen has Benz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Benz prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepi Kumpulainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kumpulainen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benz walks away with a smile on his face. Kumpulainen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kumpulainen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kumpulainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benz counters with a leg kick.
Kumpulainen darts in trying to clinch
and Benz counters with a good low kick that Kumpulainen was not able to check.
Kumpulainen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Benz counters with a right hand to the body.
Benz throws a low kick but Kumpulainen moves out of range easily.
A jab from Benz misses.
Kumpulainen fails with the takedown
and Benz counters with a two punch combo.
Sepi Kumpulainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kumpulainen moves to clinch but Benz breaks away
and Benz counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kumpulainen to the mat! Kumpulainen manages to get full guard.

Kumpulainen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benz defends well.
Benz advances to half guard.
Kumpulainen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Benz connects with a couple of short punches.
Kumpulainen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Benz!
Benz tries to hold on but Kumpulainen pushes him away.
Benz holds on, trying desperately to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kumpulainen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Benz is surviving well by controlling Kumpulainen's body position as best he can.
Benz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kumpulainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Benz is looking to escape.

Kumpulainen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Benz turns into him and now he's in Kumpulainen's guard.
Kumpulainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benz wants to control from the top but Kumpulainen keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kumpulainen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kumpulainen keeping full guard, as Benz tries to pass.
Kumpulainen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Benz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kumpulainen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Benz's guard.
Kumpulainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kumpulainen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Benz keeping moving, preventing Kumpulainen from controlling successfully.

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.
Kumpulainen forces his way into half guard.
Kumpulainen is just content to waste time from the top position. Benz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kumpulainen looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kumpulainen trying to control but Benz is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Benz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kumpulainen wants to clinch up but Benz keeps it at a distance.
Kumpulainen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Benz counters with a single leg into guard. Kumpulainen didn't expect that.

Kumpulainen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benz defends it easily.
Benz throwing strikes but missing.
Benz trying to control the position from guard on top but Kumpulainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Benz is looking to work some ground and pound but Kumpulainen has wrist control.
Kumpulainen keeping moving, preventing Benz from controlling successfully.
Kumpulainen working a defensive guard here.
Kumpulainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kumpulainen, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen is trying to control the position but Benz postures up.
Kumpulainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kumpulainen, not yet.
Kumpulainen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Benz.
Benz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benz landing with the ground and pound.

Kumpulainen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benz defends it easily.
Benz trying to control but Kumpulainen is working from the bottom.
Kumpulainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kumpulainen looking for a triangle here. Benz is fighting it but it looks tight! Kumpulainen pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Benz is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Sepi Kumpulainen!