PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between JohnAmund Skaar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and East Rupp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skaar's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Number of the Beast. East Rupp has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Skaar
vs
Rupp

195 cm
29
285 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

199 cm
21
285 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, JohnAmund Skaar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, East Rupp!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Skaar or perhaps it was just good defense by Rupp which made him look bad.
Skaar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rupp pinned against the cage. Rupp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Skaar shoots in for a takedown but Rupp shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JohnAmund Skaar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rupp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Skaar circles away.
Skaar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rupp avoids it really well and circles away.
Skaar shoots in and drives through. Rupp sprawls well.

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

Rupp wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Skaar, who protects the arm well.
Skaar parries the strikes from Rupp easily there. Rupp is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Skaar to escape.
Skaar is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skaar prevents Rupp from improving position.

Rupp tries for a kimura but Skaar is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rupp is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Skaar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rupp tries for a kimura but Skaar is defending well.

Rupp is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Skaar knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rupp swings around for an armbar but Skaar sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rupp's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Skaar postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

It looks like East Rupp has been cut.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rupp avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rupp looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rupp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rupp jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Skaar manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skaar manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

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

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

Rupp is working for a kimura but Skaar is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rupp seems to be working for a kimura but Skaar defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rupp is trying to work for a kimura but Skaar is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

East Rupp dominated that round.
The cut man is working on East Rupp's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Skaar shoots in and drives through. Rupp sprawls well.
Rupp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Skaar circles away.
Rupp fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Rupp as Skaar shoots in.
Skaar leaves Rupp with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
JohnAmund Skaar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of East Rupp.
Skaar tries for a takedown but Rupp sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rupp shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skaar but Skaar pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Skaar bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Skaar cracks Rupp with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rupp is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Skaar off and has taken his back!

Rupp is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rupp has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Skaar has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Skaar showing good submission defense here.

Rupp is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Skaar is defending well though. Rupp let's go of the attempt for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rupp is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Skaar is defending well though. Rupp let's go of the attempt for now.

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

Rupp is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Skaar trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupp is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Skaar is defending well though. Rupp let's go of the attempt for now.

Skaar is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rupp gets his way!

Rupp is looking for the choke from the back position but Skaar is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rupp is looking for the choke from the back position but Skaar is controlling his hands well.

Rupp is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Skaar is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Skaar preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rupp.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rupp is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

East Rupp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on East Rupp's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Skaar fails to land the takedown.

Skaar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Skaar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rupp is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rupp passes to full mount!

Rupp is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Skaar is surviving well by controlling Rupp's body position as best he can.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). East Rupp!