PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rozafa Arben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arben comes to the cage accompanied by P.O.D. - The Messenjah. Rupunen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arben
vs
Rupunen

198 cm
24
205 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
205 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rozafa Arben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arben throws a head kick but Rupunen moves out of range.
Rupunen throws an off balance right hand
and Arben counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut lands for Arben. That snapped Rupunen's head back.
Rupunen lunges at Arben with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Arben's hand.
Rupunen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Arben counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rupunen checks a leg kick nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rupunen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arben but Arben pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rupunen misses with a double jab
and Arben counters with a leg kick.
Arben finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rupunen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arben as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arben as he jumps to the side.
Rozafa Arben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miksu Rupunen.
Rupunen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rupunen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arben's waist but Arben gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rupunen off to one side.
No joy there for Arben, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rupunen blocks a low kick nicely.
Rupunen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rozafa Arben has been cut.
Arben dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arben pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rupunen is defended easily by Arben.
Rupunen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Arben to counter with a crisp jab.
Arben fails with a takedown attempt.
Arben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fighters circling - Rupunen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen shoots in for a takedown but Arben shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Arben misses with a kick to the body.
Arben showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rupunen.
Arben tests Rupunen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Rupunen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Arben has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rupunen is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arben pushes Rupunen off looking to stand but Rupunen dives back in and keeps control.
Rupunen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Arben wants to control but Rupunen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rozafa Arben wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Arben keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arben looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rupunen is fending him off so far but Arben persists. Nope, Rupunen circles away and we're back to standing.
Rupunen misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rozafa Arben dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rozafa Arben's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Rupunen does no damage.
Rupunen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Arben misses with a wild body shot.
Arben throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arben turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Arben throws a right and a left that Rupunen avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Rupunen. Those never looked like landing.
Arben avoids the body shot from Rupunen.
Rozafa Arben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arben punishes Rupunen's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Arben, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rupunen misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Rupunen both land. Nice combination.
Arben pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Arben gets caught napping as Rupunen dives in and scores a takedown. Arben manages to retain guard.

Rupunen has gone for a leg lock! Arben slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rupunen's guard.
Rupunen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rupunen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arben 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.
Arben with a nice head shot there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rupunen is on top in guard.
Rupunen trying to control but Arben is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rupunen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arben looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rupunen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Rupunen is working for a submission of some sort.
Rupunen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arben does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rupunen prevents Arben from standing back up.

Rupunen seems to be working for a kimura but Arben defends the submission attempt.
Arben pushes Rupunen off looking to stand but Rupunen dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rupunen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arben does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miksu Rupunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rozafa Arben's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Arben avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rupunen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Arben pinned against the cage. Arben gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Arben fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arben swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen throws a combination that misses
and Arben counters with a left and a right that stings Rupunen.
Rupunen throws a series of punches but Arben avoids them all with ease.

Rupunen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Arben won't allow Rupunen to pass to mount.
Rupunen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Arben is pressing down on Rupunen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Arben will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Arben wants to stand up but Rupunen is controlling him.
Rupunen looking to sit in guard and control but Arben gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arben trying to control but Rupunen is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arben with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arben wants to control from the top but Rupunen keeps moving.
Rupunen working a defensive guard here.
Arben's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rozafa Arben wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rupunen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Arben counters with a thumping low kick.
A clash of legs there as Rupunen blocks the low kick.
Rupunen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Arben counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rozafa Arben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miksu Rupunen.
Rupunen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rupunen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rupunen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Arben to counter with a crisp jab.
Arben leaves Rupunen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arben throws a leg kick but Rupunen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Miksu Rupunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arben shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rupunen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Arben displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rupunen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rupunen avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arben misses with a double jab.
Arben misses with a body punch

and Rupunen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rupunen.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rozafa Arben.
I think Arben 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!