PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasqs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abel Koponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Velasqs has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Velasqs
vs
Koponen

209 cm
34
216 lbs
10 - 12 - 1

187 cm
32
215 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class 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 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cain Velasqs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Koponen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koponen has managed to clinch.

Velasqs jumps guard and drags Koponen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Koponen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Koponen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Koponen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Velasqs is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Koponen off and has taken his back!

Velasqs working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velasqs is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Koponen has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Velasqs is breathing heavily.
Koponen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Velasqs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasqs not allowing Koponen to control his hands.
Koponen is in bad spot here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koponen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Velasqs.
Velasqs definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Koponen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Velasqs's guard. Nice work there by Koponen.
Koponen is looking to stand up but Velasqs won't let him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Velasqs throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Koponen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Koponen is in close to Velasqs's body, working some short punches and elbows.
My spies in Qube Striking inform me that Koponen has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Velasqs throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Koponen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Velasqs throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koponen tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasqs is retaining full guard.
Koponen lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koponen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koponen is pushing down on Velasqs's leg trying to pass to half guard. Velasqs is fighting to maintain full guard but Koponen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Velasqs is staying active underneath Koponen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Velasqs is trying to get back to full guard.
Koponen is trying to control. Velasqs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Koponen is looking for a kimura but Velasqs is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Koponen to get the leverage.

Koponen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Velasqs has managed to free his arm - good work.

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

Koponen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koponen prevents Velasqs from improving his position.

Velasqs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Koponen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velasqs won't allow Koponen to pass to mount.
Koponen passes to side control.

Koponen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Velasqs has escaped the position, nice work there.

Koponen has hold of Velasqs's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Velasqs tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Koponen cranks the arm and Velasqs screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Velasqs, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Abel Koponen!
After winning the bout, Abel Koponen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.