PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Krejzi Kure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernesti Koppinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kure comes to the cage accompanied by BIG SHUG - who's hard. Koppinen has chosen Kontra - Sankarit salapoliiseina as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kure
vs
Koppinen

170 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

172 cm
24
146 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Krejzi Kure!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ernesti Koppinen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kure. Koppinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kure misses with a low kick.
Koppinen missing with a left hand there. Kure was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kure stuffs the takedown attempt from Koppinen. Koppinen gets slowly back to his feet.

Kure drives through with a takedown into Koppinen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kure scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kure stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koppinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koppinen looking for a sweep. Not yet Koppinen, not yet.
Kure sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kure got a little sloppy there for a moment and Koppinen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kure has managed to get both his arms back between Koppinen's legs - danger averted.
Kure stands up over Koppinen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kure throws a big right hand that misses.
Kure postures up and lands a big shot to Koppinen's brow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kure postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kure missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kure trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kure loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kure is looking to work some ground and pound but Koppinen has wrist control.
Kure stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koppinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kure missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kure accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kure missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kure is looking to work some ground and pound but Koppinen has wrist control.
Kure is pushing down on Koppinen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Koppinen is fighting to maintain full guard but Kure has managed to sneak the leg through.
Koppinen is trying to control but can't.
Kure slows the pace down in half guard.
Kure working Koppinen over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen trying to hold on to Kure's head to control him but Kure postures up.
Kure controlling the action here.
We've been hearing that Kure has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kure looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Koppinen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koppinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kure.

Koppinen looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koppinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kure is working away from the top position though.
Koppinen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kure's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kure's back!
Koppinen is hanging on to Kure's back as he tries to escape.
Koppinen is looking to control Kure but Kure is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koppinen looking for the choke from the back.
Kure breaks Koppinen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kure trying to control but Koppinen is working from the bottom.
Koppinen pulls Kure in close to his closed guard and prevents Kure from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kure trying to control the position from guard on top but Koppinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koppinen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kure trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Koppinen is pulling down on Kure's head to control his posture.
Kure lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kure wants to control from the top but Koppinen keeps moving.
Koppinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kure throws a big right hand that misses.
Koppinen is trying to control the position but Kure postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ernesti Koppinen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Koppinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kure fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kure throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koppinen loads up on a big right hand but Kure slips the punch.
Sloppy strikes from Kure. Those never looked like landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kure slaps away a takedown attempt from Koppinen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fighters circling - Kure throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krejzi Kure dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Koppinen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kure as he avoids it easily.

Koppinen has Kure up against the cage in a clinch.
Kure tries to land knees in the clinch but Koppinen avoids the damage to the body.

Kure gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kure not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kure throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kure landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kure lands with a punch from half guard.
Koppinen wants to improve his position but Kure is controlling well.
Kure stops Koppinen from getting back to his feet.
Kure working the head and body with strikes.
Kure prevents Koppinen from improving his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kure wants to work for an arm triangle but Koppinen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kure not doing much here.
Kure slips a nice elbow through Koppinen's hands, connecting with Koppinen's forehead.
Kure throwing shots but Koppinen is blocking nicely.
Kure working Koppinen over with strikes.
Krejzi Kure overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koppinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kure.
Koppinen trying to control here.
Kure lands with a punch from half guard.
Koppinen is looking for a sweep. Kure is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kure trying to control from half guard but Koppinen is working away.
Kure takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen trying to hold on to Kure's head to control him but Kure postures up.
Kure is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kure misses with a head shot. Koppinen uses the momentum to regain guard.
Koppinen wants to sweep but no luck.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koppinen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Koppinen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Koppinen thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kure holds on for dear life, controlling Koppinen's posture momentarily.

Koppinen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kure turns into him and now he's in Koppinen's guard.
Kure throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koppinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kure lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kure missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kure trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Koppinen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kure's guard.
Kure keeping moving, preventing Koppinen from controlling successfully.
Koppinen pushes down on Kure's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Koppinen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kure is looking for a sweep. Koppinen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krejzi Kure dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Koppinen takes the fight into the clinch.
Koppinen dodges an elbow strike from Kure.
Koppinen wants a takedown.
Kure misses with some punches.
Kure looking for a takedown.
Koppinen looking to stall.
Koppinen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kure is defending well.

Kure tightens his grip and picks Koppinen up, before dumping him to the ground. Koppinen manages to land in guard.
Kure scoring with some ground and pound.
Kure trying to control the position from guard on top but Koppinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kure slips nicely into half guard.
Koppinen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kure's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kure's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koppinen has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Kure is in real trouble here. Koppinen gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Kure is tapping out! Koppinen wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ernesti Koppinen!
Our winner, Ernesti Koppinen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.