PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abe Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Risto Rupinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abe Sharp had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sharp
vs
Rupinen

184 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abe Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Risto Rupinen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rupinen throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Sharp to counter with a crisp jab.
Rupinen lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Abe Sharp has been cut.
Sharp takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rupinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sharp fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick by Rupinen misses
and Sharp counters with a head kick. That will keep Rupinen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rupinen throws a series of punches but Sharp moves out of range.
Rupinen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sharp's head.
Sharp really is a fat lump.
Donk. Sharp catches Rupinen right on the button with a cross.
Rupinen blocks a head kick by Sharp.
Rupinen misses with a double jab

and Sharp counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp throws a strike but Rupinen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rupinen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rupinen throws a combination that misses

and Sharp counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rupinen's guard now.
Sharp throws an elbow that misses. Rupinen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sharp's guard. Nice move by Rupinen!
Rupinen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupinen wants to stand and escape but instead Sharp has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Sharp scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sharp postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sharp postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Rupinen wriggles free and stands up.
Risto Rupinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rupinen throws a head kick that Sharp semi-blocks.
Sharp throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp jabs Rupinen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rupinen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sharp.
Rupinen looks winded!
Rupinen avoids the head kick by Sharp.
Sharp throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rupinen.
Rupinen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sharp counters with a head kick.
Rupinen connects with an inside leg kick.
Sharp blocks a head kick by Rupinen.
A head kick by Sharp misses
and Rupinen counters with a straight right hand.

Abe Sharp's cut is getting worse.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rupinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rupinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Rupinen is looking to slow Sharp down with leg kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rupinen misses with a hook to the body

and Sharp counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rupinen's guard now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sharp throws an elbow that misses. Rupinen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sharp's guard. Nice move by Rupinen!
Sharp looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Risto Rupinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abe Sharp's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rupinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick by Sharp misses
and Rupinen counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rupinen lands a leg kick that knocks Sharp off balance momentarily.
Rupinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sharp takes a kick to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rupinen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sharp's sensitive parts.
Risto Rupinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rupinen throws a head kick that misses.
Rupinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sharp circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rupinen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sharp back to the cage. Rupinen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupinen tries a head kick but it misses.
A right-left combo lands from Rupinen.
Rupinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sharp rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rupinen counters with a good low kick that Sharp was not able to check.
Rupinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sharp has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sharp dodges the punch combination from Rupinen.
Rupinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Rupinen feints a jab promting Sharp to slip. Rupinen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sharp slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Abe Sharp's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rupinen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sharp back to the cage. Rupinen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sharp throws a head kick but Rupinen moves out of range.
Sharp is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A head kick by Rupinen misses

and Sharp counters by clinching up.
Sharp dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Rupinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to clinch but Rupinen is having none of it.
Rupinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sharp moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rupinen throws a head kick that misses.
Rupinen throws a leg kick

and Sharp counters with a single leg into guard. Rupinen didn't expect that.
Sharp throws a big right hand that misses.
Abe Sharp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rupinen manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Rupinen prevents a body shot from Sharp.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rupinen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rupinen tries to break the clinch but Sharp is controlling the position.

Rupinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Rupinen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sharp moves out of range of the body kick from Rupinen.
Sharp pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Risto Rupinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abe Sharp's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rupinen avoids the head kick by Sharp.

Rupinen lands a big head kick that sends Sharp tumbling to the mat! Rupinen takes a step backwards and waves Sharp back to his feet - he wants the finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sharp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rupinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sharp is looking to clinch but Rupinen is avoiding it.
Sharp throws a head kick but Rupinen moves out of range.

Rupinen lands a big head kick that sends Sharp tumbling to the mat! Rupinen takes a step backwards and waves Sharp back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Sharp is rocked!
Rupinen throws a head kick but Sharp moves out of range.
Oh Sharp is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sharp tries to get into range but Rupinen steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Sharp! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Rupinen scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Risto Rupinen!