PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Benjamin Koppinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lamela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koppinen comes to the cage accompanied by Groin kick - Pain time. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Koppinen
vs
Lamela

174 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Maximum Vitality

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benjamin Koppinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Lamela!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koppinen throws out a leg kick but Lamela moves out of range and Koppinen only half commits.
Lamela misses with a shot to the body
and Koppinen counters with a head kick.
Lamela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Koppinen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lamela lands with a right hand.
Lamela throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lamela throws a shot from downtown. Koppinen moves away and avoids it.
Lamela looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Koppinen moves into the clinch.
Lamela lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lamela misses with a punch on the inside.
Koppinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koppinen tries a body shot but Lamela blocks it.
Koppinen gets through Lamela's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lamela tries to land a knee to the head but Koppinen blocks with his arms.
Nice elbow from Koppinen.

It looks like Eric Lamela has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lamela lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lamela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koppinen's elbow.
Koppinen blocking some punches.
Lamela throws a knee to the head but misses.
Koppinen blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koppinen trying to land knees to the body.
Lamela blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koppinen.
Koppinen scores with a shoulder strike.
Lamela tries a body shot but Koppinen blocks it.
Lamela trying to control the position but instead, Koppinen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lamela into the cage.
Koppinen trying to stall but Lamela improves his position.
Koppinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koppinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Koppinen misses with some punches.
Koppinen lands an elbow inside that Lamela shrugs off.
Koppinen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Koppinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koppinen.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Koppinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Lamela controls his hands.
Koppinen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Koppinen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamela working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lamela misses with a punch to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lamela looking to slow down the pace here.
Koppinen tries to throw a body punch but Lamela avoids it by throwing Koppinen back against the cage.
Koppinen blocking some punches.
Lamela has a couple of punches blocked by Koppinen.
Lamela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lamela blocks a body shot from Koppinen.
Koppinen can't find room to land a body shot as Lamela controls the action.
Lamela looking to stall.
Koppinen misses with an elbow strike.
Lamela lands a right hand.
Lamela misses with a punch to the body.
Lamela has a couple of punches blocked by Koppinen.
Lamela on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Koppinen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lamela.
Koppinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koppinen throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Lamela controls his hands.
Lamela avoids the elbow strike from Koppinen, against the cage.
Lamela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Koppinen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lamela is looking to control Koppinen's arms but Koppinen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lamela has his back to the cage.
Lamela blocks a body shot from Koppinen.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lamela.
Koppinen misses with a body punch.
Koppinen trying to land knees to the body.
Koppinen controlling the action here for a moment.
Lamela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lamela blocks a body shot from Koppinen.
Koppinen tries to land knees in the clinch but Lamela avoids the damage to the body.
Lamela throws a punch but it's blocked by Koppinen.
Lamela misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Koppinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen is looking to control Lamela's arms but Lamela gets an underhook and turns him. Now Koppinen has his back to the cage.
Lamela lands with a short shot to the head.
Lamela blocking some punches.
Koppinen misses with a punch to the body.
Koppinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Koppinen blocks an uppercut.
Lamela using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Koppinen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Koppinen tries to throw a body punch but Lamela avoids it by throwing Koppinen back against the cage.
Koppinen misses with a body punch.
Lamela has a couple of punches blocked by Koppinen.
Koppinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Lamela.
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!
Koppinen lands an elbow inside that Lamela shrugs off.
A short uppercut from Lamela.
Lamela blocks an uppercut.
Koppinen tries a body shot but Lamela blocks it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Koppinen has a couple of punches blocked by Lamela.
Koppinen trying to land knees to the body.
Lamela misses with some punches.
Lamela lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Benjamin Koppinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eric Lamela's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lamela throws a jab but it's blocked by Koppinen.
Koppinen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lamela moves away from the strike by Koppinen.
Koppinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Koppinen seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Koppinen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lamela ducks under a wild hook from Koppinen.
Koppinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Koppinen lands with a slapping head kick.
Lamela misses with a low kick.
Koppinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lamela.
Koppinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lamela can do to turn this around?
Koppinen misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lamela closes the distance and clinches.
Lamela misses with a knee strike.
Lamela swings wildly with an uppercut but Koppinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koppinen misses with a body punch.
Koppinen misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lamela.
Koppinen throws an elbow that misses.
Lamela tries to work over Koppinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koppinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Lamela controls his hands.
Koppinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Koppinen can't find room to land a body shot as Lamela controls the action.
Koppinen pushes Lamela back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lamela lands a right hand.
Koppinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koppinen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lamela avoids it.
Koppinen is looking to control Lamela's arms but Lamela gets an underhook and turns him. Now Koppinen has his back to the cage.
Lamela working aggressively here.
Lamela tries to land knees in the clinch but Koppinen avoids the damage to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Koppinen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lamela backwards.
Koppinen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Koppinen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lamela up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamela prevents a body shot from Koppinen.
Lamela blocks a body shot from Koppinen.
Koppinen lands an elbow inside.
Koppinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lamela blocks an elbow strike.
Koppinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamela avoids the elbow strike from Koppinen, against the cage.
Lamela tries to work over Koppinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koppinen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Lamela.
Lamela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koppinen.
Lamela managing to block the knees to the body from Koppinen.
Koppinen misses with a body punch.
Lamela tries a body shot but Koppinen blocks it.
Koppinen lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Lamela fails to land.
Koppinen looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lamela working aggressively here.
Lamela lands a hook that snaps the head of Koppinen backwards.
Lamela blocks a body shot from Koppinen.
Koppinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lamela's elbow.
Lamela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koppinen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lamela's defenses.
Koppinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koppinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koppinen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lamela throws a punch but it's blocked by Koppinen.
Koppinen lands a body punch.
Lamela prevents a body shot from Koppinen.
Koppinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lamela lands an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Koppinen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Koppinen works on Lamela's body with a couple of short punches.
Lamela tries to work over Koppinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamela has a couple of punches blocked by Koppinen.
Lamela tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koppinen avoids it.
Koppinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koppinen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Koppinen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lamela lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lamela creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lamela avoids the elbow strike from Koppinen, against the cage.
Koppinen can't find room to land a body shot as Lamela controls the action.
Koppinen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lamela is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Koppinen.
Nice body punch from Lamela - that landed with a thud.
Lamela struggles to land a body shot inside as Koppinen controls his hands.
Koppinen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Koppinen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lamela scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lamela scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Koppinen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eric Lamela's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Koppinen blocks a head kick by Lamela.
Lamela uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koppinen.
Lamela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koppinen manages to avoid it.
Lamela misses with a low kick.
Koppinen lands a high kick!
Sloppy strikes from Lamela. Those never looked like landing.
Lamela rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koppinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lamela throws a wild body kick that Koppinen sees coming a mile off.
Koppinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lamela.
A head kick misses from Koppinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick from Koppinen misses.
Koppinen misses with a hook.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Koppinen, as that shot connected.
Koppinen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koppinen moves away from the strike by Lamela.
It appears Koppinen was looking to counter with a kick there.
Lamela shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Good work by Koppinen as he checks the leg kick.
Benjamin Koppinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Lamela jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Koppinen throwing a counter right hand but Lamela manages to avoid it.
Lamela throws out a loose jab but Koppinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koppinen misses the shot to the body.
Koppinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lamela looks to land a left hand but Koppinen moved out of range nicely.
Koppinen throws a quick counter head kick but Lamela was just out of range.
Koppinen feints and then cracks Lamela's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lamela down.
Lamela connects with a body shot.
Koppinen misses with a low kick.
Lamela scores with a hook.
A jab from Lamela misses.
Koppinen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Eric Lamela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benjamin Koppinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen throws an overhand right that lands on Lamela's shoulder, as Lamela tries to avoid the shot.
Koppinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A big right from Lamela misses.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Koppinen.
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!
Lamela avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lamela tries a head kick but it misses.
Koppinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Lamela avoids the body shot from Koppinen.
Koppinen throws a nice head kick!
Lamela throws out a loose jab but Koppinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lamela blocks the body kick.
Lamela throws a wild body kick that Koppinen sees coming a mile off.
Koppinen moves out of range as Lamela throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lamela lands with a hook. Koppinen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lamela swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lamela misses with a low kick.
Koppinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lamela looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koppinen needs to keep his hands up - Lamela had a free shot at his head there.
Lamela is looking to clinch.
Koppinen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lamela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koppinen moves away.
Koppinen just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamela misses the shot to the body.
A left lands for Koppinen.

Lamela is rocked!
Koppinen connects with a body shot.
Lamela is still on wobbly legs! Can Koppinen finish him?
Koppinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Lamela.
Lamela seems to have recovered his senses.
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!
Koppinen catches Lamela with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A slow jab from Lamela misses its intended target.
Lamela throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Koppinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Koppinen connects with a leg kick. Lamela looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Lamela tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Koppinen closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Koppinen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koppinen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Koppinen!
Benjamin Koppinen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.