PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Bartlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Turto Vippla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Turto Vippla has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Aaron Bartlett's chin.

Bartlett
vs
Vippla

186 cm
21
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aaron Bartlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Turto Vippla!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vippla with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bartlett counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Bartlett shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bartlett showed some decent athleticism there.
Vippla makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vippla.
Bartlett wants to stand but Vippla has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bartlett postures up.
Bartlett 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 had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bartlett decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Bartlett bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Vippla explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vippla closes the distance and clinches.

Bartlett tightens his grip and picks Vippla up, before dumping him to the ground. Vippla manages to land in guard.
Bartlett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vippla pulls Bartlett in to control the position.
Bartlett won't allow Vippla to get back to his feet.

Vippla has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bartlett is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Vippla.
Vippla is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vippla can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vippla tries to bench press Bartlett off him but Bartlett keeps the position.
Vippla sneaks back into half guard.
Vippla trying to control here.

Bartlett is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Vippla still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Vippla has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartlett is looking to regain half guard here but Vippla keeps moving and retains side control.
Vippla wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bartlett keeps working.
Bartlett is looking to reverse the position.
Bartlett is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Vippla is controlling him well.
Vippla throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vippla prevents Bartlett from escaping the position.
Vippla has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Bartlett throwing hammer fists to the chest of Vippla. What's that going to do exactly?
Bartlett is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vippla can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bartlett is looking to escape.
Bartlett slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Turto Vippla will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vippla throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bartlett counters with a nice kick to the body.

Vippla gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bartlett tries to pull guard but Vippla won't allow it.

Bartlett jumps guard.
Turto Vippla has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vippla trying to control but Bartlett is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vippla is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartlett wants to hit a switch here but Vippla passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bartlett there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vippla can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bartlett is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vippla stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Vippla lands a jab.
Vippla shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bartlett pinned against the cage. Bartlett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bartlett is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vippla throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bartlett's waist but Bartlett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vippla off to one side.
Bartlett takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Vippla forces Bartlett back against the cage and clinches.
Bartlett tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vippla smiles and moves away.
Aaron Bartlett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vippla with a poor takedown
and Bartlett counters with a one-two to the body.
Aaron Bartlett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turto Vippla.
Vippla is breathing heavily.

Bartlett closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bartlett postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Vippla to stand up.
Bartlett takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Bartlett moves into the clinch successfully.

Bartlett gets control of Vippla's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bartlett will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vippla scoring with punches to the head and body.

Bartlett has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Vippla is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Bartlett stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bartlett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vippla just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bartlett is trying to pull guard but Vippla has him pressed against the cage.
Bartlett fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bartlett is trying to pull guard but Vippla turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vippla is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bartlett to keep the fight standing.
Bartlett wants a takedown.
Bartlett is trying to pull guard but Vippla has him pressed against the cage.
Vippla wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartlett tries to pull guard but Vippla won't allow it.

Vippla decides to pull guard.

Vippla has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bartlett has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Bartlett breaks from the clinch.
Bartlett fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vippla avoids it really well and circles away.
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!
Vippla tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bartlett defends well and Vippla ends up having to push Bartlett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Bartlett takes the fight into the clinch.
Vippla is pressed up against the cage. Bartlett has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vippla down to the mat. Vippla avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Turto Vippla will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bartlett forces Vippla back against the cage and clinches.
Vippla is trying to maintain a safe position but Bartlett gets an underhook and turns Vippla into the cage.
Bartlett jumps guard but Vippla stands there with Bartlett around his waist. Bartlett gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vippla lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vippla tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bartlett smiles and moves away.
Vippla lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vippla.

It looks like Aaron Bartlett has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bartlett scores with a takedown into Vippla's guard.
Vippla is trying to keep Bartlett in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vippla has a closed guard, preventing Bartlett from standing up.

Vippla is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bartlett is aware though and is defending well.
Vippla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bartlett gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Vippla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bartlett, pushing him back against the cage.

Bartlett has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vippla uses from the top position.
Bartlett wants to stand but Vippla is controlling the position.
Bartlett wants to hit a switch here but Vippla passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bartlett there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartlett looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Bartlett is really stuck here.

Bartlett defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Vippla's arms.
Bartlett breaks Vippla's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartlett throws a big elbow that misses.
Bartlett is looking to stand up but Vippla won't let him.
Vippla trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Bartlett gets to his feet. Vippla looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Turto Vippla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bartlett takes the fight into the clinch.
Vippla tries for a takedown but Bartlett manages to get underhooks.
Bartlett has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vippla after a bit of a struggle.
Bartlett jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vippla walks away with a smile on his face. Bartlett gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Bartlett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartlett takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Vippla misses with a leg kick
and Bartlett counters with a good, hard body kick but Vippla shrugs it off.
Bartlett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bartlett thinks about countering with a body kick.

Bartlett feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Bartlett gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bartlett slaps away a takedown attempt from Vippla, before circling back to the center of the mat.

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 Aaron Bartlett.
Well Vippla has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Aaron Bartlett!