PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Walton Olsen (ranked 5401 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalja Kuuppa (ranked 7904 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalja Kuuppa will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Olsen
vs
Kuuppa

191 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Walton Olsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalja Kuuppa!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Olsen fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuuppa looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kuuppa digs a good hook to Olsen's body.
Olsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kuuppa darts in and clinches Olsen up against the cage.
Olsen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Olsen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuuppa walks away with a smile on his face. Olsen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walton Olsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuuppa darts in and clinches Olsen up against the cage.
Kuuppa working hard to break the clinch.
Olsen misses with a punch to the body.
Kuuppa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kuuppa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuuppa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Olsen is trying to pull guard but Kuuppa has him pressed against the cage.
Kuuppa is struggling to control the position.
Olsen lands a damaging elbow.
Olsen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuuppa smiles and moves away.
Kuuppa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Olsen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuuppa pinned against the cage. Kuuppa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kuuppa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Olsen.
Kuuppa stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa tries to land a leg kick but Olsen saw it coming and moves away.
Olsen is looking to counter the offense by Kuuppa and move into the clinch.
Kuuppa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Olsen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Olsen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Olsen tries for a kimura but Kuuppa is defending well.

Olsen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuuppa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Olsen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Olsen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuuppa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Olsen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kuuppa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Olsen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kuuppa has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Olsen is putting a hurting on Kuuppa here, landing some big shots from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuuppa wants to get back to his feet but Olsen drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalja Kuuppa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Olsen rushes Kuuppa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kuuppa wants to get back to striking at distance but Olsen won't allow it.
Olsen fails to pull guard.
Olsen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kuuppa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kuuppa is trying to break free.
Kuuppa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Olsen looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walton Olsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Olsen tries to pull guard but Kuuppa holds him up against the cage and eventually Olsen drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuuppa can't break the clinch.
Kuuppa is breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Kuuppa fails to land.

Olsen drags the fight down to the ground.
Olsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Olsen pushes Kuuppa off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kuuppa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Olsen tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kuuppa manages to circle out of the way.
Olsen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kuuppa walks into a left hand.

Olsen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Olsen lands in his opponent's guard.
Olsen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Olsen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Olsen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Olsen.
Olsen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kuuppa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Olsen is one step ahead there.
Olsen throws a big right hand that misses.

Olsen stands and steps away. Kuuppa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Olsen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuuppa as he avoids it easily.
Kuuppa throws a big counter head kick but Olsen avoids it with no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Olsen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olsen jumps guard but Kuuppa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kuuppa is trying to break free.
Olsen is trying to pull guard but Kuuppa has him pressed against the cage.
Olsen tries to pull guard but Kuuppa holds him up against the cage and eventually Olsen drops back down to his feet.
Kuuppa is trying to break free.
Olsen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuuppa lands a right hand.
Olsen wants a takedown.
Kuuppa lands a right hand.
Kuuppa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Olsen backwards.
Olsen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuuppa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Olsen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Olsen letting Kuuppa take a breather here.
Olsen tries to score a body lock takedown but Kuuppa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Olsen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kuuppa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kuuppa trying to land knees to the body.
Olsen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kuuppa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Olsen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuuppa's efforts to push away.
Olsen tries to pull guard but Kuuppa holds him up against the cage and eventually Olsen drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Walton Olsen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Olsen shoots in for a double leg but Kuuppa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kuuppa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Olsen looks for a takedown but Kuuppa sprawls well.
Kuuppa leaves Olsen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kuuppa steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Olsen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walton Olsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Olsen scores with a takedown into Kuuppa's guard.
Kuuppa looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Olsen stands up and waves to Kuuppa to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Olsen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuuppa as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olsen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuuppa pinned against the cage. Kuuppa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kuuppa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Olsen defends well and Kuuppa ends up having to push Olsen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Olsen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Olsen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Olsen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kuuppa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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

Kuuppa darts in and clinches Olsen up against the cage.
Olsen trying to stall but Kuuppa improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuppa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Olsen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuuppa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Olsen is trying to stall.
Kuuppa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Olsen has him pressed against the cage.

Olsen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Olsen closes the distance and clinches up with Kuuppa, looking for a takedown. Olsen pushes Kuuppa against the cage but Kuuppa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Kuuppa. That snapped Olsen's head back.
A combination from Kuuppa does no damage.
As Kuuppa tries to get set, Olsen tries to push him back and clinch up but Kuuppa manages to avoid the attempt.
Olsen shoots in looking for a takedown. Kuuppa tries to sprawl out of it but Olsen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kuuppa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Olsen shoots in and bounces Kuuppa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Kuuppa scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A leg kick checked by Olsen.
Olsen tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kuuppa manages to circle out of the way.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuuppa misses the target.
Kuuppa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kuuppa wants it to stay on the feet.
Kuuppa leaves Olsen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olsen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuuppa.
Kalja Kuuppa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuuppa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Olsen.
Kuuppa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuuppa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Olsen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuuppa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Olsen somewhat.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuuppa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalja Kuuppa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuuppa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalja Kuuppa!