PBP Commentary

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

Lapp
vs
Sulkijalihas

187 cm
21
164 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Garrett Lapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Sulkijalihas!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lapp closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sulkijalihas to the mat! Sulkijalihas manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapp lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sulkijalihas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Sulkijalihas has his foot on Lapp's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lapp works his way back into a safe position though.

Sulkijalihas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lapp passes into half guard.

Lapp gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sulkijalihas tries a head kick but it misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sulkijalihas.
Sulkijalihas throws a sloppy head kick and Lapp moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sulkijalihas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lapp circles away.

Lapp moves into the clinch successfully.
Lapp lands an uppercut.

Lapp wants the takedown. Sulkijalihas is fighting it off but Lapp persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sulkijalihas's guard against the cage.
Lapp tries to free his leg and advance position but Sulkijalihas is retaining full guard.
Lapp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sulkijalihas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lapp can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sulkijalihas wants to stand but Lapp is controlling the position.
Lapp is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lapp thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lapp won't allow Sulkijalihas to get back to his feet.
Sulkijalihas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapp is one step ahead there.
Sulkijalihas looks gassed!

Sulkijalihas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sulkijalihas keeping moving, preventing Lapp from controlling successfully.
Sulkijalihas wants to stand but Lapp is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lapp fails with the takedown
and Sulkijalihas counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Lapp throws a right and a left that Sulkijalihas avoids nicely.

Lapp drives through and clinches with Sulkijalihas against the cage.
Lapp keeps control of Sulkijalihas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sulkijalihas is looking to control Lapp's arms but Lapp gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sulkijalihas has his back to the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lapp is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sulkijalihas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lapp keeps control of Sulkijalihas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lapp drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sulkijalihas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garrett Lapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lapp pulls guard effortlessly.
Sulkijalihas passes Lapp's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sulkijalihas wants to get back to his feet.

Sulkijalihas decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garrett Lapp dominated that round.
That's time! Lapp's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lapp pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lapp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lapp misses with a hook. Sulkijalihas ducked under it nicely.
Sulkijalihas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lapp but Lapp pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sulkijalihas misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulkijalihas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapp throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sulkijalihas wants to clinch up but Lapp keeps it at a distance.
Lapp uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sulkijalihas.
A head kick by Sulkijalihas misses

and Lapp holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Lapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lapp throws a leg kick but Sulkijalihas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sulkijalihas is looking to clinch.
Sulkijalihas blocks a head kick by Lapp.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lapp shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sulkijalihas finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lapp throws a lazy head kick
and Sulkijalihas counters with an inside leg kick.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lapp shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sulkijalihas as he jumps to the side.
Sulkijalihas cracks Lapp with a good jab.
Lapp really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Lapp gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sulkijalihas breaks the clinch.
Sulkijalihas throws a sloppy head kick and Lapp moves out of range easily.
Sulkijalihas tries a head kick but it misses.
Sulkijalihas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that misses
and Lapp counters with a solid body kick.
Sulkijalihas throws a sloppy head kick

and Lapp decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sulkijalihas's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lapp won't allow Sulkijalihas to get back to his feet.

Sulkijalihas pushes Lapp off and gets back to his feet.
Lapp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sulkijalihas is fending him off so far but Lapp persists. Nope, Sulkijalihas circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garrett Lapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sulkijalihas throws a sloppy head kick

and Lapp counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lapp tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sulkijalihas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lapp lands a hook to the side of the head.

Lapp manages to break the clinch.
Lapp ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sulkijalihas moves away.
Lapp fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garrett Lapp dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sulkijalihas tries a head kick but it misses.
Lapp throws a sloppy head kick and Sulkijalihas moves out of range easily.
Lapp wants to clinch up but Sulkijalihas keeps it at a distance.

Lapp instigates a clinch.
Lapp tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sulkijalihas just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short uppercut from Lapp.

Lapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapp throws a combination that misses
and Sulkijalihas counters with a left and a right that stings Lapp.
Lapp throws a head kick but Sulkijalihas moves out of range.
Sulkijalihas avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lapp tries to bum rush Sulkijalihas with a series of wild strikes but Sulkijalihas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick misses from Sulkijalihas.
Lapp fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garrett Lapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that misses.

Sulkijalihas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lapp sprawls well initially but Sulkijalihas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sulkijalihas is looking for a kimura but Lapp is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sulkijalihas to get the leverage.
Sulkijalihas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Lapp kicks Sulkijalihas off and gets back to his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lapp.

Lapp gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Come on Lapp - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Lapp jumps guard and drags Sulkijalihas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sulkijalihas wants to stand but Lapp has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Sulkijalihas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulkijalihas wants to control from the top but Lapp keeps moving.
Sulkijalihas wanted to stand there but Lapp had control of the position.

Lapp looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sulkijalihas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sulkijalihas lands with a kick to the temple. Lapp shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lapp keeps the fight on the outside.
Seppo Sulkijalihas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sulkijalihas lands with a hook. Lapp tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Lapp is rocked!
Lapp fails with an attempt to clinch.
Oh Lapp is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lapp looks to clinch

and Sulkijalihas changes levels and lands a brilliant counter slam that knocks Lapp senseless! The eyes are open but nobody's home! Sulkijalihas is victorious and celebrates with his fans in the crowd. Congratulations that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Seppo Sulkijalihas!