PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Koppinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koppinen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Groin kick - Pain time. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Morris
vs
Koppinen

166 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Morris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benjamin Koppinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Koppinen, as that shot connected.
Morris misses with a looping right.
Alex Morris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morris takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Koppinen lands a high kick!
A bone on bone clash there as Koppinen blocks the leg kick.
Koppinen blocks the body kick.

Morris closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Morris lands in his opponent's guard.
Koppinen has his hands on Morris's head, controlling the position.
Morris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koppinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koppinen 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.
Morris throws a big right hand that misses.
Koppinen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Morris trying to control but Koppinen is working from the bottom.
Koppinen trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris is working Koppinen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Koppinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morris throws a big elbow that misses.
Morris looking to pass the guard.
Morris scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Koppinen pulls Morris in close to prevent any damage.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Koppinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koppinen pulls Morris in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Morris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koppinen wants to sweep here but Morris controlling him for the moment.
Morris landing with the ground and pound.
Morris trying to control the position from guard on top but Koppinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koppinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morris with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morris postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morris throwing strikes but missing.
Morris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koppinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris trying to control but Koppinen is working from the bottom.
Koppinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koppinen pulls Morris in close to prevent any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Morris fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Koppinen sprawls well initially but Morris persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Koppinen tries to roll over but Morris keeps him under control.
Morris works his foot free and advances to mount.
Koppinen can't escape the position.
Morris thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Koppinen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Koppinen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Koppinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morris.
Morris throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Morris sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Koppinen defending well though.
Morris seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Koppinen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Koppinen wants to control but Morris is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Morris trying to control the action but Koppinen is working from the bottom.
Koppinen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morris. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koppinen wants to improve his position but Morris is controlling well.
Morris throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koppinen is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Morris.
Morris throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Morris thows a huge punch but Koppinen dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Morris dominated that round.
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.

Morris shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Koppinen as he jumps to the side.
Morris pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Morris tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koppinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Morris.
Koppinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Koppinen throws a body punch but Morris moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Morris.
Morris will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A little jabbing left from Koppinen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A head kick misses from Koppinen.
Koppinen throws a nice head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morris.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left lands for Koppinen.
Morris moves in looking to clinch but Koppinen pushes him off.
Koppinen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Morris throws a body punch but Koppinen moves out of range.
Morris goes for a double leg but Koppinen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Koppinen continues to drive forward.
Koppinen lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Morris or perhaps it was just good defense by Koppinen, which made it look bad.
Koppinen avoids the head kick by Morris.
Morris dodges the punch combination from Koppinen.
A combination from Koppinen does no damage.
A nice inside leg kick there by Koppinen. That's going to slow Morris down.
Koppinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morris moves away.
Morris swings for the body but Koppinen moves out of range.
Morris sets himself, and Koppinen steps forward looking for the clinch! Morris avoids it this time.
Morris swings for the body but Koppinen moves out of range.
Morris backing away here, and Koppinen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Koppinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morris moves in looking to clinch but Koppinen pushes him off.
Nice body punch from Koppinen.
Koppinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Morris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Koppinen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Morris throws a push kick but Koppinen slaps the foot to one side.
Morris misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koppinen throws out a counter right but Morris avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen sizes up Morris with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morris takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Koppinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Koppinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Morris. Morris gets slowly back to his feet.
Koppinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morris shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Koppinen pinned against the cage. Koppinen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Morris walks into a straight right hand from Koppinen.
Morris tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Koppinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Morris doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Koppinen counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Morris has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Morris tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Koppinen defends well and Morris ends up having to push Koppinen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Morris is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Koppinen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Koppinen is looking to slow Morris down with leg kicks.
Koppinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Morris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koppinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Koppinen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Koppinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Morris changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Koppinen tries to avoid it but Morris manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Koppinen to the ground. Koppinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Koppinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Koppinen lands with a left to the head.
Morris has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Koppinen after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morris takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Alex Morris has been cut.
Koppinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Koppinen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Koppinen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Morris lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koppinen slowing the pace effectively.

Morris pulls guard successfully.
Koppinen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koppinen preventing the sweep.
Koppinen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Koppinen wants to get up but he can't break Morris's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Morris throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Morris has his foot on Koppinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koppinen works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koppinen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Koppinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alex Morris's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morris is defended easily by Koppinen.
Koppinen is looking for the big counter here.
Morris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morris misses with an attempted mid kick.
Koppinen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Morris.

Koppinen lands a big head kick that sends Morris tumbling to the mat! Koppinen takes a step backwards and waves Morris back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The fighters circle momentarily. Koppinen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Koppinen lands a big uppercut and Morris crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Morris looks OK. Koppinen waves Morris back to his feet!

Morris is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Morris shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Koppinen pinned against the cage. Koppinen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Oh Morris is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Morris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Morris with that takedown attempt.
Koppinen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Morris.
Koppinen fakes the body blow, causing Morris to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Morris goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Benjamin Koppinen!
Benjamin Koppinen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.