PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Pettis
vs
Vipunen

167 cm
23
144 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

160 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antero Vipunen!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis throws a front kick aimed at Vipunen's knee but Vipunen avoids it well.
Vipunen looks to throw the jab but Pettis is out of range.
Vipunen throws a hook but Pettis blocks it.
Vipunen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pettis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pettis throws a shot from downtown. Vipunen moves away and avoids it.
Pettis looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pettis looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Vipunen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pettis was covering up waiting for the punch and Vipunen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vipunen distracts Pettis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis is trying to keep Vipunen in close.

Pettis is looking for a triangle but Vipunen pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pettis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pettis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vipunen landing with the ground and pound.
Vipunen works over Pettis with some ground and pound from guard.
Pettis has Vipunen pulled in close to control his posture.

Pettis working for a triangle but Vipunen defends it easily.
Vipunen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vipunen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vipunen connects with a couple of short punches.
Vipunen stops Pettis from standing up.

Pettis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vipunen lands a couple of elbows.

Pettis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vipunen is aware though and is defending well.
Vipunen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Vipunen landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pettis throws his legs up looking for a submission but Vipunen uses it to pass to side control.
Pettis is breathing heavily.
Vipunen grinds an elbow into Pettis's temple.
Vipunen working the head with strikes.
Vipunen is putting a hurting on Pettis here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pettis is working to avoid the ground and pound but Vipunen connects with a decent elbow.
Vipunen grinds an elbow into Pettis's temple.
Vipunen has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Pettis!
Pettis is desperately trying to improve his position but Vipunen has a good base and remains in mount.
Vipunen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pettis looks a forlorn figure.
Vipunen raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is squirming around, avoiding Vipunen's attempts to control the action.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vipunen is landing with some decent strikes but Pettis is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Pettis is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Palace of Pain Gym - VCL - Rio, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Pettis is in a horrible position here. Vipunen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Pettis is desperately trying to improve his position but Vipunen has a good base and remains in mount.
The referee warns Pettis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pettis in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pettis is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Vipunen with the ground and pound from mount.

Pettis is rocked!
Vipunen breaks from Pettis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Oh Pettis is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vipunen loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Pettis scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Vipunen land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Vipunen stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antero Vipunen!