PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ralphie White (ranked 1816 p4p, 2158 weight class) and Iikka Runnisto (ranked 283 p4p, 335 weight class). Runnisto has chosen Alta Pois - Sie sua näkköös! as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

White
vs
Runnisto

191 cm
37
200
7 - 11 - 0

182 cm
41
192
39 - 18 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ralphie White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Runnisto!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Runnisto.
White takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
White punishes Runnisto's body with a nice straight punch.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Runnisto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Runnisto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
White lands a slapping body shot.
Runnisto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Runnisto throws a leg kick but White sees it coming and moves out of range.
Runnisto connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Runnisto throws a front kick that sends White stumbling back into the cage.
Jab by White.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
White tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Runnisto was well out of range. Poor timing from White.
A little jabbing left from Runnisto on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
White swats away the attempt to clinch by Runnisto.
Ralphie White seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Runnisto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
White jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
White swings and misses with a hook to the body.
White scores with a jab to the body.
White looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Runnisto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Runnisto drops his hands momentarily and White takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
White throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Runnisto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
White misses the shot to the body.
White connects with the punch.
White with a body punch. A glancing blow.
White doesn't manage to clinch there - Runnisto circles away.
White throws a right hand that misses
and Runnisto counters with a stiff right hand.
Runnisto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Runnisto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but White manages to avoid it.
White throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Runnisto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Runnisto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Runnisto misses the shot to the body.
White darts in trying to clinch
enabling Runnisto to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Runnisto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
White misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from White.
Runnisto looks like he wants to counter punch here.
White throws a body kick that misses.
Runnisto scores with a jab to the head.
White looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

White darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Runnisto is pressing down on White's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
White stands and throws Runnisto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
White is looking to take a break and control but Runnisto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
White is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Runnisto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White controlling the position from side mount.
Runnisto is trying to improve his position.
White controlling the position from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
White tries to advance to mount but Runnisto denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

White swings around for an armbar but Runnisto sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into White's guard.
White is looking to sweep but instead, Runnisto has passed into half guard.
White wants to improve his position but Runnisto is controlling well.
White is holding on to half guard well.
Runnisto is taking a breather. White says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Runnisto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
White works his way to full guard. Good work.
White working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ralphie White will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

White jabs Runnisto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Runnisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt White.
Runnisto throws a jab when White was well out of range.
White is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Runnisto avoids the body shot from White.
Runnisto doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
White with a hook.
Runnisto throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent White stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice shot by Runnisto.
Runnisto throws a hook but White blocks it.
Runnisto slips under a jab from White.
Ralphie White is winning the standup battle so far.
White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Runnisto.
White lands a really nice looking cross but Runnisto seems unphased.
White swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Runnisto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
White lands a slapping body shot.
White is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
White misses with a wild body shot.
Runnisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by White.
Runnisto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
White throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Runnisto's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White connects with a nice looking jab.
Runnisto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from White.
White misses with an uppercut
and Runnisto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Runnisto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Runnisto swings away with a leg kick that misses.
White ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
White swings for the body but Runnisto moves out of range.
White is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A slow jab from Runnisto misses its intended target.
White with a body punch. A glancing blow.
White looks to land a left hand but Runnisto moved out of range nicely.
White is looking to clinch.
Runnisto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Runnisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Runnisto, as that shot connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Runnisto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Runnisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by White.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
White takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Decent striking displayed by Runnisto there.
White connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Runnisto momentarily.
White misses with a head kick.
White thuds a left hand into Runnisto's body.
Runnisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A telegraphed right hand from White misses the target.
Runnisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from White.
Runnisto checks a leg kick nicely.
White misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Runnisto misses its intended target.
Runnisto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Runnisto avoids the body shot from White.
White scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
White throws a body punch but Runnisto moves out of range.
Runnisto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Runnisto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White scores with a crisp jab that stopped Runnisto in his tracks.
White connects with a looping right hand.
Runnisto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
White throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Runnisto thuds a left hand into White's body.
White lands a slapping body shot.
White connects with a high kick.
White throws a lazy right hand but Runnisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
White throws a big shot that misses.
White misses with a hook. Runnisto ducked under it nicely.
Runnisto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
White with a poor takedown
and Runnisto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
White throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Runnisto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Runnisto lands a really nice looking cross but White seems unphased.
White misses with a wild body shot.
Runnisto moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White misses with a body shot.
Runnisto doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Runnisto. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
White misses with an uppercut. Runnisto saw that one coming.
Runnisto getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
White scores with a shot to the body.
White is trying hard to land a takedown here. Runnisto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Runnisto throws an overhand right that lands on White's shoulder, as White tries to avoid the shot.
White misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Runnisto.
Runnisto looks to throw the jab but White is out of range.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up but Runnisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice body punch from Runnisto.
White throws a body punch but Runnisto moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Runnisto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
White looks to land a body kick but Runnisto moved away.
White catches Runnisto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Donk. Runnisto catches White right on the button with a cross.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Runnisto.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ralphie White will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

White misses with a wild body shot.
Runnisto feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Whites jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
White throws a lazy right hand but Runnisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
White loads up on a big right hand but Runnisto slips the punch.
Runnisto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
White misses with a wild body shot.
Runnisto misses the shot to the body.
White throws a counter high kick but Runnisto was just alert enough to avoid it.
Runnisto looks to land a body kick but White moved away.
White swings and misses with a hook to the body.
White throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice leg kick lands there from White.
Runnisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from White.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White checks a low kick from Runnisto.
A looping hook to the body misses from Runnisto. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
Runnisto scores with a hook to the body. White takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
White clobbers Runnisto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
White throws a looping overhand right but Runnisto ducks down to avoid it.
White thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
White attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
White throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Runnisto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A low kick from Runnisto misses
and White counters with a big head kick but Runnisto shrugs it off.
White lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
White bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
White looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
White misses with a straight right.
White slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
White is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Runnisto.
A swing and a miss from White.
White throws a body punch but Runnisto moves out of range.
Iikka Runnisto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Runnisto scores with a head kick.
White lands a nice hook to Runnisto's body. Runnisto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Runnisto throws a body punch but White moves out of range.
Nice shot by White.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Runnisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by White.
White ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Runnisto moves away.
Runnisto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Runnisto.
White throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Runnisto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from White. Runnisto does a little dance to reset his feet.
White throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Runnisto throws a front kick that sends White stumbling back into the cage.
Runnisto throws a big shot that misses.
White moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
White steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Runnisto.
Runnisto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Runnisto tries to clinch there but White circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from White. Runnisto does a little dance to reset his feet.
White uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as White checks a leg kick.
White on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big right from White misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Runnisto! But no joy.
White tries to score with a low kick but Runnisto moves his leg out of the way.
White throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White slips under a jab.
Runnisto moves out of range as White throws a body kick.
Runnisto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but White circles away quickly and effectively.
White moves out of range as Runnisto throws a body kick.
Iikka Runnisto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
White lands with a straight right. Runnisto didn't see that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Runnisto. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
Runnisto swings for the body but White moves out of range.

White instigates a clinch.
White stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
White tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Runnisto's elbow.
Runnisto misses with some punches.
Runnisto is trying to force a seperation but White has the dominant position.
White controlling the action here for a moment.
Runnisto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White lands a body punch in the clinch.
White blocking some punches.
White blocks a punch to the side of the head.
White is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
White misses with the head strike.
Runnisto working hard to break the clinch.
White blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White pushes Runnisto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Runnisto is leaning against White and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
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!
White tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Runnisto misses with a body punch.
White looking to slow down the pace here.

Runnisto manages to break the clinch.
Runnisto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

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 Ralphie White.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for White, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralphie White!
During a confident post fight interview, Ralphie White thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.