PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jarkko Ruutu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Tasalakki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruutu comes to the cage accompanied by YMCA. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ruutu
vs
Tasalakki

185 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Ruutu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Tasalakki!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruutu shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ruutu showed some decent athleticism there.

Ruutu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tasalakki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ruutu.
Tasalakki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ruutu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ruutu tries to pass to full mount but Tasalakki defends it.

Ruutu is working for a kimura but Tasalakki is defending it quite comfortably.
Tasalakki punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki manages to get to full guard.
Tasalakki wants to get back to his feet but Ruutu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tasalakki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ruutu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ruutu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tasalakki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ruutu, into his guard.
Tasalakki trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruutu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Tasalakki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ruutu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tasalakki is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ruutu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tasalakki's back instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tasalakki trying to control the hands but Ruutu breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruutu is persistently looking for the submission but Tasalakki is defending it well.
Tasalakki is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Ruutu is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tasalakki defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Tasalakki trying to control but not successfully.

Tasalakki is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ruutu gets his way!
Ruutu is breathing heavily.
Tasalakki trying to control the hands but Ruutu breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tasalakki showing good submission defense here.

Ruutu seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Tasalakki's chin but Tasalakki turns very nicely into Ruutu's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Tasalakki.
Tasalakki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ruutu's guard.
Ruutu keeping moving, preventing Tasalakki from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Ruutu 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.

Tasalakki tries to clinch up.

Ruutu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tasalakki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tasalakki trying to pass the guard but Ruutu defending well.
Tasalakki stops Ruutu from getting back to his feet.
Ruutu is refusing to be controlled, as Tasalakki sits in half guard.
Ruutu gets back to full guard.

Ruutu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tasalakki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki wants to control from the top but Ruutu keeps moving.

Ruutu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ruutu looking for a guillotine here but Tasalakki defends easily.
Tasalakki wants to control from the top but Ruutu keeps moving.

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

Ruutu looking for a guillotine here but Tasalakki defends easily.
Tasalakki 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki rolls, trying to escape but Ruutu keeps control of the position.

Ruutu is persistently looking for the submission but Tasalakki is defending it well.
I really don't envy Tasalakki right now.
Tasalakki trying to control the position but Ruutu manages to sink in the hooks.

Ruutu working for a choke but Tasalakki is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruutu working for a choke but Tasalakki is defending well.
Tasalakki looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Tasalakki is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Tasalakki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ruutu to the mat! Ruutu manages to get full guard.

Tasalakki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Ruutu dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Tasalakki scores a takedown into full mount!
Ruutu is squirming around, avoiding Tasalakki's attempts to control the action.
Ruutu is trying to escape the mount.
Ruutu is squirming around, avoiding Tasalakki's attempts to control the action.
Ruutu is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutu is working hard here to advance position.
Tasalakki trying to control but Ruutu is having none of it.
Ruutu tries to lock up and control but Tasalakki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tasalakki controlling from the full mount.
Ruutu tries to hold on but Tasalakki postures up.

That's two 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.
Tasalakki landing strikes from the mount and Ruutu is in trouble!
Tasalakki looking to control but Ruutu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tauno Tasalakki just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Ruutu does no damage.
Tasalakki connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tasalakki shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruutu sprawls well. He's pushed Tasalakki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ruutu tries to clinch

and Tasalakki counters with a shoot takedown. Ruutu fights it but they end up in guard.
Ruutu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tasalakki trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruutu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki 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.
Tasalakki wants to control from the top but Ruutu keeps moving.
Ruutu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tasalakki manages to get himself to full guard.

Ruutu gets to his feet. Tasalakki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ruutu stuffs the takedown.
Ruutu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tasalakki counters by moving into the clinch.
Tasalakki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tauno Tasalakki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ruutu wants a takedown.
Jarkko Ruutu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruutu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tasalakki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ruutu successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruutu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tasalakki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ruutu looking to control.
Tasalakki throwing strikes from guard but Ruutu blocks nicely.
Tasalakki with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tauno Tasalakki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ruutu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarkko Ruutu!