PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarret Beal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Ruutu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Beal
vs
Ruutu

187 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
204 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarret Beal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Ruutu!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruutu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Beal.
Ruutu swinging wilding here.
Nice defenses there by Ruutu.
Ruutu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Beal throws out the jab.
Beal throws a hook to the side of Ruutu's head but Ruutu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ruutu moves into range and clinches up with Beal.
Beal has had enough of the clinch but Ruutu keeps him there for the moment.
Beal tries to break free but Ruutu pushes him back against the cage.
Ruutu keeps control of Beal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu is controlling him.

Ruutu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Beal misses with an uppercut.
Ruutu slips a jab from Beal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Beal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Beal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Beal misses with a jab, cross combination.
Beal looks to throw the jab but Ruutu is out of range.
Ruutu moves away from the strike by Beal.
Ruutu moves away from the strike by Beal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Beal.
Beal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Beal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Beal.
Ruutu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Beal throws out the jab.
Beal misses with a double jab

and Ruutu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Beal won't be happy with that.
Beal tries to escape but Ruutu is in control.
Ruutu scoring with punches from side control.
Ruutu scoring with punches from side control.

Ruutu decides to stand back up.
A punch combination from Ruutu misses.
Jarret Beal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beal misses with a combination

and Ruutu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Beal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ruutu on the ground.
Beal is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ruutu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Beal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ruutu staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beal misses with a looping right.

Ruutu drives through and clinches with Beal against the cage.
Ruutu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Beal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Beal is trying to break free.
Beal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Beal has had enough of the clinch but Ruutu keeps him there for the moment.
Beal prevents the takedown attempt.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu has him pressed against the cage.
Ruutu tries for a takedown. No joy.

Ruutu manages to break the clinch.

Ruutu takes the fight into the clinch.
Beal is trying to force a seperation but Ruutu has the dominant position.
Ruutu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ruutu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Beal's efforts to push away.

Ruutu has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Beal uses from the top position.
Beal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ruutu trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Ruutu pushes Beal off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Beal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruutu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Beal looks to land a right hand but Ruutu moved out of range.
Ruutu defending well as Beal loads up on a big left hand.
Ruutu moves away from the strike by Beal.
Ruutu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Beal.
Ruutu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Beal throws a big shot that misses.
Beal keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Beal jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Beal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jarret Beal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Beal misses with a hook.
Beal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Beal throws a lazy right hand but Ruutu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A combination from Beal does no damage.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Beal.
Beal is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Beal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Beal takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Beal throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ruutu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Beal wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruutu won't allow it.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu is controlling him.
Ruutu digs a right hand into Beal's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Beal's gas tank.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beal is trying to break free.
Ruutu keeps control of Beal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu has him pressed against the cage.

Ruutu has hold of one of Beal's legs. Beal is fighting the takedown attempt but Ruutu gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Beal is working an open guard so Ruutu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Ruutu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruutu has closed the distance and engaged Beal in a clinch.
Beal tries to break the clinch but Ruutu is controlling the position.
Ruutu slows down the pace here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ruutu jumps guard.
Beal wants to stand and escape but instead Ruutu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ruutu stays in close to Beal's body and controls the position.
Ruutu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Beal wants to get back to his feet but Ruutu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ruutu trying to control but Beal is working from the bottom.
Beal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ruutu is breathing heavily.

Beal is working an open guard so Ruutu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beal throws a hook but Ruutu blocks it.
Beal lands with a straight right. Ruutu didn't see that one coming.
Beal keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ruutu walks into a stiff left hand from Beal.
Ruutu slips a straight right by Beal.
Ruutu moves forwards but Beal connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ruutu misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Beal misses.
Beal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruutu misses with a jab to the body
and Beal counters with a straight right hand.
Beal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Beal looks to land a left hand but Ruutu moved out of range nicely.
Beal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ruutu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Beal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu is controlling him.
Beal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu has him pressed against the cage.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Beal's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ruutu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Beal.
A swing and a miss from Beal.
Beal misses with a hook. Ruutu ducked under it nicely.
Ruutu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Beal pinned against the cage. Beal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Beal waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Ruutu.
Ruutu drops his hands momentarily and Beal takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Beal.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Beal.
Ruutu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Beal.
Beal throws an overhand right that lands on Ruutu's shoulder, as Ruutu tries to avoid the shot.
Ruutu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruutu thumps Beal with a low kick.
Good shot there by Beal.
Beal throws a jab when Ruutu was well out of range.

Ruutu has closed the distance and engaged Beal in a clinch.
Beal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Beal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Ruutu drags the fight down to the ground.

Ruutu uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Beal thuds his right hand into Ruutu's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Beal throws a hook but Ruutu blocks it.
Beal throws a shot from downtown. Ruutu moves away and avoids it.
Beal swinging wilding here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Beal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruutu somewhat.
Beal scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ruutu in his tracks.
Beal throws a nice looking combination but Ruutu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Beal waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Ruutu.
Beal scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Beal misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Beal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ruutu.
Beal cracks Ruutu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Beal paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ruutu shoots for a double leg takedown but Beal sprawls well. He's pushed Ruutu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jarret Beal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jarkko Ruutu.
Beal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarret Beal dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Beal connects with a right hand. Ruutu shakes it off.

Ruutu moves into range and clinches up with Beal.
Beal is trying to break the clinch but Ruutu is controlling him.
Ruutu fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Beal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Beal tries to circle away but Ruutu has him pinned against the cage.

Ruutu decides to pull guard.
Beal wanted to stand there but Ruutu had control of the position.
Ruutu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Beal is one step ahead there.
Beal wants to stand and escape but instead Ruutu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ruutu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ruutu stands and steps away. Beal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beal throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruutu.
Ruutu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Beal.
Beal with a nice cross.
Ruutu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big right from Beal misses.
Ruutu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Beal.
Beal with a hook.
Beal misses with a double jab

and Ruutu moves into the clinch.
Beal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Still in the clinch, Ruutu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Beal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Ruutu works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ruutu stops Beal from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu trying to control but Beal is working from the bottom.
Beal is looking to stand up but Ruutu isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruutu wanted to stand there but Beal had control of the position.
Beal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Beal with a nice cross.
Beal misses with a hook.
Beal misses the jab.
Ruutu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruutu staying out of range there.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Beal.
A shot to the body from Ruutu misses
and Beal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Beal lands with a cross.
Jarret Beal is winning the standup battle so far.
Beal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ruutu slips a straight right by Beal.
Beal throws a hook but Ruutu avoids it easily.
Beal throws a right and a left that Ruutu avoids nicely.

Ruutu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ruutu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beal is working an open guard so Ruutu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Beal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Beal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ruutu counters by clinching up.
Ruutu prevents Beal from breaking the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Ruutu.
Ruutu fails to pull guard.

Ruutu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruutu tries to clinch up but Beal circles away and keeps his distance.
Beal misses with an uppercut.
Beal lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Beal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruutu circles away quickly and effectively.
A combination from Ruutu does no damage.
Ruutu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good exchange - Beal coming out on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarkko Ruutu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ruutu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarkko Ruutu!
Jarkko Ruutu is the new light heavyweight champion!