PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Risto Ruskea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Valfrid Ahlberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruskea comes into the arena with SMC Hoodrats blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ruskea
vs
Valfrid Ahlberg

180 cm
24
188 lbs
5 - 6 - 1

183 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Das Labor

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 5 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Risto Ruskea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruno Valfrid Ahlberg!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ahlberg gets caught flat footed, as Ruskea shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Ahlberg is looking for a triangle but Ruskea pushes his legs off easily.

Ahlberg had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ruskea is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ahlberg Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ruskea's back instead.
Ahlberg is trying to stick to Ruskea's back but Ruskea is turning into Ahlberg. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ahlberg's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ruskea.
Ahlberg keeping moving, preventing Ruskea from controlling successfully.
Ahlberg has momentary wrist control but Ruskea slips an elbow through the middle.
Ruskea loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ahlberg is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ruskea defends well.
Ruskea wants to control from the top but Ahlberg keeps moving.
Ruskea looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ahlberg has his foot on Ruskea's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ruskea works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruskea is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruskea trying to control but Ahlberg is working from the bottom.

Ruskea thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Ahlberg working for a triangle but Ruskea defends it easily.
Ruskea wants to control from the top but Ahlberg keeps moving.
Ahlberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ahlberg throws a nice looking combination but Ruskea bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ruskea moves out of range as Ahlberg strikes.
Ruskea uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahlberg.

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.
Ahlberg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ahlberg connects with a body shot.

Ruskea looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Ruskea gets to his feet - Ahlberg follows without any prompting.
A combination from Ahlberg does no damage.
Ahlberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ahlberg lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ahlberg misses with a wild combination.
Ahlberg lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ahlberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruskea moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ahlberg misses with a wild combination.
Ruskea throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ahlberg misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahlberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruskea circles away quickly and effectively.
Bruno Valfrid Ahlberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ruskea closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ruskea lands in his opponent's guard.

Ruskea looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ahlberg is looking for a kimura here.
Ruskea works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ahlberg drops back looking for a leg! Ruskea is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ruskea manages to kick Ahlberg off! Ahlberg jumps back into Ruskea's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruskea has his foot on Ahlberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ahlberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Ruskea trying to strike off his back.

Ahlberg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ahlberg is looking to advance position but Ruskea has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ahlberg is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ruskea sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ahlberg slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ahlberg is looking to improve his position.
Ruskea works his way into side control.
Ruskea sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ahlberg is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Risto Ruskea dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ahlberg misses with a double jab.

Ruskea is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ahlberg's half guard.

Ruskea is looking for a kimura here.

Ahlberg looking for submissions off his back.
Ruskea is keen to just control but Ahlberg is a slippery customer.

Ahlberg is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ruskea pulls his head out easily.
Ruskea thows a huge punch but Ahlberg dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahlberg wants to get back to full guard but Ruskea has passed into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruskea lands a nice shot to the head.
Ruskea with a couple of short strikes.
Ahlberg is working to get back to half guard.
Ahlberg gets back to half guard.

Ahlberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ahlberg is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ruskea pulls his head out easily.

Ahlberg is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ruskea pulls his head out easily.
Ruskea seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ahlberg does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ruskea keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ruskea seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ahlberg does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ahlberg looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A shot to de liver by Ruskea. Beautiful body shot.
Ruskea dodges the punch combination from Ahlberg.
Ahlberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ruskea throws a head kick but Ahlberg moves out of range.
Ahlberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Risto Ruskea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ahlberg works Ruskea's body with a nice hook.
Ahlberg misses the body punch

and Ruskea counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ahlberg won't be happy with that.
Ahlberg is looking for a sweep.

Ruskea is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ahlberg has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ruskea is looking to take a break and control but Ahlberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahlberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ruskea lands a nice forearm strike.
Ahlberg prevents Ruskea from moving into mount.
Ruskea trying to control the position but Ahlberg is working away.
Ahlberg is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ruskea connects with a decent elbow.
Ahlberg is trying to improve his position.
Ahlberg gets back to half guard.

Ahlberg actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ahlberg throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ruskea counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruskea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ahlberg looking for a guillotine here but Ruskea defends easily.

Ahlberg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Ruskea is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ahlberg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Risto Ruskea dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ahlberg lands a body shot.
Ahlberg throws a lazy right hand but Ruskea sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ahlberg is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ruskea rather than just go for the knockout.
Ahlberg avoids the head kick by Ruskea.
Ahlberg connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ahlberg throws a hook but Ruskea avoids it easily.
Ahlberg throws a series of punches but Ruskea avoids them all with ease.
Ahlberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ahlberg misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahlberg lands with a straight right. Ruskea didn't see that one coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruskea throws a nice head kick!
Ahlberg fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruskea manages to avoid it.
Ruskea misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Ahlberg misses

and Ruskea counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruskea.
Ruskea postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ruskea throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Ruskea avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ruskea 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.
Ruskea throwing strikes but missing.
Ruskea wants to control from the top but Ahlberg keeps moving.
Ruskea in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ruskea wants to control from the top but Ahlberg keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ahlberg lands a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahlberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ahlberg scores with a nice head shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Ahlberg scores with a four punch combination!
Ruskea dodges the punch combination from Ahlberg.
A right-left combo lands from Ahlberg.
Ruskea lands a head kick. Ahlberg smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ruskea scores with a head kick.
Ruskea moves out of range as Ahlberg strikes.
Both fighters circling a little - Ruskea finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Ruskea decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ruskea seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ruskea wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ahlberg keeps working.

Ahlberg looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahlberg is looking to improve his position.
Ruskea throwing shots but Ahlberg is blocking nicely.

Ahlberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ruskea connects with a nice short shot to Ahlberg's temple.
Ruskea working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ruskea showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ahlberg.
Ruskea tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruskea slips under a jab from Ahlberg.
Ahlberg lands a jab to the head.

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.
Ruskea showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ahlberg.
Ruskea throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ruskea misses with a head kick.
Ruskea pushes Ahlberg away with a front kick.
Ahlberg swings for the body but Ruskea moves out of range.
Risto Ruskea is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruskea tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ahlberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Ruskea throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ahlberg was covering up waiting for the punch and Ruskea finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruskea missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ahlberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ruskea.
Bruno Valfrid Ahlberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ahlberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Risto Ruskea showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ruskea has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Risto Ruskea!