PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martti Ahtisaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Rutkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutkowski is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Barbarian Horde. Ahtisaari is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Martti Ahtisaari has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ahtisaari
vs
Rutkowski

170 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martti Ahtisaari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafal Rutkowski!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutkowski scores with a one two! Ahtisaari had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ahtisaari is breathing heavily.
Rutkowski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ahtisaari is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rutkowski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ahtisaari keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Rutkowski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rutkowski lands in his opponent's guard.
Rutkowski throwing strikes but missing.
Ahtisaari avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rutkowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rutkowski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rutkowski scoring with some ground and pound.
Rutkowski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutkowski postures up in Ahtisaari's guard and throws a big left but Ahtisaari blocks it.
Rutkowski controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ahtisaari might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rutkowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ahtisaari keeping moving, preventing Rutkowski from controlling successfully.
Rutkowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ahtisaari works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rutkowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rutkowski scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rutkowski wants to control from the top but Ahtisaari keeps moving.
Rutkowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rutkowski stands up from Ahtisaari's guard - Rutkowski perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rutkowski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ahtisaari tries to avoid it but Rutkowski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ahtisaari to the ground. Ahtisaari escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rutkowski moves in looking to clinch but Ahtisaari pushes him off.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rutkowski.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ahtisaari shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rutkowski lands a high kick!
Rutkowski lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
No luck for Rutkowski with that takedown attempt.
Martti Ahtisaari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Rutkowski.
Ahtisaari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rutkowski scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski works over Ahtisaari's head and body with a nice combination.
Rutkowski misses with a takedown attempt - Ahtisaari sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rutkowski is defended easily by Ahtisaari.
Ahtisaari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rutkowski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ahtisaari is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rutkowski.

Ahtisaari feints and as Rutkowski raises his hands in defense, Ahtisaari changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rutkowski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rutkowski keeping full guard, as Ahtisaari tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski wants to get back to his feet but Ahtisaari is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ahtisaari wants to pass the guard but Rutkowski is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafal Rutkowski dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rutkowski fails with the takedown

and Ahtisaari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutkowski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ahtisaari is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ahtisaari tries to lock up and control but Rutkowski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rutkowski throws some wild stikes that Ahtisaari manages to avoid easily.
Rutkowski throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rutkowski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ahtisaari is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rutkowski.
Rutkowski punching from mount but Ahtisaari doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Rutkowski sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rutkowski tries to control but Ahtisaari wriggling away.
Ahtisaari holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rutkowski tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ahtisaari on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ahtisaari tries to get out of the position.
Rutkowski punching from mount but Ahtisaari doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Rutkowski punching from mount but Ahtisaari doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rutkowski wants to control the pace but Ahtisaari is squirming around nicely.
Ahtisaari blocking the ground and pound.
Rutkowski throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rutkowski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ahtisaari is looking to escape.
Ahtisaari tries to hold on but Rutkowski pushes him away.
Rutkowski throwing strikes here but Ahtisaari is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahtisaari tries to hold on but Rutkowski postures up.
Rutkowski throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rutkowski working Ahtisaari over with strikes here.
Rutkowski content just to control the position here.
Rutkowski wants to control the pace but Ahtisaari is squirming around nicely.

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.
Ahtisaari avoids a strike by Rutkowski and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Rutkowski's guard! Fantastic escape!
Rutkowski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ahtisaari won't allow Rutkowski to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martti Ahtisaari dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rutkowski stuffs the takedown attempt from Ahtisaari. Ahtisaari gets slowly back to his feet.

Rutkowski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Rutkowski are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ahtisaari tries to buck Rutkowski off but Rutkowski is having none of it.
Rutkowski postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ahtisaari tries to escape but Rutkowski is in control.
Rutkowski working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rutkowski fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rutkowski lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutkowski lands some shots froms side control.

Rutkowski is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ahtisaari has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rutkowski misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rutkowski fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Rutkowski stands up.
Rutkowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rutkowski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ahtisaari avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martti Ahtisaari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rutkowski fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Ahtisaari as Rutkowski shoots in.

Ahtisaari shoots in and bounces Rutkowski off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rutkowski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rutkowski is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski keeping moving, preventing Ahtisaari from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Rutkowski is looking to stand up but Ahtisaari isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutkowski controls Ahtisaari momentarily but Ahtisaari frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafal Rutkowski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rutkowski has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafal Rutkowski!