PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hurley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Ruckola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Hurley has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hurley
vs
Ruckola

203 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Hurley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Danny Ruckola!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruckola misses with a looping right.
Danny Ruckola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hurley shoots in looking for a takedown. Ruckola tries to sprawl out of it but Hurley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ruckola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hurley defending well as Ruckola loads up on a big left hand.
Ruckola shoots in looking for a takedown. Hurley tries to sprawl out of it but Ruckola keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hurley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hurley moves forwards but Ruckola connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hurley shoots and misses

and Ruckola counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hurley looking for a guillotine here but Ruckola defends easily.
Ruckola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hurley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ruckola postures up in Hurley's guard and throws a big left but Hurley blocks it.

Ruckola stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ruckola 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.

Hurley is working an open guard so Ruckola takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hurley misses with a takedown attempt

and Ruckola moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hurley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ruckola has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hurley is trying to keep an underhook but Ruckola manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hurley controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hurley trying to hold on to Ruckola's head to control him but Ruckola postures up.
Ruckola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nice strikes from Ruckola there.
Hurley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruckola.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hurley is refusing to be controlled, as Ruckola sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Ruckola is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ruckola looks gassed!
Hurley wants to get back to his feet.
Ruckola wants to take a breather but Hurley is having none of it.
Hurley looks like he's trying to stand up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hurley shoots in but no luck this time.
Ruckola tries a head kick but it misses.
Hurley leaves Ruckola with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hurley misses with a takedown
letting Ruckola counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruckola darts in and clinches Hurley up against the cage.
Hurley avoids a wild elbow strike from Ruckola.
Hurley tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hurley gets underhooks to prevent Ruckola's takedown attempt.
Ruckola wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ruckola tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ruckola goes for a takedown attempt but Hurley pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ruckola keeps the fight on the outside.
Hurley misses with a takedown

and Ruckola moves into the clinch.
Hurley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hurley tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruckola smiles and moves away.
Hurley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruckola swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruckola but Ruckola pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Ruckola shoots in and bounces Hurley off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ruckola wants to control from the top but Hurley keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruckola decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hurley, up you get!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hurley gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ruckola counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hurley!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hurley is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Ruckola 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.

Ruckola dives in and grabs Hurley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hurley pushes down on Ruckola's head and hops out.
Hurley misses with a takedown attempt

and Ruckola counters with a shoot takedown. Hurley fights it but they end up in guard.
Ruckola wants to stand and escape but instead Hurley has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hurley is pushing down on Ruckola's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ruckola is fighting to maintain full guard but Hurley has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hurley is looking to advance position but Ruckola won't allow it.

Hurley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ruckola defends it well.

Ruckola makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurley shoots and misses

and Ruckola counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hurley is not content to let Ruckola control the position.
Ruckola looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hurley is looking for a sweep. Ruckola is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hurley is defending against the submission attempts here by Ruckola.
Hurley trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruckola keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ruckola landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Ruckola stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hurley is defended easily by Ruckola.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hurley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hurley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ruckola pinned against the cage. Ruckola gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hurley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruckola swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruckola swats away the attempt to clinch by Hurley.
Hurley connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruckola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ruckola is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hurley's half guard.
Hurley works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ruckola preventing the sweep.

Hurley is working an open guard so Ruckola takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hurley looks to clinch

and Ruckola counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ruckola is thwarting Hurley's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Ruckola seems content to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruckola missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hurley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ruckola on the ground.
Ruckola is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Ruckola is looking for a kimura here.
Hurley is not content to let Ruckola control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hurley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Ruckola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ruckola throws a jab when Hurley was well out of range.
Hurley stalks Ruckola and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ruckola's face. Ruckola staggers backwards, shaken.
Hurley takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ruckola swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ruckola throws a head kick that misses
and Hurley counters with a head kick.
Mike Hurley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruckola wants to clinch.
Hurley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruckola circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hurley.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hurley misses with a takedown attempt

and Ruckola counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ruckola tries to free his leg and advance position but Hurley is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruckola scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ruckola scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ruckola looking to pass the guard.

Hurley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruckola defends it easily.

Ruckola gets to his feet - Hurley follows without any prompting.
Ruckola throws a shot from downtown. Hurley moves away and avoids it.
Hurley lands a front kick.
Ruckola takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hurley wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruckola shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hurley is trying to defend but Ruckola finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ruckola sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hurley defending well though.
Ruckola missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hurley is trying to maintain the position but Ruckola is very close to passing his half guard.
Hurley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruckola wants to take a breather but Hurley is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ruckola scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ruckola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ruckola scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hurley is trying to maintain the position but Ruckola is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruckola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hurley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ruckola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hurley tries to clinch up but Ruckola circles away and keeps his distance.
Hurley delivers a nice body kick.
Hurley closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ruckola counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ruckola trying to control but Hurley is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruckola stands and steps away. Hurley gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hurley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruckola swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hurley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick by Ruckola misses
and Hurley counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Ruckola drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruckola working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hurley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ruckola avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mike Hurley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Danny Ruckola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hurley is working an open guard so Ruckola takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Ruckola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruckola 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Ruckola!