PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Koch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jere Ruutikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Michael Koch has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Michael Koch seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Koch
vs
Ruutikainen

187 cm
26
197 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

182 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Koch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jere Ruutikainen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koch closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ruutikainen struggling a bit here.
Koch landing a few strikes.
Koch working away.
Ruutikainen gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Koch seems content to control.
Ruutikainen trying to control from the bottom.
Koch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Koch prevents Ruutikainen from improving his position.

Koch is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ruutikainen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ruutikainen is trying to maintain the position but Koch is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutikainen is staying active underneath Koch, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ruutikainen wants to improve his position but Koch is controlling well.
Ruutikainen trying to control but Koch postures up.
Ruutikainen has his hands clasped together around Koch's back. He's all about the action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jere Ruutikainen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ruutikainen ducks under a wild hook from Koch.

Ruutikainen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Koch is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ruutikainen off and has taken his back!
Koch keeps control of the position as Ruutikainen tries to break free.
Koch punches Ruutikainen on the ear.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruutikainen is really stuck here.
Koch throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Koch missing with strikes from the back.
Koch throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Ruutikainen!
Ruutikainen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Koch looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Koch trying to control but Ruutikainen is having none of it.
Koch tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Ruutikainen working to try and regain half guard.
Ruutikainen wants to control but Koch is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Koch throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Koch thowing shots but they're missing.
Koch dominating with strikes here.
Ruutikainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Koch connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poor strikes thrown by Koch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Koch cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ruutikainen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Koch tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Koch throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch thowing shots but they're missing.
Ruutikainen tries to lock up and control but Koch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ruutikainen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Koch.
Ruutikainen tries to lock up and control but Koch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ruutikainen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Koch not doing much here.
Ruutikainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Koch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruutikainen is looking for a sweep. Koch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Koch has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Koch trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Koch dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ruutikainen tries for a takedown but Koch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Koch looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Koch wants to work for an arm triangle but Ruutikainen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ruutikainen controlling the position well.
Ruutikainen wants to control but Koch is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ruutikainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koch is looking to take a break and control but Ruutikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutikainen is pressing down on Koch's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ruutikainen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Koch is one step ahead there.
Ruutikainen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Koch throws a big right hand that misses.
Koch tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruutikainen is retaining full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Koch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruutikainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koch trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruutikainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koch throws a strike but Ruutikainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Koch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ruutikainen won't allow Koch to sweep him here.
Ruutikainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Koch looking for a sweep. Not yet Koch, not yet.
Koch is working hard here to advance position.

Koch is looking for a triangle but Ruutikainen pushes his legs off easily.
Ruutikainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ruutikainen postures up.
Koch keeping moving, preventing Ruutikainen from controlling successfully.
Ruutikainen preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ruutikainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutikainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Koch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jere Ruutikainen.

Ruutikainen pushes Koch up against the cage in a clinch.
Koch can't get the takedown.
Ruutikainen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ruutikainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koch throws a head punch that misses.
Ruutikainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruutikainen being controlled against the cage.
Koch throws a punch but it's blocked by Ruutikainen.
Ruutikainen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Koch gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Koch.
Ruutikainen tries for a takedown but Koch manages to get underhooks.
Michael Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jere Ruutikainen.
Nice body punch from Ruutikainen - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruutikainen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Koch backwards.
Ruutikainen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Koch looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Ruutikainen.
Koch is pressed up against the cage. Ruutikainen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Koch down to the mat. Koch avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ruutikainen misses the shot to the body.
Jere Ruutikainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab lands there for Koch.
Ruutikainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koch manages to avoid it.
A nice combination there by Ruutikainen.
Koch has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ruutikainen connects with a body shot.

Ruutikainen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Ruutikainen crashes against the mat.
Koch takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ruutikainen scoring with punches from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koch is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Koch is trying to get back to full guard.
Koch is trying to control but Ruutikainen manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jere Ruutikainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Koch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ruutikainen throws a right and a left that Koch avoids nicely.
Koch digs a good hook to Ruutikainen's body.
Koch takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A telegraphed right hand from Ruutikainen misses the target.
Ruutikainen punishes Koch's body with a nice straight punch.
Ruutikainen shoots in and drives through. Koch sprawls well.
Koch staying out of range there.
Ruutikainen shoots in for a takedown but Koch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Good standup being displayed there by Koch as he connects with a hook.
Koch misses the body punch

and Ruutikainen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Koch digs a right hand into Ruutikainen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ruutikainen's gas tank.
Ruutikainen lands with a light punch inside.
Koch trying to stall but Ruutikainen improves his position.
Koch seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Ruutikainen is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Koch is working for takedown but Ruutikainen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruutikainen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Koch wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruutikainen won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutikainen throws a punch but it's blocked by Koch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruutikainen.
Koch misses with a punch to the body.
Koch tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hand to the body from Koch.
Ruutikainen tries to work over Koch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koch can't get the takedown.
Ruutikainen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Koch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruutikainen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Koch fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Michael Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jere Ruutikainen.
Ruutikainen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koch sprawls well. Koch wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ruutikainen gets slowly back to his feet.
Koch throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Koch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruutikainen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Koch takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ruutikainen works Koch's body with a nice hook.
Ruutikainen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Koch misses the jab.
Ruutikainen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Koch rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Koch cracks Ruutikainen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Ruutikainen gets caught flat footed, as Koch shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ruutikainen keeping moving, preventing Koch from controlling successfully.
Koch tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruutikainen is retaining full guard.
Koch trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruutikainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruutikainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Koch wants to control from the top but Ruutikainen keeps moving.
Ruutikainen pulls Koch in close to prevent any damage.

We're going to have a standup here because Michael Koch wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A punch combination from Ruutikainen misses.
Ruutikainen misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Ruutikainen gets the takedown into side control.
Michael Koch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruutikainen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ruutikainen scoring with punches from side control.
Koch manages to get back to half guard.
Koch wants to get back to full guard.
Koch gets full guard.
Ruutikainen advances position into side control!
Ruutikainen lands an elbow.
Ruutikainen scoring with punches from side control.
Koch takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ruutikainen tries to score with some ground and pound. Koch controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Koch tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Koch taking some punishment here, with Ruutikainen in his half guard.
Koch wants to improve his position but Ruutikainen is controlling well.
Ruutikainen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Koch is refusing to be controlled, as Ruutikainen sits in half guard.
Koch taking some punishment here, with Ruutikainen in his half guard.
Ruutikainen working Koch over with strikes.
Ruutikainen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ruutikainen trying to control the action but Koch is working from the bottom.
Koch is trying to control but Ruutikainen passes into side control!
Koch is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Koch.
I think Koch 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Koch!