PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Becker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Rautuvaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Becker comes to the cage accompanied by Masta Ace - Sittin On Chrome. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Becker
vs
Rautuvaara

183 cm
20
186 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Becker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Rautuvaara!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Becker misses.
Rautuvaara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Becker is looking to clinch.
Rautuvaara smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Becker loads up on a big right hand but Rautuvaara slips the punch.
Becker is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rautuvaara slaps away a takedown attempt from Becker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bruce Becker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Becker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Becker moves in looking to clinch but Rautuvaara pushes him off.
Rautuvaara fails to land with a series of punches.
Becker scores with a spinning back kick!
Becker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rautuvaara misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rautuvaara was well out of range. Poor timing from Becker.
Becker throws a looping overhand right but Rautuvaara ducks down to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from Rautuvaara as Becker shoots in.
Rautuvaara takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rautuvaara swings for the body but Becker moves out of range.
Toni Rautuvaara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Becker misses.
Rautuvaara stuffs the takedown attempt from Becker. Becker gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Becker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rautuvaara slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Becker throws out a loose jab but Rautuvaara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rautuvaara misses the shot to the body.
Rautuvaara looks to land a combination but Becker avoids it well.
Rautuvaara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Becker.
Rautuvaara misses with a two punch combination.
Becker connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Becker wants to clinch up but Rautuvaara keeps it at a distance.
Rautuvaara lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rautuvaara looks gassed!
Rautuvaara tries to bum rush Becker with a series of wild strikes but Becker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Becker slips under a jab.
Becker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Becker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Becker scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rautuvaara dodges the ground and pound from Becker.
Becker looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rautuvaara is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Becker is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rautuvaara tries to buck Becker off but Becker is having none of it.
Becker in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Becker throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Becker advances to full mount.
Rautuvaara holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Becker tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rautuvaara tries to reverse the position but Becker maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becker controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rautuvaara taking shots to the head.

It looks like Toni Rautuvaara has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Becker working the ground and pound effectively.

That has opened up Toni Rautuvaara's cut even more.
Becker throwing strikes here but Rautuvaara is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Becker controlling from the full mount.
Rautuvaara really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Becker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rautuvaara wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Becker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Becker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Toni Rautuvaara's cut.
That's time! Becker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Becker misses.
A right-left combo lands from Rautuvaara.
Toni Rautuvaara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Becker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Becker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Becker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rautuvaara as he jumps to the side.

Becker takes the fight into the clinch.
Rautuvaara missing with knees to the body.
Becker taking a breather.
Rautuvaara blocks a body shot from Becker.
Becker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rautuvaara is trying to break the clinch but Becker is controlling him.
Becker stalling in the clinch but Rautuvaara improves position.
Becker lands with a light punch inside.
Becker looking to stall.
Becker misses with a punch to the body.
Rautuvaara is trying to break the clinch but Becker has him pressed against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Becker misses with a knee strike.
Becker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rautuvaara trying to control the position but instead, Becker has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rautuvaara into the cage.
Rautuvaara managing to block the knees to the body from Becker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Becker throws a punch but it's blocked by Rautuvaara.
Becker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Becker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rautuvaara has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Becker using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Becker stops a takedown attempt from Rautuvaara.
Becker looking to stall.
Rautuvaara stalling in the clinch but Becker improves position.
Rautuvaara blocks a body shot from Becker.
Becker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rautuvaara looking to slow down the pace here.
Becker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rautuvaara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Becker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Becker throws a punch but it's blocked by Rautuvaara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Becker stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rautuvaara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Becker has him pressed against the cage.
Becker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rautuvaara.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Becker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Becker is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Becker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rautuvaara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Becker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Becker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rautuvaara is defending well for now.
Becker is trying to pull guard but Rautuvaara has him pressed against the cage.
Rautuvaara looking to stall.
Becker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rautuvaara is defending well.
Becker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rautuvaara backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautuvaara is looking for a takedown.
Rautuvaara tries for a takedown. No joy.
Becker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Becker can't find room to land a body shot as Rautuvaara controls the action.
Rautuvaara gets underhooks to prevent Becker's takedown attempt.
Bruce Becker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rautuvaara goes for a takedown in the clinch but Becker prevents it.
Rautuvaara is breathing heavily.
Becker misses with an elbow over the top.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rautuvaara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rautuvaara wants to get back to striking at distance but Becker won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Becker misses with a knee to the head.
Rautuvaara on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Becker is stalling here.
Rautuvaara managing to block the knees to the body from Becker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Becker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Toni Rautuvaara's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rautuvaara getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rautuvaara shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Becker eats them both and turns towards Rautuvaara to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Bruce Becker has been cut.
Becker misses with a body punch
and Rautuvaara counters with a straight right hand.
Becker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horrible takedown by Becker or perhaps it was just good defense by Rautuvaara which made him look bad.
Rautuvaara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Becker throws the kick towards the body but Rautuvaara avoids it.
Rautuvaara misses the jab.
Becker dives in and grabs Rautuvaara's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rautuvaara pushes down on Becker's head and hops out.
Nice uppercut there from Rautuvaara.
Rautuvaara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rautuvaara wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Becker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautuvaara throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Becker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Becker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rautuvaara throws a lazy right hand but Becker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rautuvaara lands a really nice looking cross but Becker seems unphased.
Becker misses with a body shot.
Becker tries to clinch but Rautuvaara moves out of range.
Becker shoots in but no luck this time.
Rautuvaara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rautuvaara throws a combination that misses

and Becker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rautuvaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Becker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Becker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Toni Rautuvaara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Becker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Becker 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.
Becker seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rautuvaara for as long as he can get away with.

Bruce Becker has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rautuvaara gets caught flat footed, as Becker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bruce Becker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Becker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautuvaara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Becker fails to land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Becker or perhaps it was just good defense by Rautuvaara which made him look bad.
Rautuvaara keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becker misses with a leg kick.
Becker tries to clinch there but Rautuvaara circles away.
Rautuvaara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rautuvaara wants it to stay on the feet.
Rautuvaara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Becker misses with a straight left.
Bruce Becker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Becker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Becker wants to clinch up but Rautuvaara keeps it at a distance.
Rautuvaara misses with a jab, cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rautuvaara staying out of range there.
Rautuvaara lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Becker circles away quickly and effectively.
Bruce Becker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot to the liver by Rautuvaara. Beautiful body shot.

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 Bruce Becker.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Becker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Becker!
Bruce Becker seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.