PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josef Dietrich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rampe Rovio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rovio has chosen Eläkeläiset- Ranttalihumppa as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Dietrich
vs
Rovio

178 cm
30
175 lbs
22 - 8 - 0

176 cm
29
179 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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•• Beast Mode ••

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Josef Dietrich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rampe Rovio!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rovio blocks a low kick nicely.
Dietrich throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rovio throws a leg kick which misses Dietrich's front leg but catches the back leg as Dietrich tries to avoid it.
Dietrich looks to clinch

and Rovio counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rovio tries to free his leg and advance position but Dietrich is retaining full guard.
Dietrich tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Dietrich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rovio doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rovio manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Dietrich has his feet on Rovio's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rovio scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rovio connects with a leg kick. Dietrich looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rovio bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dietrich misses with a low kick.
Dietrich keeps the fight on the outside.
Dietrich looks to land a combination but Rovio avoids it well.
Dietrich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rovio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dietrich.
Dietrich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rovio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rovio pushes Dietrich away with a front kick.
Rovio tries a head kick but it misses.
Dietrich blocks a head kick by Rovio.
Dietrich darts in trying to clinch
and Rovio counters with a good low kick that Dietrich was not able to check.
Dietrich misses with a left hand
letting Rovio counter with a right hand.
Dietrich pushes Rovio away with a front kick.
Dietrich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josef Dietrich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dietrich throws a body kick that misses.
Dietrich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rovio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dietrich on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rovio. Rovio obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dietrich misses with a low kick.
Dietrich smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dietrich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rovio lands a jab to the head.
Josef Dietrich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rovio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dietrich, pushing him back against the cage.

Rovio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Decent striking displayed by Dietrich there.
Rovio lands a nice hook to Dietrich's body. Dietrich takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dietrich moves in looking to clinch but Rovio pushes him off.

Dietrich changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rovio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rovio manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich thows a huge punch but Rovio dodges it nicely.
Dietrich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rovio flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Dietrich looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dietrich is thwarting Rovio's attempts to control the position.
Dietrich takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rovio is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dietrich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rovio's head.

Dietrich is working for a submission of some sort.
Rovio is pressing down on Dietrich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rovio looking for a sweep. Not yet Rovio, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rovio wants to stand up but Dietrich is controlling him.
Dietrich stopping the sweep attempt from Rovio.
Rovio wants to stand but Dietrich is controlling the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dietrich trying to control the position from guard on top but Rovio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dietrich passes Rovio's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rampe Rovio will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rovio checks the leg kick.
Dietrich moves away from the strike by Rovio.
Dietrich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rovio as he jumps to the side.
Rovio checks a leg kick nicely.
Dietrich scores with a punch to the head.
Dietrich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rovio's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Dietrich connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rovio scrambles back to his feet.
Dietrich attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Dietrich looks to clinch
and Rovio counters with an inside leg kick.
Dietrich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dietrich blocks the body kick.
Dietrich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rovio avoids the head kick by Dietrich.
Dietrich lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dietrich tries to clinch there but Rovio circles away.
Rovio turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rovio looks to score with a jab to the body but Dietrich is just out of range.
Dietrich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dietrich fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rovio checks it well.

Rovio changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dietrich looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dietrich on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Dietrich is not content to let Rovio control the position.
Rovio working the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rovio is looking to take a break and control but Dietrich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rovio is looking to take a break and control but Dietrich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dietrich tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rovio wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich taking a bit of punishment here - Rovio scoring with strikes.
Dietrich sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rovio looks to land a strike but Dietrich avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Dietrich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dietrich 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.
Rovio lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rovio pushing down on Dietrich's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich is staying active underneath Rovio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dietrich is trying to get back to full guard.
Dietrich gets back to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rovio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Dietrich has his foot on Rovio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rovio works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dietrich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rovio postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rovio 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rampe Rovio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rovio swings for the body but Dietrich moves out of range.
Dietrich needs to keep his hands up - Rovio had a free shot at his head there.
Rovio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dietrich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rovio throws a hook to the side of Dietrich's head but Dietrich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rovio dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Rovio drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Dietrich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rovio defends well.
Rovio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rovio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rovio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dietrich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rovio defends it easily.
Rampe Rovio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rovio trying to control the position from guard on top but Dietrich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rovio distracts Dietrich with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rovio trying to control the position from guard on top but Dietrich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dietrich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rovio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dietrich is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rovio slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Rovio is looking for a triangle but Dietrich pushes his legs off easily.
Dietrich scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dietrich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dietrich stopping the sweep attempt from Rovio.
Dietrich advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dietrich is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rovio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dietrich.
Rovio tries to roll over but Dietrich keeps him under control.
Rampe Rovio is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rovio moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rovio working a defensive guard here.
Dietrich trying to control but Rovio is working from the bottom.
Josef Dietrich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dietrich throwing strikes but missing.
Dietrich throwing strikes from guard but Rovio blocks nicely.
Rovio is adopting a defensive guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Rampe Rovio has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rovio connects with a leg kick. Dietrich looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Dietrich misses with a series of wild punches.
Dietrich swings widly with a right hand
and Rovio counters with a flying knee. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rampe Rovio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rovio 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rampe Rovio!
During a confident post fight interview, Rampe Rovio thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.