PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rami Ratikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Turock Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ratikka
vs
Rio

203 cm
18
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
300 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rami Ratikka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Turock Rio!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ratikka takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Rami Ratikka has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ratikka wants to clinch
and Rio counters with a leg kick.
Rio misses with a head kick.
Ratikka tries to clinch but Rio is having none of it.
Rio misses with a combination
and Ratikka counters with a left and a right that stings Rio.
A combination from Rio does no damage.
No joy there for Rio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ratikka fails with a takedown attempt.
Rio attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ratikka scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Turock Rio has been cut.
Rio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ratikka.
Rio misses with the combination.
Ratikka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rio looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratikka throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rio stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ratikka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rami Ratikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ratikka closes the distance and clinches up with Rio, looking for a takedown. Ratikka pushes Rio against the cage but Rio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ratikka takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rio looks to land a combination but Ratikka avoids it well.
Rio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rio fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ratikka checks it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ratikka.
Ratikka fails with the takedown.
Ratikka misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ratikka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ratikka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rio as he jumps to the side.
Ratikka fails with the takedown.
Rio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rio throws a head kick but Ratikka moves out of range.
Ratikka blocks a head kick by Rio.
Rio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Turock Rio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ratikka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rio.
Ratikka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ratikka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rio throws a half hearted mid kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ratikka.
Ratikka tries to clinch but Rio moves away
and Rio counters with a head kick. That will keep Ratikka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Rami Ratikka's cut is getting worse.
Rio leaves Ratikka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ratikka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rio as he avoids it easily.
Ratikka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ratikka shoots in looking for a takedown. Rio tries to sprawl out of it but Ratikka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rio misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rio fails to land with a series of punches.
Rio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ratikka shoots in and drives through. Rio sprawls well.
Rio throws a head kick that half lands.
Ratikka scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ratikka tries a head kick but it misses.
Rio tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ratikka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rio counters with a head kick. That will keep Ratikka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ratikka is looking to clinch.
Rio misses with a few strikes there.
Rio misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Turock Rio will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rio swats away the attempt to clinch by Ratikka.

Ratikka drops Rio with a beautiful combination! Rio stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Ratikka is looking for the KO!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ratikka dodges the punch combination from Rio.
Good work by Ratikka as he checks the leg kick.
No luck for Ratikka with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ratikka is defended easily by Rio.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ratikka doesn't manage to clinch there - Rio circles away.
Rami Ratikka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rio misses with a wild combination.
Rio misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio thows a body kick. Ratikka tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rio misses with a body kick.
Rio misses with a two punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Rio. No joy for Ratikka on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rami Ratikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ratikka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rio circles away.
A nice combination there by Ratikka.

That has opened up Turock Rio's cut even more.
Rio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ratikka.
Ratikka avoids the head kick by Rio.
Turock Rio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ratikka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ratikka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rio's waist but Rio gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ratikka off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio scores with a head kick. Ratikka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ratikka.
Rio dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ratikka. That did some damage!
Ratikka shoots for a takedown but Rio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rio fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ratikka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rio.
Ratikka lands a jab to Rio's midsection.
Ratikka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ratikka blocks a head kick by Rio.
A head kick misses from Rio.
Ratikka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratikka shoots in and drives through. Rio sprawls well.
Rio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ratikka.
Rio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ratikka counters with a left and a right that stings Rio.
Ratikka looks to clinch
and Rio counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rio blocks the body kick.
Ratikka avoids the head kick by Rio.
Ratikka shoots in looking for a takedown. Rio tries to sprawl out of it but Ratikka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Ratikka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rio.
Ratikka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rio looks to land a combination but Ratikka avoids it well.
Ratikka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rio misses with a head kick.
Ratikka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rio but Rio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rio throws a nice looking combination but Ratikka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rio misses with a wild combination.
Ratikka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rio circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rio stuffs the takedown.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rio. That's going to slow Ratikka down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Ratikka dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ratikka crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rio - the referee stops the clock and Ratikka gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rio. Ratikka manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ratikka.
Ratikka takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ratikka with a poor takedown
and Rio counters with a series of strikes. Ratikka will be more careful next time no doubt.
Good shot there by Ratikka.
Rio throws a sloppy head kick and Ratikka moves out of range easily.
Ratikka looks for a takedown but Rio sprawls well.
Ratikka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rio circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rami Ratikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rio throws a right and a left that Ratikka avoids nicely.
Ratikka tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A left and a right from Ratikka both land. Nice combination.
Rio throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ratikka fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio misses with a few strikes there.
Ratikka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rio avoids it really well and circles away.
Ratikka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rio misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Rio.
Rio slaps away a takedown attempt from Ratikka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rio lands a front kick.
Rio misses with a series of wild punches.
Ratikka throws a leg kick but Rio sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio misses with a double jab
and Ratikka counters with a left to the body.
Rio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rio misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ratikka.
Rio misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rio throws a head kick but Ratikka moves out of range.
Rio swats away the attempt to clinch by Ratikka.
Rio scores with a leg kick.
Ratikka has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratikka has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rio.
Rio slaps away a takedown attempt from Ratikka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rio throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ratikka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ratikka lands a jab to Rio's midsection.
Rio misses with a head kick.
Rio misses with a few strikes there.
Rio has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rio there as he acknowledges the shot.
Turock Rio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ratikka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rio misses with a double jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rio.
Ratikka throws a series of strikes that have Rio backpedaling.
Ratikka avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rio pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rio leaves Ratikka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rio swinging wildly here.
Rio throws a combination that misses
and Ratikka counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rio checks the leg kick.
Ratikka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rio misses with a series of wild punches.
Rio slaps away a takedown attempt from Ratikka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ratikka tries to clinch but Rio is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Turock Rio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rio 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Turock Rio!