PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Uncle Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauno Viittala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rico
vs
Viittala

174 cm
33
190 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

190 cm
31
185 lbs
21 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Hilo

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 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Uncle Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Rauno Viittala!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viittala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rico.
Rico fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Viittala manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Rico, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Viittala pushes Rico up against the cage in a clinch.
Rico lands with a light punch inside.
A right hand to the body from Rico.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Viittala.
Viittala lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Viittala breaks the clinch.
Viittala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rico's jab looks to have found its range, popping Viittala under the eye.
Rico displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Viittala.
Viittala tries to clinch but Rico is having none of it.
Viittala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Viittala wants to clinch
and Rico counters with a stiff right hand.
Rauno Viittala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viittala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Viittala moves out of range as Rico strikes.
Viittala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Viittala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Viittala tries to clinch up.
Viittala doesn't manage to clinch there - Rico circles away.
Viittala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rico throws out the jab.
Rico thows a body shot but no joy.
Rico looks to score with a jab to the body but Viittala is just out of range.
Viittala tries to clinch
and Rico counters with a three punch combo that has Viittala backing up. Viittala nods at Rico to acknowledge the strikes.
Rico thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Viittala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rico misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viittala moves to clinch but Rico breaks away
and Rico cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Rico drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rico wants to control from the top but Viittala keeps moving.
Viittala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rico postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Viittala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rico trying to control but Viittala is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Viittala wants to get back to his feet but Rico is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico throws a big elbow that misses.
Viittala is looking to stand up but Rico isn't so interested in that idea.

Viittala has his feet on Rico's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nice body punch from Rico.
Viittala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rico just misses with a punch to the body.
Viittala moves in looking to clinch but Rico pushes him off.
Viittala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rico.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Viittala wants to clinch.
Viittala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Viittala drives through and clinches with Rico against the cage.

Viittala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Viittala takes the fight into the clinch.
Viittala stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Viittala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rico is looking to wear down Viittala with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Viittala closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rico jumps guard but Viittala turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Viittala makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Viittala scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rauno Viittala will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Viittala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rico lands with a good body shot.
Rauno Viittala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Viittala shoots in but no luck this time.
Viittala tries to clinch up.
Viittala tries to clinch up but Rico circles away and keeps his distance.
Viittala is looking to clinch.
Viittala darts in trying to clinch
and Rico counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Viittala has managed to clinch.
Viittala pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rico can't find room to land a body shot as Viittala controls the action.
Viittala doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viittala can't get the takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Viittala throws an elbow but misses.
Viittala misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hook to the body lands for Viittala.
Viittala is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Viittala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Viittala tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Viittala.

Rico breaks from the clinch.
Viittala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Viittala tries to close the distance and clinch but Rico swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Viittala attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rico throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Uncle Rico is winning the standup battle so far.
Viittala is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Rico as he connects with a hook.
Viittala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Viittala tries to clinch but Rico is having none of it.
Rico swings away with a body shot that misses

and Viittala counters by clinching up.
A head punch on the inside from Viittala fails to land.
Viittala misses with some punches.
Viittala has Rico pressed against the cage, preventing Rico from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice left hand lands by Viittala.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Viittala gets through Rico's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rico's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice left hand lands by Viittala.
Rico wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Viittala has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico blocking some punches.
Rico throws a head punch that misses.
Viittala lands a good knee to the midsection. Rico won't want to take too many of those.
Rico blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Viittala manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Viittala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rico ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Viittala moves away.
Viittala is looking to clinch but Rico is avoiding it.
Viittala wants to clinch up but Rico keeps it at a distance.
Rico avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rico connects with a looping right hand.

Viittala moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico throws a punch but it's blocked by Viittala.
A right hook to the body lands for Viittala.
Rico throws a head punch that misses.
Viittala throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by Viittala.
Rico tries to work over Viittala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rico misses with a punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A hook to the body from Viittala.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Viittala tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rico just stands there and leans against the cage.
Uncle Rico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rauno Viittala.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico misses with a hook to the ribs.
Viittala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A shot in the inside from Viittala.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Viittala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Viittala avoids the body shot from Rico.
Viittala tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rico sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Viittala somewhat.
Rico tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Viittala was well out of range. Poor timing from Rico.
Rico misses with a body shot.
Viittala goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Viittala doesn't manage to clinch there - Rico circles away.
Rico swats away the attempt to clinch by Viittala.
Rico scores with a punch to the head.

Viittala has managed to clinch.
Viittala lands an elbow that stopped Rico in his tracks for a moment.
Viittala tries to throw a body punch but Rico avoids it by throwing Viittala back against the cage.
Rico lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viittala throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Viittala lands a nice elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rico.
Rico throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Viittala tries to work over Rico's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rico lands with a left to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rico.
Viittala is leaning against Rico and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Viittala.
Rico blocks a body shot from Viittala.
Viittala lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viittala has a couple of punches blocked by Rico.
Rico swings wildly with an uppercut but Viittala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rico blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Viittala pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Viittala landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Good body shot from Viittala.
Viittala is pushing Rico up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rico swings wildly with an uppercut but Viittala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rico lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Viittala.
Rauno Viittala seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viittala wants a takedown but no success here.
Rico lands a body punch.
Rico lands a shoulder strike.
Viittala misses with a punch to the body.
Viittala jumps guard but Rico stands there with Viittala around his waist. Viittala gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Uncle Rico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rauno Viittala.
Stalling in the clinch from Viittala.
Rico blocks the elbow strike.
Viittala lands with a short shot to the head.
Viittala throws a punch but it's blocked by Rico.
Viittala looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rico misses with a body punch.
Viittala wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Viittala.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Viittala.
Nice body punch from Rico.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rico lands with a right to the head.
Viittala pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by Viittala.
Rico tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Viittala's elbow.
Uncle Rico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Viittala lands an elbow just above Rico 's eye.

It looks like Uncle Rico has been cut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Viittala.
Viittala lands an elbow just above Rico 's eye.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Viittala scores with a shot to the side of Rico's head.
Viittala tries for a takedown. No joy.
Viittala lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Viittala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rauno Viittala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Viittala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Rauno Viittala!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Rauno Viittala!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Rauno Viittala!

Rauno Viittala wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Rauno Viittala thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.