PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ukko Vainamoinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Rust (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vainamoinen comes to the ring accompanied by Kalevala "Savelma". Rust has chosen Marylin Manson - Sweet Dreams as his entrance music. 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.

Vainamoinen
vs
Rust

187 cm
22
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

179 cm
22
183 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Tropical Breeze Health Foods

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ukko Vainamoinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomas Rust!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Vainamoinen. No joy for Rust on that attempt.
Vainamoinen lands with an overhand left.
Vainamoinen misses with a takedown attempt
and Rust counters with a leg kick.
Vainamoinen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rust.

Vainamoinen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vainamoinen showed some decent athleticism there.
Well, if Vainamoinen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rust regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Rust working for a triangle but Vainamoinen defends it easily.

Rust throws his legs up looking for a submission but Vainamoinen uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vainamoinen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rust tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Vainamoinen decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A combination from Rust does no damage.
Rust shoots and misses
and Vainamoinen counters with a right hand to the body.
No joy there for Rust, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rust tries for a takedown but Vainamoinen circles away easily

and Vainamoinen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rust's guard.
Ukko Vainamoinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Rust.
Rust looks gassed!
Vainamoinen preventing the sweep.
Vainamoinen pushing down on Rust's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vainamoinen is pressing down on Rust's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rust is holding on for now.
Rust is refusing to be controlled, as Vainamoinen sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vainamoinen content to control rather than advance.

Rust is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Vainamoinen pulls his head out easily.
Vainamoinen works his way into side control.
Rust tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rust is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Vainamoinen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rust has given up his back.
Vainamoinen gets his hands free as Rust looks to control.
Rust rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rust regains full guard. Nicely done.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rust is on top in guard.
Rust is pushing down on Vainamoinen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vainamoinen is fighting to maintain full guard but Rust has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rust moves nicely into side control.
Rust is putting a hurting on Vainamoinen here, landing some big shots from side control.

Rust is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vainamoinen has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rust swings around for an armbar but Vainamoinen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rust's guard.

Rust escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vainamoinen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vainamoinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rust is on top in guard.
Rust slips nicely into half guard.
Rust is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Rust is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vainamoinen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vainamoinen has escaped and now he's on top!
Rust striking off his back but it's not causing Vainamoinen any problems.

Vainamoinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rust manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Vainamoinen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Rust is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Vainamoinen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Vainamoinen!

Rust is looking for a triangle but Vainamoinen pushes his legs off easily.

Rust working for a triangle but Vainamoinen defends it easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rust looking for a sweep. Not yet Rust, not yet.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Vainamoinen drops back looking for a leg! Rust is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rust manages to kick Vainamoinen off! Vainamoinen jumps back into Rust's guard.

Rust looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vainamoinen passes into side control.
Vainamoinen advances nicely into full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ukko Vainamoinen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rust throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rust misses with a wild body shot.
Vainamoinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rust swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rust misses with a wild body shot.

Rust closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vainamoinen to the mat! Vainamoinen manages to get full guard.

Rust drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vainamoinen dives on top into guard.

Rust has his foot on Vainamoinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vainamoinen works his way back into a safe position though.
Vainamoinen trying to control but Rust is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vainamoinen looking to sit in guard and control but Rust gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rust working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rust throwing strikes from guard but Vainamoinen blocks nicely.
Ukko Vainamoinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rust slips nicely into half guard.

Rust is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rust looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rust is trying to control the action in half guard but Vainamoinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rust is pressing down on Vainamoinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vainamoinen is holding on for now.
Rust is thwarting Vainamoinen's attempts to control the position.
Rust wants to pass to mount but Vainamoinen is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rust passes to side control.
Rust advances nicely into full mount.
Rust dominating with strikes here.

Rust goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Vainamoinen is on top in guard.
Vainamoinen trying to control but Rust is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rust is on top in guard.

Rust drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Vainamoinen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rust has Vainamoinen in his guard.
Vainamoinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rust is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Vainamoinen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A big right from Vainamoinen misses.
Rust slips under a jab from Vainamoinen.
Rust misses with a takedown
and Rust takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vainamoinen clinches but Rust breaks the clinch

and Rust counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vainamoinen won't allow Rust to pass to mount.

Vainamoinen looking for submissions off his back.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Vainamoinen is defending against the submission attempts here by Rust.
Rust wants to free his trapped foot but Vainamoinen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vainamoinen trying to hold on to Rust's head to control him but Rust postures up.
Rust wants to pass to mount but Vainamoinen is defending the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Vainamoinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rust is working away from the top position though.
Vainamoinen tries to roll over but Rust keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vainamoinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Rust paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rust fails with the takedown

and Vainamoinen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rust lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vainamoinen!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Rust working for a guillotine from mount but Vainamoinen is in no mood to give up.
Vainamoinen wants to control but Rust is having none of it.

Rust swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Vainamoinen is now in Rust's guard. A big mistake from Rust there, giving up the dominant position!
Vainamoinen postures up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Vainamoinen stopping the sweep attempt from Rust.
Vainamoinen wants to control from the top but Rust keeps moving.

Rust has his foot on Vainamoinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vainamoinen works his way back into a safe position though.
Rust is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rust is trying to work for a kimura but Vainamoinen is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas Rust.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Thomas Rust!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Ukko Vainamoinen!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!