PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Onanias Runkman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Runkman has chosen Anderson Silva DANCING Justin Bieber SONG as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Balboa
vs
Runkman

185 cm
29
215 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
217 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Onanias Runkman!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa misses with a looping right.
Balboa wants to clinch.
Runkman throws a hook but Balboa avoids it easily.
Balboa swings for the body but Runkman moves out of range.
Runkman blocks a jab.
Runkman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Balboa misses the jab.
Balboa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balboa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Runkman walks into a jab.
Balboa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Balboa misses the jab.
Balboa throws the left hand but Runkman avoids the punch easily.
Runkman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Balboa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Runkman swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Runkman dives in and scores a takedown into Balboa's guard.
Balboa is pulling down on Runkman's head. It's preventing any offense from Runkman, at least for the moment.
Runkman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balboa is keeping the position for now.
Runkman wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Runkman tries to free his leg and advance position but Balboa is retaining full guard.
Runkman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Balboa holds on and takes a little breather.

We're going to have a standup here because Rocky Balboa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Balboa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runkman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balboa missing with a left hand there. Runkman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balboa lands a head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Balboa lands a really nice looking cross but Runkman seems unphased.
Runkman swats away the attempt to clinch by Balboa.
Balboa falls off balance throwing a combination

and Runkman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Runkman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Runkman stands up over Balboa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Runkman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Runkman.
Runkman trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runkman looking to pass the guard.
Runkman throwing strikes from guard but Balboa blocks nicely.
Balboa pulls Runkman in close to prevent any damage.
Runkman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balboa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balboa pulls Runkman in to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Rocky Balboa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Runkman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Balboa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa looks to land a left hand but Runkman moved out of range nicely.
Rocky Balboa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Runkman scores with a sloppy right hand. Balboa should have avoided that one.
Runkman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Balboa doesn't seem bothered though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balboa with a jab.
Balboa misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Balboa misses its intended target.

Balboa forces Runkman back against the cage and clinches.

Runkman pulls guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Runkman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Runkman keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Balboa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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 Rocky Balboa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Runkman throws a jab but it's blocked by Balboa.
Balboa tries to clinch but Runkman moves away

and Runkman counters with a takedown into side control.
Runkman tries to score with some ground and pound. Balboa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Runkman works to advance to full mount. Balboa defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Runkman goes for an armbar but Balboa turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Balboa.

Runkman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balboa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balboa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Runkman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Balboa stopping the sweep attempt from Runkman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Runkman looking for a guillotine here but Balboa defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Runkman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Balboa stopping the sweep attempt from Runkman.

Runkman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Runkman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Runkman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Runkman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Balboa!
Balboa can't escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Runkman there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Runkman prevents Balboa from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control but Runkman is having none of it.
Runkman throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Balboa because Runkman loaded up on that one.
Balboa is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Balboa wants to control but Runkman is having none of it.
Balboa is looking to get to half guard.
Balboa taking shots to the head.
Runkman landing punches.
Onanias Runkman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Balboa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Runkman is pressing down on Balboa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balboa is holding on for now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runkman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Runkman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Runkman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Runkman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Balboa is controlling Runkman's trapped leg to prevent Runkman from advancing to side control.
Runkman is keen to just control but Balboa is a slippery customer.
Runkman wants to free his trapped foot but Balboa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Runkman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Runkman wants to pass to mount but Balboa is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Onanias Runkman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Balboa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Balboa duly obliges.
Runkman stuns Balboa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Runkman gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Onanias Runkman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balboa misses with a hook.
Runkman swings for the body but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa misses with an uppercut
enabling Runkman to counter with a crisp jab.
Balboa throws a lazy uppercut
and Runkman counters with a right hand to the body.
Runkman scores with a body shot.
Rocky Balboa is winning the standup battle so far.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Balboa as Runkman shoots in.
Runkman throws a looping overhand right but Balboa ducks down to avoid it.
Runkman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runkman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Balboa swivels and escapes.
Balboa lands a really nice looking cross but Runkman seems unphased.
Balboa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balboa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balboa misses with a hook. Runkman ducked under it nicely.
Balboa looks to score with a jab to the body but Runkman is just out of range.
Runkman's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Runkman duly obliges.
Runkman lands a really nice looking cross but Balboa seems unphased.
Runkman throws a lazy right hand but Balboa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Runkman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Runkman staying out of range there.

Balboa gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Runkman fails to pull guard.
Rocky Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Onanias Runkman.
Balboa working aggressively here.
Balboa misses with a punch on the inside.
Runkman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balboa smiles and moves away.
A combination from Runkman does no damage.
Runkman slips under a jab from Balboa.
Runkman ducks under a wild hook from Balboa.
Runkman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balboa throws out a loose jab but Runkman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Runkman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balboa throws a hook but Runkman blocks it.
Balboa scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runkman scores with a jab to the body.
Runkman shoots for a takedown but Balboa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Runkman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balboa swinging wildly here.
Balboa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Runkman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Balboa throws a combination that misses
and Runkman counters with a nice body shot.
Balboa throws a shot from downtown. Runkman moves away and avoids it.
Balboa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balboa misses with a hook.
Balboa sizes up Runkman with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Runkman looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
Balboa throws a right and a left that Runkman avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runkman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balboa finds it's way round the side to connect with Runkman's head.
Balboa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Runkman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Runkman jabs at Balboa's body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A big right from Balboa misses.
Runkman connects with a single shot there.
Runkman shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Runkman connects with a body shot that sends Balboa's belly button to the back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Runkman misses with a body shot.
Balboa misses with a hook

and Runkman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Runkman throws an elbow that misses. Balboa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Runkman's guard. Nice move by Balboa!

Runkman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balboa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Balboa!
Rocky Balboa really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Adrenaline logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.