PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Ruggiero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ode Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruggiero's entrance music is Bonobo - The Sicilians. A fine choice. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ruggiero
vs
Jokinen

170 cm
24
142 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

163 cm
22
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benjamin Ruggiero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ode Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruggiero throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jokinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruggiero. Ruggiero obviously looking to wear him down.
Jokinen swings for the body but Ruggiero moves out of range.
A left lands for Jokinen.
Ruggiero connects with a right hand. Jokinen shakes it off.
Jokinen checks a leg kick nicely.
Ruggiero on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Jokinen clinches up against the cage.
Ruggiero makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Jokinen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Jokinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruggiero lands with a light punch inside.
Jokinen avoiding damage as Ruggiero throws knees to the body.
Jokinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've been informed that Jokinen has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Jokinen misses with some punches.
Jokinen tries to throw a body punch but Ruggiero avoids it by throwing Jokinen back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jokinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ruggiero throws a head punch that misses.
Ruggiero presses Jokinen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ruggiero throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jokinens head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruggiero.
Jokinen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jokinen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ruggiero lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Ruggiero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jokinen dives in for a single leg takedown but Ruggiero sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jokinen scores with a shot to the side of Ruggiero's head.
Ruggiero misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ruggiero misses with a knee strike.
Jokinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Ruggiero working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but Jokinen blocks with his arms.
Ruggiero is trying to maintain a safe position but Jokinen gets an underhook and turns Ruggiero into the cage.
Jokinen tries to throw a body punch but Ruggiero avoids it by throwing Jokinen back against the cage.
Jokinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Ruggiero's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ruggiero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jokinen lands a hook that snaps the head of Ruggiero backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruggiero throws a punch but it's blocked by Jokinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero is trying to break the clinch but Jokinen has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Jokinen.
Ruggiero misses with a knee strike.
Ruggiero lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jokinen backwards.
Ruggiero throws a head punch that misses.
Jokinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jokinen.
Ruggiero lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ruggiero gets through Jokinen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Jokinen scores with a shoulder strike.
Ruggiero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jokinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Jokinen.
Jokinen blocks a body shot from Ruggiero.
A hook to the body from Ruggiero.
Jokinen lands a body shot.
Ruggiero lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jokinen backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Ruggiero.
A short uppercut from Ruggiero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruggiero's elbow.
Ruggiero working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Ruggiero fails to land.
Jokinen lands a right hand.
Ruggiero scores a nice knee to the body.

Ruggiero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jokinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruggiero is just out of range.
Ruggiero throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jokinen misses with an uppercut. Ruggiero saw that one coming.
Jokinen misses with a straight left.
Jokinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruggiero moves away.
Ruggiero shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jokinen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice takedown defense from Ruggiero. No joy for Jokinen on that attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Ruggiero.
A jab from Ruggiero does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Jokinen misses its intended target.
Ruggiero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jokinen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ruggiero counters with a low kick, right behind Jokinen 's knee.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ruggiero takes one on the button.
Ruggiero misses with the combination.
Jokinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruggiero looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ruggiero tries a head kick but it misses.
Jokinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruggiero. Ruggiero obviously looking to wear him down.
Jokinen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ruggiero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jokinen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ruggiero just misses with a punch to the body.
Jokinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benjamin Ruggiero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ode Jokinen.
Ruggiero misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Ruggiero dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jokinen tries to clinch up but Ruggiero circles away and keeps his distance.
Jokinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruggiero.
Good exchange - Jokinen coming out on top.
Ruggiero digs a good hook to Jokinen's body.
Jokinen lands a jab to the nose.
Jokinen scores with a shot to the body.
Ruggiero thumps Jokinen with a low kick.
Jokinen lands with a shot to the body.
Jokinen lands a glancing blow to the side of Ruggiero's head.
Ruggiero misses with a low kick.
Jokinen misses with a straight left.
Ruggiero lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice sprawl there from Ruggiero as Jokinen shoots in.
Jokinen misses with a jab to the body
and Ruggiero counters with a nice leg kick.
Ruggiero walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jokinen.
Benjamin Ruggiero is winning the standup battle so far.
Jokinen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ruggiero cracks a nice hook into Jokinen's ribs.
Jokinen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A clash of legs there as Jokinen blocks the low kick.
Ruggiero is looking to wear down Jokinen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jokinen dives in and grabs Ruggiero's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ruggiero pushes down on Jokinen's head and hops out.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jokinen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Jokinen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ruggiero looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jokinen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Jokinen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ruggiero ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ruggiero cracks Jokinen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ruggiero throws a leg kick but Jokinen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ruggiero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruggiero throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jokinen's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen tries to clinch up but Ruggiero circles away and keeps his distance.
Jokinen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benjamin Ruggiero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ode Jokinen.
Jokinen throws a body punch but Ruggiero moves out of range.
Ruggiero looks to throw the jab but Jokinen is out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Ruggiero. No joy for Jokinen on that attempt.
Jokinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruggiero throws a leg kick that misses.
Ruggiero throws a head kick but Jokinen moves out of range.
Ruggiero misses with a body kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Jokinen. That snapped Ruggiero's head back.
Ruggiero takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jokinen throws a lazy right hand but Ruggiero sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ruggiero is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ruggiero moves away from the strike by Jokinen.
Jokinen blocks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Ruggiero.
Benjamin Ruggiero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruggiero throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jokinen's head.
Ruggiero dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jokinen. That did some damage!
Jokinen lands a body shot.
Jokinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruggiero pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ruggiero looks for the body kick but Jokinen saw that one coming.
Ruggiero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jokinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jokinen thuds his right hand into Ruggiero's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jokinen avoids the head kick by Ruggiero.
Ruggiero misses with a body kick.
Jokinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruggiero. Ruggiero obviously looking to wear him down.

Jokinen closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is working Ruggiero over against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jokinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ruggiero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jokinen's elbow.
Jokinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruggiero.
Benjamin Ruggiero has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jokinen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ruggiero's efforts to push away.
Jokinen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ruggiero gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jokinen.
Jokinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jokinen tries to work over Ruggiero's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jokinen throws a head punch that misses.
Jokinen throws a head punch that misses.
Ruggiero lands with a short shot to the head.
Jokinen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jokinen misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Ruggiero dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jokinen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jokinen throws a hook but Ruggiero avoids it easily.
Jokinen blocks a leg kick.
Ruggiero lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ruggiero throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Jokinen shoots in and gets a takedown into Ruggiero's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jokinen slips nicely into half guard.
Jokinen is thwarting Ruggiero's attempts to control the position.

Ruggiero looking for submissions off his back.
Jokinen is trying to control. Ruggiero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruggiero has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Jokinen escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Jokinen!
Jokinen trying to control the position but Ruggiero is working away.
Jokinen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ruggiero tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Jokinen presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Jokinen dominating with strikes here.
Jokinen wants to control the action but instead Ruggiero gets a body lock and reverses into Jokinen's guard! Nice work!
Ruggiero looking to pass the guard.
Ruggiero trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ode Jokinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen is keeping the position for now.
Jokinen looking to control but Ruggiero passes into half guard.
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!
Ruggiero passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jokinen!
Jokinen is squirming around, avoiding Ruggiero's attempts to control the action.
Ruggiero fails to advance to Jokinen's back.
Jokinen wants to hold on but Ruggiero pushes him away.
Benjamin Ruggiero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen controls the position.
Ruggiero tries to control but Jokinen wriggling away.
Jokinen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ruggiero seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Jokinen is holding on tight.
Ruggiero avoids the attempt from Jokinen to control.
Jokinen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Jokinen is not content to let Ruggiero control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jokinen avoids the head kick by Ruggiero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruggiero manages to avoid it.
Jokinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jokinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ruggiero swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jokinen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ruggiero dips to his left and cracks Jokinen with an uppercut!
Ruggiero slips under a jab from Jokinen.
Nice uppercut there from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero delivers a nice body kick.
Jokinen looks to throw the jab but Ruggiero is out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruggiero pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice defenses there by Ruggiero.
Ruggiero pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jokinen back to the cage. Ruggiero follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Jokinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Ruggiero.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ode Jokinen.
I think Ruggiero 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

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