PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Hirvonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rockson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hirvonen
vs
Rua

185 cm
39
196 lbs
39 - 19 - 0

186 cm
35
201 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pentti Hirvonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Rockson Rua!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirvonen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rua lands an overhand right.
Hirvonen throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Good standup being displayed there by Rua as he connects with a hook.
Hirvonen swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Hirvonen avoids the body shot from Rua.

Hirvonen scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
Hirvonen slips nicely into half guard.
Rua is trying to control but can't.

Hirvonen wants to work for an arm triangle but Rua is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rua tries to roll over but Hirvonen keeps him under control.
Hirvonen works his way into full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hirvonen lands a couple of good shots and Rua has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to escape the position.
Will Hirvonen go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Rua tries to escape but Hirvonen has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Rua is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hirvonen.
Rua is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Rua trying to control the position but Hirvonen manages to sink in the hooks.
Hirvonen controlling well, preventing Rua from escaping the position.
Hirvonen loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Rua hold on?
Rua staying busy and making it hard for Hirvonen to control.
You can see the frustration on Rua's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen lands with a hammerfist to the side of Rua's head.
Hirvonen wants to control but Rua is keeping busy.
Rua is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Hirvonen off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Rua is trapped and Hirvonen is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Rua wants to control his opponent's hands but Hirvonen gets his hands free.
Hirvonen throwing damaging strikes from the back! Rua could be in trouble here!
Hirvonen is looking to control Rua but Rua is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua is really stuck here.
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!
Hirvonen is looking to control Rua but Rua is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rua is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hirvonen gets his way!
Hirvonen punches Rua on the ear.
Hirvonen is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Rua up.
Hirvonen doesn't have the hooks in and Rua manages to turn into his guard.

Hirvonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rua defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hirvonen is on top in guard.

Hirvonen wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hirvonen wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Hirvonen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hirvonen trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Hirvonen cracks Rua with a solid left hand.
Hirvonen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rua can't keep his opponent in guard - Hirvonen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Rua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hirvonen is taking a breather. Rua says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hirvonen working the head and body with strikes.
Hirvonen slows the pace down in half guard.
Rua tries to roll over but Hirvonen keeps him under control.
Hirvonen wants to free his trapped foot but Rua is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hirvonen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rua on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hirvonen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hirvonen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.
Hirvonen is looking to advance position but Rua won't allow it.
Rua is not content to let Hirvonen control the position.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Hirvonen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding Hirvonen's attempts to control the action.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rua looks a forlorn figure.
Hirvonen unloading with bombs!
Hirvonen controlling from mount.
Hirvonen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rua wants to hold on but Hirvonen pushes him away.

Rua defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rua hang on?
Hirvonen controlling the position easily from mount.
Rua is working to get back to half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rua bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirvonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hirvonen trying to control the position.

Hirvonen looking for a triangle here. Rua is fighting it but it looks tight! Hirvonen pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Rua is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Pentti Hirvonen!
A relieved looking Pentti Hirvonen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.