PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jakke Ruutu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanner Pond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruutu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is 50 Cent - I'm Supposed to Die Tonight. Pond comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Stick To Your Guns - Agianst Them All kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Ruutu
vs
Pond

190 cm
33
174 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

189 cm
25
176 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KnockOut
Perkele!

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jakke Ruutu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tanner Pond!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruutu walks into a straight right hand from Pond.
Nice defenses there by Pond.
Jab from Ruutu.

Ruutu has managed to clinch.
Ruutu lands a body punch.

Ruutu jumps guard and drags Pond to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pond throwing strikes but missing.

Ruutu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pond can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ruutu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pond scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruutu is on top in guard.

Ruutu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pond is keeping the position for now.
Ruutu postures up.
Ruutu wants to pass the guard but Pond is keeping the position.
Ruutu working some strikes from top position.
Pond has Ruutu pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pond seems keen to control Ruutu's posture.
Ruutu working some strikes from top position.
Ruutu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ruutu passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ruutu misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ruutu working away.
Pond takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pond manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pond misses with a head shot. Ruutu uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ruutu is adopting a defensive guard.
Ruutu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pond accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ruutu is looking for a triangle but Pond pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pond throws a strike but Ruutu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruutu tries to free his leg and advance position but Pond is retaining full guard.
Pond is trying to control the position but Ruutu postures up.
Pond keeping full guard, as Ruutu tries to pass.
Ruutu is working Pond over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ruutu cracks Pond with a solid left hand.
Ruutu passes Pond's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Pond slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruutu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakke Ruutu dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ruutu misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Pond on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ruutu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ruutu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pond can do to turn this around?
Pond throws a looping overhand right but Ruutu ducks down to avoid it.
Ruutu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Pond counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruutu misses with a few strikes there.
Ruutu cracks Pond with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ruutu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jab, jab by Ruutu - just one landing.
Ruutu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pond keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab lands there for Pond.
Ruutu connects with a leg kick. Pond looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pond will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruutu misses with a body shot.
Pond pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pond throws a jab when Ruutu was well out of range.
Ruutu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Pond misses the jab.
Ruutu moves away from the strike by Pond.
Ruutu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ruutu wants to land a leg kick but Pond is out of range.
Pond blocks a head kick by Ruutu.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pond.
Ruutu is looking to slow Pond down with leg kicks.
Pond missing with a left hand there. Ruutu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pond takes a swing at Ruutu's ribcage but misses.
Ruutu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jakke Ruutu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ruutu, right into the meat.
Ruutu lands with a slapping head kick.
Nice straight punches there by Pond. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Pond.
Ruutu has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Pond staying out of range there.
Pond lands a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pond misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Ruutu there.
Pond tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ruutu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pond follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Ruutu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ruutu.
Pond's corner calls for a 1-2. Pond obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ruutu misses with a kick to the body.
Pond walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ruutu.
Pond throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ruutu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ruutu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pond. That did some damage!
Ruutu throws a body shot but no joy.
Pond dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruutu blocks a low kick nicely.
Pond misses with an uppercut.
Ruutu attempts a counter takedown but Pond avoids it well and moves away.
Pond takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ruutu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ruutu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruutu throws a sloppy head kick and Pond moves out of range easily.
Ruutu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ruutu misses with a hook. Pond ducked under it nicely.
Ruutu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Pond misses with a wild body shot.
Ruutu misses with the combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruutu. Pond does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ruutu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ruutu throws a front kick aimed at Pond's knee but Pond avoids it well.
Pond throws a hook to the side of Ruutu's head but Ruutu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jakke Ruutu is winning the standup battle so far.
Ruutu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ruutu avoids the body shot from Pond.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pond throws a hook but Ruutu blocks it.
Ruutu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ruutu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ruutu throws a front kick aimed at Pond's knee but Pond avoids it well.
Ruutu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Good work by Pond as he checks the leg kick.
Pond swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pond throws a leg kick but Ruutu checks it.
Pond tests Ruutu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ruutu looks to land a combination but Pond avoids it well.
Pond moves out of range of the strikes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ruutu, as that shot connected.
Ruutu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pond.
Pond lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruutu circles away quickly and effectively.
Ruutu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pond lands a head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruutu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jakke Ruutu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pond fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruutu manages to avoid it.
Pond just misses with a punch to the body.
Pond scores with a decent looking hook.
Pond on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruutu. Ruutu obviously looking to wear him down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ruutu.
Ruutu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ruutu misses with a low kick.
Pond doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ruutu throws a leg kick but Pond checks it.
Ruutu connects with a jab.
Pond's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jab by Ruutu.
Pond scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruutu throws a leg kick but Pond moved away.
It seemed like Pond was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pond fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruutu manages to avoid it.
Pond avoids the head kick by Ruutu.
Ruutu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pond sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ruutu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pond swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ruutu scores with a nice strike.
Ruutu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ruutu slips a straight right by Pond.
Ruutu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ruutu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ruutu slips a straight right by Pond.
Pond swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ruutu throws a leg kick but Pond sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ruutu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ruutu throws a head kick that misses.
Ruutu scores with a leg kick.
Ruutu tries a head kick but it misses.
Pond throws out a counter right but Ruutu avoids it with no problem.
Pond scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ruutu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pond looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruutu is just out of range.
Pond fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ruutu checks it well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ruutu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pond throws a hook but Ruutu blocks it.
Ruutu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pond was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruutu.
Ruutu slips a straight right by Pond.
Pond will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pond scores with a one two! Ruutu had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ruutu.
Ruutu throws a leg kick but Pond moved away.
Ruutu throws a shot to the body.
Pond slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ruutu gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Ruutu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruutu lands a really nice looking cross but Pond seems unphased.
Ruutu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu ducks under a wild hook from Pond.

Ruutu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ruutu blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pond.

Ruutu pulls Pond into guard.
Pond stopping the sweep attempt from Ruutu.
Pond lands a couple of elbows.
Pond tries to stand but Ruutu is controlling from the bottom.
Pond loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Ruutu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pond defends well.
Pond with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tanner Pond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruutu is trying to control the position but Pond postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pond landing some decent shots from guard.
Jakke Ruutu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pond avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ruutu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pond lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jakke Ruutu.
Well Ruutu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jakke Ruutu!
Jakke Ruutu was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.