PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mayo Kermode (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Ruden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kermode
vs
Ruden

185 cm
36
220 lbs
34 - 21 - 0

187 cm
32
215 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
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 34 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mayo Kermode!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Ruden!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kermode clinches up with Ruden and pushes him back against the cage.
Kermode missing with knees to the body.
Kermode misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ruden.
Kermode pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ruden presses Kermode against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kermode throws an elbow but misses.
Still in the clinch, Ruden scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ruden takes a shot to the head.
Kermode prevents a body shot from Ruden.
Ruden lands a right hand.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kermode.

It looks like Joe Ruden has been cut.

Ruden works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruden throwing strikes from guard but Kermode blocks nicely.
Ruden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ruden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kermode looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ruden trying to control the position from guard on top but Kermode is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ruden's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kermode working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ruden.
Ruden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ruden stands and throws Kermode's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kermode is not content to let Ruden control the position.
Ruden lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kermode down.
Ruden in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kermode tries to bench press Ruden off him but Ruden keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kermode is not content to let Ruden control the position.
Ruden postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kermode can't do much from the bottom here.
Ruden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kermode keeps working.
Kermode avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ruden.

Ruden is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kermode knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kermode tries to improve position but can't.
Ruden trying to control the position but Kermode is working away.
Kermode is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ruden is chipping away with strikes.

Ruden working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ruden tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kermode regains half guard.
Ruden seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ruden thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ruden not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ruden throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ruden tries to pass to full mount but Kermode defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kermode has hold of Ruden's hands but Ruden slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruden wants to control but Kermode is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Ruden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Ruden's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A big left from Ruden misses.

Kermode gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ruden gets through Kermode's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kermode prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ruden can't break the clinch.
Kermode trying to land knees to the body.
Kermode prevents a body shot from Ruden.
Kermode gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ruden stalling in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kermode creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kermode stops a takedown attempt from Ruden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Kermode scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kermode lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kermode tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Ruden - that landed with a thud.
Kermode lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

The cut above Joe Ruden's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kermode working aggressively here.
Kermode blocks an uppercut.
Kermode throws an elbow but it misses.
Kermode swings wildly with an uppercut but Ruden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kermode tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ruden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruden drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kermode pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kermode looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mayo Kermode has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Ruden.
Kermode fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kermode moves out of range as Ruden throws a body kick.
Ruden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kermode.
Ruden lands a nice looking body shot.
Kermode is looking to clinch.
Kermode throws a hook to the side of Ruden's head but Ruden sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kermode tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ruden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kermode jabs Ruden to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kermode tries a head kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ruden.
Kermode tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A swing and a miss from Ruden.
Kermode keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kermode tries a knee to the head but Ruden blocks it.
Kermode with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
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!
Kermode lands a left hand.
A head punch on the inside from Kermode fails to land.
Kermode throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ruden blocks an elbow strike from Kermode.
Kermode prevents a body shot from Ruden.
A short right from Kermode.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kermode misses with a punch on the inside.

Kermode is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ruden is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kermode to the mat. Kermode regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ruden postures up and lands a big shot to Kermode's brow.
Ruden content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kermode trying to strike off his back.
Kermode looking to control.
Ruden trying to move into half guard but instead Kermode has managed to sweep!

Ruden tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kermode has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kermode looking to sit in guard and control but Ruden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ruden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruden is pushing down on Kermode's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kermode is fighting to maintain full guard but Ruden has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kermode is not content to let Ruden control the position.
Ruden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kermode has hold of Ruden's hands but Ruden slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kermode keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ruden thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kermode's head.
Ruden not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Ruden looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ruden stalling away here and it's allowed Kermode to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mayo Kermode dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Ruden's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ruden throws a head kick that misses.
Ruden misses with a hook
and Kermode counters with a one-two to the body.
Ruden misses with a looping left.
Ruden misses with a leg kick
and Kermode counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ruden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kermode moves away.
Ruden scores with a sloppy right hand. Kermode should have avoided that one.
Kermode defending well as Ruden loads up on a big left hand.

Kermode pushes Ruden up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruden cracks Kermode with a nice body shot.
Kermode trying to land knees to the body.
Kermode misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kermode misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ruden.
Ruden misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kermode throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Ruden has hold of one of Kermode's legs. Kermode is fighting the takedown attempt but Ruden gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kermode not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kermode 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kermode working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ruden.
Kermode not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruden stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kermode swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruden works over Kermode with some ground and pound from guard.
Ruden works over Kermode with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ruden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ruden throws a strike but Kermode rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ruden working a defensive guard here.
Kermode won't allow Ruden to sweep him here.
Kermode trying to control but Ruden is working from the bottom.

Ruden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruden is on top in guard.

Kermode looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruden is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruden stands up over Kermode, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kermode avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ruden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ruden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kermode utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruden throws a strike but Kermode rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ruden has control of Kermode's left arm, preventing Kermode from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kermode is one step ahead there.
Ruden bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kermode's guard.

Kermode can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ruden controls the pace.
Kermode utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruden postures up.

Ruden has gone for a leg lock! Kermode slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ruden's guard.

Kermode loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Ruden.
I think Ruden has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Ruden!
Joe Ruden decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.