PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jethro Rusted (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Jalkalukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jalkalukko has chosen Jordan Sparks ft. Chris Brown - No Air as his entrance music. Jethro Rusted has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rusted
vs
Jalkalukko

185 cm
28
185 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

190 cm
42
200 lbs
30 - 32 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jethro Rusted!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse Jalkalukko!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusted misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Jalkalukko misses
and Rusted counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rusted keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jesse Jalkalukko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rusted pushes Jalkalukko away with a front kick.
Jalkalukko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rusted throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jalkalukko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rusted pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rusted throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jalkalukko.
Jalkalukko throws a leg kick but Rusted sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rusted lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Rusted avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jalkalukko throws a sloppy head kick and Rusted moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rusted. Jalkalukko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rusted looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jalkalukko throws a sloppy head kick and Rusted moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Jalkalukko crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rusted - the referee stops the clock and Jalkalukko gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rusted. Jalkalukko manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Jalkalukko 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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rusted.
A big right from Jalkalukko misses.
Rusted misses with the combination.
Jalkalukko raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Jalkalukko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rusted throws a push kick but Jalkalukko slaps the foot to one side.
Jalkalukko tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rusted thinks about countering with a head kick.
Jalkalukko digs a good hook to Rusted's body.
Jalkalukko throws a lazy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jalkalukko throws a sloppy body shot
and Rusted counters with an inside leg kick.
Jalkalukko shoots in but Rusted avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jalkalukko throws a head kick but Rusted moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted lands with an uppercut that bounces Jalkalukko off the cage and back into range.
Jalkalukko misses with the body kick

and Rusted counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rusted throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Jalkalukko is not content to let Rusted control the position.
Rusted is staying tight to Jalkalukko's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rusted has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Rusted throwing shots but missing, from side control.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rusted controlling the pace.
Jalkalukko tries to roll over but Rusted keeps him under control.
Rusted not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rusted tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Rusted wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jalkalukko keeps working.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jalkalukko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rusted wants to pass the guard but Jalkalukko is defending well.
Rusted perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rusted fails with the takedown.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rusted.
Rusted misses with a wild body shot.
Rusted defending well as Jalkalukko loads up on a big left hand.

Jalkalukko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rusted was covering up waiting for the punch and Jalkalukko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jalkalukko tries to free his leg and advance position but Rusted is retaining full guard.
Jalkalukko wants to control from the top but Rusted keeps moving.
Jalkalukko throws an elbow that misses. Rusted uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jalkalukko's guard. Nice move by Rusted!

Rusted landing with the ground and pound.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko is trying to keep Rusted in close.
Rusted slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rusted's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rusted postures up.
Rusted stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jalkalukko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jalkalukko is controlling Rusted's posture.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rusted stopping the sweep attempt from Jalkalukko.
Jalkalukko has momentary wrist control but Rusted slips an elbow through the middle.
Rusted wants to pass the guard but Jalkalukko is keeping the position.
Jalkalukko tries to strike from the bottom.
Rusted advances position into side control!
Jalkalukko struggling a bit here.
Rusted cracks Jalkalukko with a big elbow.
Rusted moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Jalkalukko can't do much from the bottom here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rusted lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rusted cracks Jalkalukko with a big elbow.
Check out the look on Rusted's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rusted trying to control the position but Jalkalukko is working away.
Jalkalukko is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rusted connects with a decent elbow.
Jalkalukko tries to bench press Rusted off him but Rusted keeps the position.
Jalkalukko takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Jalkalukko is rocked!

Rusted stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jalkalukko is still on wobbly legs! Can Rusted finish him?
Rusted lands an uppercut, right on the button! Jalkalukko tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jethro Rusted!
Jethro Rusted retains his middleweight title!
Jethro Rusted seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.