PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malik Al-Khaldi (ranked 507 p4p, 69 weight class) and Iikka Runnisto (ranked 588 p4p, 80 weight class). Al-Khaldi comes to the cage accompanied by Terror - Shot Of Reality. Runnisto has chosen Alta Pois - Sie sua näkköös! as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Al-Khaldi
vs
Runnisto

182 cm
37
191 lbs
30 - 9 - 0

182 cm
31
192 lbs
26 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Malik Al-Khaldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Runnisto!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al-Khaldi cracks the inside of Runnisto's front leg.
Al-Khaldi takes one on the button.
Runnisto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Al-Khaldi throws out the jab.
Al-Khaldi throws a jab when Runnisto was well out of range.
Al-Khaldi looks to throw the jab but Runnisto is out of range.
Runnisto lands with an overhand left.
Al-Khaldi is looking to score with low kicks.
Al-Khaldi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Xtreme MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Runnisto takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Al-Khaldi misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Runnisto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Al-Khaldi tries to clinch there but Runnisto circles away.
Nice defenses there by Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al-Khaldi moves away.
A quick step to the side and Al-Khaldi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al-Khaldi ducks under a wild hook from Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi misses with a straight right.
Runnisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Al-Khaldi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Runnisto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Al-Khaldi's hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Runnisto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Al-Khaldi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al-Khaldi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Runnisto has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Runnisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Al-Khaldi throws a sloppy head kick and Runnisto moves out of range easily.

Al-Khaldi instigates a clinch.
Runnisto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Al-Khaldis head.
Runnisto digs a right hand underneath Al-Khaldi's ribcage. Al-Khaldi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Al-Khaldi working aggressively here.

Runnisto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al-Khaldi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Runnisto misses with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Al-Khaldi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Al-Khaldi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Runnisto throws the left hand but Al-Khaldi avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Al-Khaldi with a body shot.
Runnisto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Runnisto ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Runnisto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Al-Khaldi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Runnisto throws a lazy right hand but Al-Khaldi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al-Khaldi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No joy there for Runnisto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Al-Khaldi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Runnisto at a distance.
Runnisto misses with a hook. Al-Khaldi ducked under it nicely.
Al-Khaldi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Runnisto jabs at Al-Khaldi's body.
Runnisto blocks a head kick by Al-Khaldi.
Al-Khaldi 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.
It seemed like Runnisto was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Al-Khaldi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Al-Khaldi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Runnisto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Left hook, right uppercut from Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto throws a looping overhand right but Al-Khaldi ducks down to avoid it.
An inside leg kick from Al-Khaldi misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Al-Khaldi lands.
Runnisto might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Al-Khaldi loads up on a big right hand but Runnisto slips the punch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Runnisto! But no joy.
Al-Khaldi misses the shot to the body.
Runnisto punishes Al-Khaldi's body with a nice straight punch.
Al-Khaldi scores with a jab.
Al-Khaldi throws a sloppy head kick and Runnisto moves out of range easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Al-Khaldi.
Al-Khaldi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Al-Khaldi misses with a body punch
and Runnisto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Runnisto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Al-Khaldi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Runnisto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Al-Khaldi counters with a thumping low kick.
Runnisto is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Al-Khaldi had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al-Khaldi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Runnisto checks it well.
Runnisto throws the left hand but Al-Khaldi avoids the punch easily.
Al-Khaldi throws a head kick but Runnisto moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al-Khaldi scores with a hook.
Runnisto misses with the combination.
Al-Khaldi is looking to counter punch.
Runnisto looks to score with a jab to the body but Al-Khaldi is just out of range.
Al-Khaldi throws a leg kick but Runnisto sees it coming and moves out of range.
Al-Khaldi scores with a jab. Runnisto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Runnisto throws a nice looking combination but Al-Khaldi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Al-Khaldi tries a low kick but Runnisto avoids it.
Runnisto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Runnisto throws a lazy right hand but Al-Khaldi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Runnisto misses with a straight left.
Runnisto throws a series of punches but Al-Khaldi avoids them all with ease.
An attempted straight right counter from Al-Khaldi misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice straight punches there by Al-Khaldi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto jabs Al-Khaldi right on the nose. Al-Khaldi blinks but takes it well.
Runnisto staying out of range there.
Runnisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Al-Khaldi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Iikka Runnisto will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Al-Khaldi tries to bum rush Runnisto with a series of wild strikes but Runnisto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Al-Khaldi throws a body punch but Runnisto moves out of range.
Runnisto digs a good body shot into Al-Khaldi's ribs.
Runnisto misses with a looping right.
Al-Khaldi is looking to counter the offense by Runnisto and move into the clinch.
Al-Khaldi throws a head kick that misses.
A nice side step and Runnisto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Al-Khaldi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Runnisto moves out of range as Al-Khaldi throws a body kick.
Runnisto misses with a lunging right hand
and Al-Khaldi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Al-Khaldi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Iikka Runnisto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al-Khaldi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Al-Khaldi staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al-Khaldi feints and then cracks Runnisto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Runnisto down.
Runnisto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Al-Khaldi slips a straight right by Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi throws a hook to the side of Runnisto's head but Runnisto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Al-Khaldi defending well as Runnisto loads up on a big left hand.
Runnisto jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runnisto throws a nice looking combination but Al-Khaldi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Al-Khaldi 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.
Al-Khaldi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al-Khaldi misses with a wild combination.
A big right from Runnisto misses.
Runnisto looks to score with a jab to the body but Al-Khaldi is just out of range.
Al-Khaldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Runnisto on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Al-Khaldi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Al-Khaldi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Runnisto manages to avoid it.
Runnisto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Malik Al-Khaldi has been cut.
Runnisto misses with a looping right.
Al-Khaldi is looking to counter with head kicks.
Al-Khaldi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Al-Khaldi misses the shot to the body.
Runnisto loads up on a big right hand but Al-Khaldi slips the punch.
Runnisto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Al-Khaldi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto just misses with a punch to the body.
Runnisto just misses with a punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Runnisto cracks Al-Khaldi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Al-Khaldi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Runnisto lands a body shot in the clinch.
Runnisto stalling in the clinch but Al-Khaldi improves position.
Runnisto softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Runnisto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Al-Khaldi backwards.
Al-Khaldi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Al-Khaldi lands with a right to the head.
Runnisto throws a head punch that misses.
Al-Khaldi scores with a shoulder strike.
Runnisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Runnisto.
A head punch on the inside from Al-Khaldi fails to land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al-Khaldi lands a shot to the body.
Al-Khaldi gets through Runnisto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Runnisto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Runnisto prevents a body shot from Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al-Khaldi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Runnisto is trying to break the clinch but Al-Khaldi is controlling him.
Al-Khaldi gets through Runnisto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Runnisto lands with a light punch inside.
Runnisto lands a hook to the side of the head.
Runnisto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Al-Khaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Runnisto can't find room to land a body shot as Al-Khaldi controls the action.
Al-Khaldi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Runnisto backwards.
Al-Khaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Runnisto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Al-Khaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Al-Khaldi misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Runnisto breaks the clinch.
Runnisto moves out of range of the body kick.
Al-Khaldi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al-Khaldi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Runnisto takes a swing at Al-Khaldi's ribcage but misses.
Al-Khaldi staying out of range there.
Runnisto misses with a leg kick
and Al-Khaldi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Al-Khaldi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Al-Khaldi lands a head kick. Runnisto smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A thudding body kick lands there by Al-Khaldi!
A jab from Al-Khaldi misses.
Al-Khaldi misses with a leg kick.
Runnisto is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Al-Khaldi with a body shot.
Al-Khaldi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Al-Khaldi wants to slow Runnisto down by chopping away at his legs.
Al-Khaldi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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 Malik Al-Khaldi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malik Al-Khaldi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Runnisto scores with a jab. Al-Khaldi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Runnisto gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Runnisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Runnisto getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Al-Khaldi dodges the punch combination from Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Runnisto misses the jab.
Al-Khaldi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Runnisto looks to land a right hand but Al-Khaldi moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al-Khaldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Al-Khaldi jabs Runnisto right on the nose. Runnisto blinks but takes it well.
A jab from Runnisto misses.
Al-Khaldi throws a leg kick but Runnisto sees it coming and moves out of range.
Runnisto tests Al-Khaldi's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Runnisto.
Runnisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Al-Khaldi.
Al-Khaldi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Al-Khaldi looks to land a left hand but Runnisto moved out of range nicely.
Iikka Runnisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Runnisto scores with a nice right hand.
Al-Khaldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Runnisto is looking to score with low kicks.
Al-Khaldi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Runnisto.
Runnisto looks to score with a jab to the body but Al-Khaldi is just out of range.
Al-Khaldi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Al-Khaldi thumps Runnisto with a low kick.
Runnisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Al-Khaldi.
Runnisto throws a right hand that misses
and Al-Khaldi counters with a leg kick.
Runnisto digs a good body shot into Al-Khaldi's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto just misses with a punch to the body.
Al-Khaldi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Al-Khaldi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Runnisto throws a hook but Al-Khaldi blocks it.
An inside leg kick from Al-Khaldi misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al-Khaldi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Runnisto.
Runnisto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al-Khaldi blocks a jab.
Runnisto's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Runnisto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Al-Khaldi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Runnisto scrambles back to his feet.
Al-Khaldi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Al-Khaldi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Al-Khaldi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sloppy strikes from Runnisto. Those never looked like landing.
Al-Khaldi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Runnisto checks it well.
Al-Khaldi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Runnisto. Runnisto circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto takes a swing at Al-Khaldi's ribcage but misses.
Runnisto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Al-Khaldi. Al-Khaldi obviously looking to wear him down.
Runnisto takes one on the button.
Runnisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Al-Khaldi lands with an overhand left.
Al-Khaldi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
Runnisto scores with a nice right hand.
Runnisto digs a good body shot into Al-Khaldi's ribs.
Al-Khaldi lands a body shot.
Runnisto looks to land a right hand but Al-Khaldi moved out of range.
Al-Khaldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Al-Khaldi misses with a body shot.
Al-Khaldi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Runnisto.
Al-Khaldi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Runnisto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Al-Khaldi. Al-Khaldi obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto scores with a hook to the body. Al-Khaldi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al-Khaldi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Runnisto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Runnisto digs a good body shot into Al-Khaldi's ribs.
Runnisto throws a big shot that misses.
Al-Khaldi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Al-Khaldi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Al-Khaldi scores with a leg kick.
Runnisto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Runnisto throws an overhand right that lands on Al-Khaldi's shoulder, as Al-Khaldi tries to avoid the shot.
Al-Khaldi scores with a decent looking hook.
Al-Khaldi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Runnisto.
Runnisto throws a looping overhand right but Al-Khaldi ducks down to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iikka Runnisto.
I think Runnisto 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Iikka Runnisto!