PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wesley Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armas Ruutana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gattuso comes to the cage accompanied by doo doo doo. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gattuso
vs
Ruutana

170 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wesley Gattuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Armas Ruutana!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gattuso lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ruutana takes a step back to recover.
Gattuso misses with a wild body shot.
Gattuso misses with an attempted mid kick.

Gattuso drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ruutana is looking for a triangle but Gattuso pushes his legs off easily.
Gattuso would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gattuso gets to his feet - Ruutana follows without any prompting.
Gattuso avoids a kick to the body.
Gattuso looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gattuso looks for a takedown but Ruutana sprawls well.
Gattuso swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ruutana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso throws a sloppy head kick and Ruutana moves out of range easily.

Gattuso drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ruutana is looking to regain half guard here but Gattuso keeps moving and retains side control.
Ruutana manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ruutana trying to control here.

Ruutana looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ruutana looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ruutana is looking to improve his position.
Ruutana looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ruutana keeps the fight on the outside.
Ruutana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gattuso walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ruutana checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gattuso throws a sloppy head kick
and Ruutana counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gattuso rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruutana moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gattuso throws a sloppy head kick

so Ruutana counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ruutana postures up in Gattuso's guard and throws a big left but Gattuso blocks it.
Gattuso wants to stand and escape but Ruutana is having none of it.
Ruutana is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutana postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gattuso is trying to keep Ruutana in close.

Gattuso working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruutana doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruutana manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruutana stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gattuso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruutana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Ruutana drops back looking for a leg! Gattuso is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gattuso manages to kick Ruutana off! Ruutana jumps back into Gattuso's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gattuso wants to sweep but no luck.
Gattuso trying to keep a closed guard but Ruutana is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gattuso doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruutana counters with a big head kick but Gattuso shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wesley Gattuso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gattuso has his takedown stuffed

and Ruutana moves into the clinch.
Ruutana lands a shot to the body.
Gattuso prevents Ruutana from breaking the clinch.
Gattuso blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Armas Ruutana will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ruutana has Gattuso up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruutana wants to break free but Gattuso has control.
Ruutana tries to land a knee to the head but Gattuso blocks with his arms.
Ruutana prevents Gattuso from breaking the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ruutana.

Ruutana manages to break the clinch.

Ruutana gets a clinch.
Ruutana misses with a knee strike.

Ruutana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruutana throws a sloppy head kick and Gattuso moves out of range easily.
Gattuso plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wesley Gattuso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gattuso throws a lazy head kick

and Ruutana counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ruutana.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gattuso breaks from the clinch.
Ruutana throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gattuso's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso throws a lazy head kick
and Ruutana counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ruutana looks to clinch

and Gattuso counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ruutana won't be happy with that.
Gattuso is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Gattuso stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A low kick from Gattuso is predictable there
and Ruutana cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gattuso gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ruutana counters with a head kick. That will keep Gattuso thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ruutana wants to clinch
and Gattuso counters with a nice body shot.
Ruutana shoots in for a double leg but Gattuso sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Gattuso. No joy for Ruutana on that attempt.
Gattuso lands a head kick. Ruutana smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gattuso misses with a double jab
and Ruutana counters with a thumping low kick.

Ruutana closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Gattuso pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gattuso preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Gattuso is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ruutana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gattuso is keeping the position for now.
Ruutana pushing down on Gattuso's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gattuso makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ruutana tries to close the distance and clinch but Gattuso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ruutana attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Gattuso clinches up with Ruutana and pushes him back against the cage.
Gattuso is pushing Ruutana up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Ruutana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruutana looks to clinch
and Gattuso counters with a big head kick but Ruutana shrugs it off.
Ruutana moves in looking to clinch but Gattuso pushes him off.
Ruutana lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ruutana tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruutana avoids the head kick by Gattuso.
Gattuso darts in trying to clinch
and Ruutana counters with a nice uppercut.
Ruutana wants to clinch.
Gattuso tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruutana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ruutana swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gattuso counters by clinching up.

Ruutana breaks the clinch.
Wesley Gattuso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gattuso moves into the clinch successfully.
Gattuso tries to break the clinch but Ruutana is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Gattuso dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ruutana lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gattuso backs up against the cage.
Ruutana blocks a head kick by Gattuso.
Gattuso doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruutana circles away.
Ruutana avoids the head kick by Gattuso.
Ruutana tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gattuso counters with a big head kick but Ruutana shrugs it off.
Ruutana closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gattuso counters with a straight right hand.
Ruutana throws a head kick that half lands.
A punch combination from Gattuso misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gattuso!
A head kick by Gattuso misses

and Ruutana moves into the clinch.
Ruutana trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruutana tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Ruutana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gattuso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ruutana shoots for a takedown but Gattuso saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gattuso closes the distance and clinches.
Ruutana struggles to land a body shot inside as Gattuso controls his hands.
Gattuso keeps control of Ruutana as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ruutana avoiding damage.
Ruutana can't find room to land a body shot as Gattuso controls the action.
Ruutana looking to stall.
Ruutana gets underhooks to prevent Gattuso's takedown attempt.
Gattuso tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two 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.
Gattuso jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruutana walks away with a smile on his face. Gattuso gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wesley Gattuso. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gattuso fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruutana, pushing him back against the cage.
Ruutana fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gattuso is trying to break free.
Ruutana wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gattuso has him pressed against the cage.
Ruutana is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Ruutana fails to land.
Ruutana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gattuso blocks a body shot from Ruutana.

Gattuso manages to break the clinch.
Ruutana avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gattuso doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruutana counters with a stiff right hand.
Gattuso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutana scores with a leg kick.

Gattuso decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ruutana is trying to get back to full guard.
Gattuso content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gattuso is thwarting Ruutana's attempts to control the position.
Ruutana might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gattuso kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Gattuso decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruutana slips a straight right by Gattuso.
Ruutana darts in trying to clinch
and Gattuso counters with a low kick, right behind Ruutana 's knee.
Gattuso throws a sloppy head kick

and Ruutana counters by clinching up.
Gattuso has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ruutana is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ruutana slows down the pace here.

Ruutana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gattuso is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wesley Gattuso showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gattuso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wesley Gattuso!