PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Iikka Runnisto (ranked 4110 p4p, 2710 weight class) and Moe Lester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Runnisto comes to the cage accompanied by Alta Pois - Sie sua näkköös!. 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?

Runnisto
vs
Lester

182 cm
40
192
36 - 18 - 2

190 cm
37
195
17 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 36 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Runnisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Moe Lester!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Runnisto scores with a jab.
Runnisto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lester connects with a right hand. Runnisto shakes it off.
Lester has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Runnisto connects with a looping right hand.

Runnisto gets tackled into the cage by Lester. Lester maintains the clinch.
Lester misses with a body punch.
Lester misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Runnisto lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lester backwards.
Runnisto lands a body shot.
Runnisto misses with the head strike.
Lester blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Runnisto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lester backwards.
Lester taking a breather.
Runnisto misses with some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Runnisto lands a left hand.
Lester blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Runnisto pushes Lester back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Runnisto works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lester lands with a right to the head.
Runnisto misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Runnisto breaks from the clinch.
Runnisto takes a swing at Lester's ribcage but misses.
Lester throws a series of punches but Runnisto avoids them all with ease.
A quick step to the side and Runnisto tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Runnisto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Runnisto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lester, as that shot connected.
Runnisto feints a jab promting Lester to slip. Runnisto then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lester slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Moe Lester has been cut.
Lester tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Runnisto was well out of range. Poor timing from Lester.
Lester misses with a two punch combination.
Runnisto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lester avoids the body shot from Runnisto.
Runnisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lester.
Lester misses the body punch
and Runnisto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lester tries to clinch there but Runnisto circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lester blocks a head kick by Runnisto.
Lester tries to clinch but Runnisto moves out of range.
Lester throws the left hand but Runnisto avoids the punch easily.
Runnisto was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Runnisto is looking to wear down Lester with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Runnisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A lazy left from Runnisto finds it's target.
Lester checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Runnisto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lester is able to avoid easily.
Lester defending well as Runnisto loads up on a big left hand.

Lester rushes Runnisto and presses him up against the cage.
Lester tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lester misses with a punch to the body.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Lester swings wildly with an uppercut but Runnisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Runnisto lands a nice uppercut.
Runnisto throws a punch but it's blocked by Lester.
Runnisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Runnisto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Runnisto working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lester misses with a hook to the ribs.
Runnisto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Runnisto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lester.
Runnisto blocks an uppercut.
Runnisto gets through Lester's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lester is looking to control Runnisto's arms but Runnisto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lester has his back to the cage.
Lester throws a head punch that misses.
Runnisto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Lester tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Runnisto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lester lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lester throws a punch but it's blocked by Runnisto.
Lester lands a shoulder strike.
Runnisto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lester tries to throw a body punch but Runnisto avoids it by throwing Lester back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Runnisto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Runnisto.
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!
Runnisto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Runnisto misses with a punch to the body.
Lester displaying some good clinch control by pressing Runnisto up against the cage.
Runnisto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Runnisto scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lester lands a hook to the side of the head.
Runnisto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lester tries to throw a body punch but Runnisto avoids it by throwing Lester back against the cage.
Runnisto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Runnisto struggles to land a body shot inside as Lester controls his hands.
Runnisto scores with a shoulder strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Iikka Runnisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Moe Lester's cut.
That's time! Runnisto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Runnisto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lester looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Runnisto takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lester rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Runnisto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Runnisto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lester.
A counter left hand to the body from Runnisto misses its target.
Iikka Runnisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circle momentarily. Runnisto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lester tries to bum rush Runnisto with a series of wild strikes but Runnisto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Runnisto throws a big shot that misses.
Runnisto throws an overhand right that lands on Lester's shoulder, as Lester tries to avoid the shot.
Lester tries to clinch there but Runnisto circles away.
Runnisto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Runnisto walks into a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runnisto ducks under a wild hook from Lester.
Lester misses with a hook.
Runnisto dips to his left and cracks Lester with an uppercut!
Lester ducks under a wild hook from Runnisto.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Runnisto feints and then cracks Lester's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lester down.
Runnisto misses with a wild combination.
Lester looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Runnisto - just one landing.
Runnisto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Runnisto throws a wild body kick that Lester sees coming a mile off.
Runnisto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lester is looking to clinch but Runnisto is avoiding it.
Runnisto throws a leg kick but Lester moved away.
Lester throws a hook but Runnisto avoids it easily.
Runnisto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Iikka Runnisto is winning the standup battle so far.
Runnisto misses with an uppercut. Lester saw that one coming.
Lester let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Lester throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Runnisto.
Runnisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Runnisto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lester under the eye.
Runnisto walks into a jab.
Runnisto thuds a left hand into Lester's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lester takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Runnisto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lester can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lester takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Runnisto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lester works the jab nicely.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch but Runnisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Runnisto tries to keep at a distance but Lester has taken the fight into the clinch.
Runnisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Runnisto misses with a body punch.
Runnisto misses with a punch on the inside.
Runnisto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lester tries to stall but Runnisto uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Runnisto can't find room to land a body shot as Lester controls the action.
Runnisto misses with a body punch.
Lester struggles to land a body shot inside as Runnisto controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Runnisto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Lester misses.
Runnisto appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Runnisto looks to land a combination. Lester sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Runnisto lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Good standup being displayed there by Runnisto as he connects with a hook.
Runnisto looks to score with a jab to the body but Lester is just out of range.
Lester doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Lester just misses with a punch to the body.
Runnisto tries to clinch up.
Runnisto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lester feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Runnistos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lester lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch but Runnisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lester blocks a jab.
Lester tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lester takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lester misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Runnisto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lester throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Runnisto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lester tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Runnisto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lester uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Runnisto has time to react.
Runnisto fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lester on the side of the head.
Lester misses with a looping left.
Lester scores with a jab to the head.
Lester takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lester uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Runnisto.
Lester moves in looking to clinch but Runnisto pushes him off.
Lester scores with a jab.
Runnisto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lester takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Runnisto throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lester counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lester clinches up against the cage.
Lester tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Runnisto's elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Iikka Runnisto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Moe Lester's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Runnisto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Runnisto looks to land a left hand but Lester moved out of range nicely.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch up but Runnisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lester is looking to clinch but Runnisto is avoiding it.
Runnisto throws a big shot that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lester! But no joy.
Lester throws a big shot that misses.
Runnisto takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lester looks to clinch
and Runnisto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lester throws a sloppy body shot
and Runnisto counters with a stiff right hand.
Runnisto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lester has time to react.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch but Runnisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lester closes the distance and clinches.
Runnisto scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Runnisto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Runnisto digs a right hand underneath Lester's ribcage. Lester let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Runnisto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Runnisto.
Lester lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Runnisto backwards.
Lester tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Runnisto lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lester.
Lester misses with a short punch on the inside.
Runnisto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lester's elbow.
Runnisto prevents a body shot from Lester.
A right handed body shot lands from Runnisto.
Lester misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Runnisto.
Lester tries to throw a body punch but Runnisto avoids it by throwing Lester back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lester.
Nice body punch from Runnisto.
A nice right hand lands inside from Runnisto.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Runnisto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Runnisto breaks from the clinch.
Lester tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Runnisto was well out of range. Poor timing from Lester.
Moe Lester has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto throws a leg kick which misses Lester's front leg but catches the back leg as Lester tries to avoid it.
Runnisto throws a push kick but Lester slaps the foot to one side.
Lester swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Runnisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lester punishes Runnisto's body with a nice straight punch.
Runnisto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lester moves away.
Runnisto connects with an inside leg kick.

Lester has managed to clinch.
Lester lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Runnisto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Runnisto lands a body punch.
Runnisto blocking some punches.
Lester goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Runnisto.
Iikka Runnisto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lester takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lester's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Runnisto misses with a punch to the body.
Runnisto blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Runnisto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lester can't find room to land a body shot as Runnisto controls the action.
Lester tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Runnisto's elbow.
Iikka Runnisto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Runnisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Runnisto lands with a right to the head.
Lester lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Runnisto presses Lester against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Runnisto.
Lester doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lester misses with some punches.
Runnisto is working Lester over against the cage.
Runnisto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Runnisto stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Runnisto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lester backwards.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Lester misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short left from Runnisto.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Runnisto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Runnisto gets through Lester's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lester has a couple of punches blocked by Runnisto.
Good body shot from Runnisto.

Runnisto breaks the clinch.
Runnisto connects with a right hand. Lester shakes it off.
Runnisto with a nice cross.
Lester misses the jab.
Runnisto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lester wants to clinch up but Runnisto keeps it at a distance.
A shot to the body from Lester misses
letting Runnisto counter with a right hand.
Runnisto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lester moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Runnisto lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iikka Runnisto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Runnisto 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

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