PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Talvela (ranked 50 p4p, 126 weight class) and Reino Ruttu (ranked 6 p4p, 20 weight class). Talvela comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Talvela
vs
Ruttu

178 cm
32
175
25 - 11 - 0

182 cm
29
177
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paavo Talvela!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reino Ruttu!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talvela just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruttu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Talvela fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ruttu on the side of the head.
Reino Ruttu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruttu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Talvela.
Ruttu feints and then cracks Talvela's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Talvela down.
Ruttu misses with a straight right.
It looked like Talvela wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ruttu throws a big shot that misses.
Ruttu 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.
Ruttu pivots, looking for a leg kick but Talvela is out of range and Ruttu settles back down.
Talvela has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Heavy Metal in the buildup to the fight.

Talvela throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ruttu was covering up waiting for the punch and Talvela finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruttu wants to stand and escape but Talvela is having none of it.
Talvela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Talvela trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruttu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruttu 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ruttu can do anything to dispel that myth.
Talvela trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruttu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Talvela in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Talvela trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Talvela postures up in Ruttu's guard and throws a big left but Ruttu blocks it.
Talvela wants to pass the guard but Ruttu is keeping the position.
Ruttu wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Talvela's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruttu keeping moving, preventing Talvela from controlling successfully.
Ruttu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Talvela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Talvela is fighting to break Ruttu's control of his arms but Ruttu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ruttu working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ruttu on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ruttu scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruttu loads up on a big right hand but Talvela slips the punch.
Talvela swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
An inside leg kick lands from Ruttu.
Talvela buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ruttu throws a jab but it's blocked by Talvela.
Talvela drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ruttu sprawls and moves away.
Ruttu throws a hook but Talvela blocks it.
Talvela looks to land a left hand but Ruttu moved out of range nicely.
Ruttu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruttu moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Talvela.
Talvela tries to land a front kick but Ruttu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Talvela slips a jab from Ruttu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruttu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Talvela missing with a left hand there. Ruttu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ruttu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ruttu throws a jab but it's blocked by Talvela.
Ruttu lands a jab.
Ruttu defending well as Talvela loads up on a big left hand.
Ruttu scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Talvela scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ruttu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ruttu with a hook.
Ruttu throws a poor cross that misses
and Talvela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Talvela scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Talvela takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ruttu misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Talvela to counter with a crisp jab.
Ruttu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruttu feints and then cracks Talvela's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Talvela down.
Ruttu ducks under a wild hook from Talvela.
Talvela slips under a jab.
Ruttu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ruttu was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Talvela shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ruttu eats them both and turns towards Talvela to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Talvela is looking to land body kicks.
Ruttu slaps away a takedown attempt from Talvela, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruttu throws a hook to the side of Talvela's head but Talvela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ruttu throws a jab but it's blocked by Talvela.
Talvela looks to throw the jab but Ruttu is out of range.
Reino Ruttu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Talvela lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Talvela.
Talvela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ruttu.
It looked like Talvela wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ruttu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ruttu throws a leg kick but Talvela checks it.
Talvela checks the leg kick nicely there.
The crowd cheers as Talvela lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ruttu doesn't seem phased though.
Talvela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruttu can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Talvela. Those never looked like landing.
Talvela looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruttu is just out of range.
Ruttu appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ruttu fakes the leg kick and cracks Talvela in the body.
Ruttu lunges at Talvela with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Talvela's hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruttu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Talvela.
Ruttu blocks a leg kick.
Talvela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ruttu.
Talvela walks into a jab.
Ruttu cracks Talvela with a right hand to the side of the head.
Talvela throws a jab when Ruttu was well out of range.
Ruttu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruttu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Talvela misses with a hook
and Ruttu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Talvela takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ruttu throws a leg kick that misses.
Ruttu throws a leg kick but Talvela sees it coming and moves out of range.
Talvela avoids the head kick by Ruttu.
Talvela rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ruttu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ruttu cracks Talvela with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ruttu misses with an uppercut.
Ruttu throws a body kick that misses
and Talvela counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ruttu's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruttu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Talvela slips under a jab.
Talvela appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Talvela shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ruttu eats them both and turns towards Talvela to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Talvela slips under a jab from Ruttu.
Ruttu scores with the left hand. Talvela knows he should have avoided that one.
Talvela throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruttu.
Talvela throws a quick inside leg kick.
Talvela misses the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Reino Ruttu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Talvela throws a jab when Ruttu was well out of range.
Talvela throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ruttu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Talvela walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ruttu.
Talvela shoots and misses
and Ruttu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ruttu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Talvela. That did some damage!
A big right from Ruttu misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Ruttu misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruttu. Ruttu obviously looking to wear him down.
Talvela catches Ruttu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ruttu cracks Talvela with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A slow jab from Talvela misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruttu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A lazy left from Ruttu finds it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Talvela checks a leg kick.
Talvela drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ruttu sprawls and moves away.
Ruttu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Talvela.
Ruttu feints and then cracks Talvela's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Talvela down.
Ruttu tried to score with a low kick but Talvela checks it.
Ruttu throws a hook to the side of Talvela's head but Talvela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Talvela shoots in for a takedown but Ruttu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Talvela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Ruttu misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talvela tries to move into range but Ruttu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A jab from Ruttu does it's job there.
Ruttu thumps Talvela with a low kick.
Ruttu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ruttu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruttu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ruttu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Talvela half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ruttu connects with a jab.
Ruttu lands a head shot.
An inside leg kick from Talvela misses.
Ruttu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ruttu throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela fails with the takedown
enabling Ruttu to counter with a crisp jab.
Talvela moves out of range as Ruttu strikes.
Ruttu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ruttu throws a body kick that misses.
Talvela goes for a double leg but Ruttu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ruttu continues to drive forward.
Ruttu is trying to force a seperation but Talvela has the dominant position.
Talvela goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ruttu prevents it.
Ruttu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Talvela.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruttu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Talvela backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ruttu.
Talvela is working for takedown but Ruttu is calmly controlling the position for now.
Talvela's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ruttu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ruttu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ruttu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Ruttu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Talvela throws a shot from downtown. Ruttu moves away and avoids it.

Ruttu feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Talvela sprawling to the canvas! Talvela rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Ruttu finish him?!

Talvela is rocked!
Talvela is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ruttu. That's going to slow Talvela down.
Oh Talvela is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ruttu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ruttu delivers a nice body kick.
Talvela sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Reino Ruttu seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ruttu cracks Talvela with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Ruttu has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Talvela to stand back up!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Ruttu really dominated that round.
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.

Talvela leaves his chin hanging out and Ruttu seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Talvela crumbles to the floor in a heap, and the referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Reino Ruttu!
Reino Ruttu is the new welterweight champion!
Reino Ruttu thanked the fans post fight for their support.