PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Sturmberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauno Rauhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rauhala is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kreator, Impossible Brutality. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Sturmberg
vs
Rauhala

190 cm
23
240 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
280 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Sturmberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rauno Rauhala!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rauhala fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sturmberg, pushing him back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sturmberg just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rauhala's brow.
Rauhala drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sturmberg pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sturmberg misses with a takedown attempt - Rauhala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Rauhala gets a takedown into half guard.
Sturmberg wants to get back to his feet.

Sturmberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rauhala looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sturmberg flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Rauhala is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sturmberg throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rauhala stalling.

Sturmberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sturmberg changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rauhala looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rauhala trying his best to control but Sturmberg has mounted him.
Rauhala is working to get back to half guard.
Sturmberg thowing shots but they're missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sturmberg working for a guillotine from mount but Rauhala is in no mood to give up.
Rauhala is desperately trying to improve his position but Sturmberg has a good base and remains in mount.

Sturmberg stands up from mount. Strange move.

Rauhala scores with a takedown into Sturmberg's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sturmberg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rauhala is aware though and is defending well.

Sturmberg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rauhala is aware though and is defending well.
Sturmberg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sturmberg looking for subs off his back but Rauhala has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sturmberg is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rauhala looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sturmberg tries to roll over but Rauhala keeps him under control.
Sturmberg wants to get back to his feet.
Rauhala slips a nice elbow through Sturmberg's hands, connecting with Sturmberg's forehead.

Sturmberg actively working from the bottom here.

Sturmberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sturmberg on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Well, if Rauhala is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sturmberg is looking to control Rauhala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sturmberg avoid being mounted?
Rauhala is taking a breather. Sturmberg says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sturmberg tries to get to full guard but Rauhala has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Rauhala dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rauhala shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rauhala showed some decent athleticism there.

Sturmberg with the active half guard here but Rauhala passes nicely into side control.
The referee asks Rauhala politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rauhala prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sturmberg prevents Rauhala from improving position.
Sturmberg throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rauhala stands up.
Nice sprawl there from Rauhala as Sturmberg shoots in.

Rauhala pushes Sturmberg up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sturmberg.
Sturmberg tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rauhala on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sturmberg tries to pull guard but Rauhala won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sturmberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rauhala lands a body shot.
Sturmberg fails to pull guard.
Rauhala drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sturmberg pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sturmberg is looking to clinch.
Rauhala wants to clinch up but Sturmberg keeps it at a distance.

Rauhala closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturmberg is trying to get back to half guard.
Sturmberg wants to get back to his feet but Rauhala drags him back down.
Sturmberg tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rauhala wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sturmberg pushes Rauhala away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rauhala gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rauhala controls the position.
Sturmberg is looking for a sweep.
Rauhala controls the position.
Rauhala is breathing heavily.
Rauhala tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sturmberg shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rauhala defends it nicely.
Sturmberg closes the distance and clinches up with Rauhala, looking for a takedown. Sturmberg pushes Rauhala against the cage but Rauhala circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala misses with a takedown attempt

and Sturmberg counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sturmberg.
Rauhala is trying to break free.
Sturmberg tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rauhala just stands there and leans against the cage.

Sturmberg pulls Rauhala into guard.
Sturmberg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sturmberg wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rauhala is now in half guard.

Sturmberg looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sturmberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Rauhala seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sturmberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rauhala with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Sturmberg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rauhala pulls his head out easily.
Rauhala performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sturmberg tries to kick Rauhala off but Rauhala keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauno Rauhala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sturmberg is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rauhala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rauhala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sturmberg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sturmberg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rauhala tries to score a body lock takedown but Sturmberg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sturmberg.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sturmberg.
Sturmberg tries to pull guard but Rauhala won't allow it.
Rauhala blocks an elbow strike from Sturmberg.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rauhala takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sturmberg pushes off an throws an elbow but Rauhala leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rauhala.
Sturmberg misses with a knee to the head.
Sturmberg trying to land knees to the body.
Sturmberg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sturmberg jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rauhala walks away with a smile on his face. Sturmberg gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sturmberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rauhala pushes Sturmberg up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturmberg misses with an elbow over the top.

Rauhala turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sturmberg struggling a bit here.
Sturmberg tries to escape but Rauhala is in control.
A lull in the action here.
Let's hope that Rauhala has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sturmberg tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturmberg is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rauhala is controlling him well.
You can see the frustration on Sturmberg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rauhala fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sturmberg sprawls well initially but Rauhala persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rauhala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sturmberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rauhala is working away from the top position though.
Sturmberg wants to stand back up but Rauhala manages to pass into side control.
Sturmberg is looking to reverse the position.
Sturmberg can't do much from the bottom here.
Rauhala controlling the position from side mount.
Rauhala prevents Sturmberg from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sturmberg wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Sturmberg is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rauhala's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Sturmberg looking for submissions off his back.
Rauhala not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rauhala moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Sturmberg.
Rauhala prevents Sturmberg from escaping the position.
Rauhala controls the position from side control.
Sturmberg can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rauno Rauhala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rauhala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Rauno Rauhala!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Rauno Rauhala!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Rauno Rauhala!

Rauno Rauhala wins by unanimous decision!