PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rampe Rovio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Flashlighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rovio comes to the cage accompanied by Tarja Lunnas - Oi beibi jää. Flashlighter has chosen Ocoai - La Main d'Electrique as his entrance music. 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.

Rovio
vs
Flashlighter

176 cm
30
179 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

181 cm
33
175 lbs
32 - 18 - 2

Great wrestler
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rampe Rovio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Felix Flashlighter!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rovio fails with a takedown attempt.
Rovio lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Flashlighter gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rovio.
Rovio misses the shot to the body.
Flashlighter throws a leg kick but Rovio moved away.
Flashlighter connects with a nice looking jab.
Flashlighter feints and then cracks Rovio's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rovio down.
Flashlighter tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rovio is looking to slow Flashlighter down with leg kicks.
Rovio thows a body shot but no joy.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Flashlighter. Rovio shrugs it off though.
Rovio takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rovio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Flashlighter was well out of range. Poor timing from Rovio.
Flashlighter slips under a jab.
Rovio lands with a nice body punch.
Flashlighter throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovio scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rovio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Flashlighter scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Rovio looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Flashlighter tries to roll over but Rovio keeps him under control.

Rovio seems to be working for a kimura but Flashlighter defends the submission attempt.
Flashlighter is staying active underneath Rovio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rovio is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Flashlighter is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rovio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rovio thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Flashlighter moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Flashlighter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rovio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rovio stands and throws Flashlighter's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rovio misses with the ground and pound.
Rovio throwing strikes but Flashlighter manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Rovio is looking to reverse the position.
Rovio is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Flashlighter's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rovio is pressing down on Flashlighter's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rovio can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Flashlighter controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rovio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rovio seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rovio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Felix Flashlighter wasn't active enough on the ground.
Flashlighter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rovio.
Rovio fails with a takedown attempt.
A lazy body kick from Rovio
and Flashlighter counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Flashlighter feints and then cracks Rovio's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rovio down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rampe Rovio dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Flashlighter loads up on a big right hand but Rovio slips the punch.
Rovio with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rovio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rovio checks a leg kick.
Rovio throws a body kick that misses.
Flashlighter blocks a jab.
Rovio looks to throw the jab but Flashlighter is out of range.
Rovio misses the shot to the body.
Rovio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Flashlighter.
Flashlighter cracks Rovio with a good jab.

Rovio gets a double leg takedown into Flashlighter's guard.
Flashlighter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rovio is one step ahead there.
Rovio with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovio throws a big elbow that misses.
Flashlighter is pulling down on Rovio's head to control his posture.
Rovio trying to control but Flashlighter is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rovio throws a body punch but Flashlighter moves out of range.
Flashlighter connects with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rovio. Flashlighter does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rovio. Flashlighter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Felix Flashlighter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rovio throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Flashlighter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rovio.
Flashlighter takes one to the side of the head.
Flashlighter blocks the body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Flashlighter misses the target.
A jab from Flashlighter finds it's way through Rovio's defenses.
Rovio ducks under a wild hook from Flashlighter.
Flashlighter lands a nice looking body kick.
Flashlighter with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rovio takes a swing at Flashlighter's ribcage but misses.
Flashlighter lands a leg kick that knocks Rovio off balance momentarily.
Rovio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Flashlighter moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rovio. Flashlighter does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flashlighter throws a lazy right hand but Rovio sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Flashlighter rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rovio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Flashlighter misses.
Rovio misses with a head kick.
Rovio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Flashlighter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rovio moves away.
Rovio shoots in but Flashlighter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rovio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rovio just misses with a punch to the body.
Flashlighter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Flashlighter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rovio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rampe Rovio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rovio. Flashlighter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Flashlighter misses with an uppercut.
Rovio moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flashlighter on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rovio. Rovio obviously looking to wear him down.
Rovio is looking to wear down Flashlighter with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Flashlighter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rovio.
Flashlighter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rovio.
Rovio throws a leg kick that is checked
and Flashlighter counters with a stiff right hand.
Rovio throws a jab when Flashlighter was well out of range.
Rovio misses with a body shot.
Flashlighter finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rovio walks into a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flashlighter jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rovio tries a head kick but it misses.
Flashlighter jabs Rovio right on the nose. Rovio blinks but takes it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flashlighter buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Flashlighter thows a leg kick but Rovio checks it
and Rovio counters with a straight right hand.
Rovio looks for the body kick but Flashlighter saw that one coming.
Rovio throws a leg kick but Flashlighter sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Felix Flashlighter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rovio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flashlighter moves into range and connects with a jab.
Flashlighter takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rovio throws a right hand that Flashlighter ducks under and follows up with a left that Flashlighter also avoids with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rovio. Flashlighter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rovio misses with a hook
and Flashlighter counters with a nice leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Flashlighter.
Rovio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rovio fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Flashlighter to the ground. Rovio is now in Flashlighter's guard.
Flashlighter keeping full guard, as Rovio tries to pass.
Flashlighter keeping moving, preventing Rovio from controlling successfully.
Flashlighter is controlling Rovio's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovio throws an elbow that misses. Flashlighter uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rovio's guard. Nice move by Flashlighter!
Rovio keeping moving, preventing Flashlighter from controlling successfully.
Rovio wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Felix Flashlighter was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rovio misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rovio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Flashlighter manages to avoid it.
Flashlighter takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rovio thows a body shot but no joy.
Rovio throws a body punch but Flashlighter moves out of range.
Flashlighter swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rovio crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Flashlighter - the referee stops the clock and Rovio gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Flashlighter. Rovio manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rovio digs a good body shot into Flashlighter's ribs.
Rovio fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Flashlighter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rovio connects with a solid leg kick.
Rovio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rovio ducks under a wild hook from Flashlighter.
Rovio moves out of range as Flashlighter throws a body kick.
Felix Flashlighter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rovio swings for the body but Flashlighter moves out of range.
Rovio just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rovio just misses with a punch to the body.
Rovio takes a swing at Flashlighter's ribcage but misses.
Rovio misses with a kick to the body.
Flashlighter connects with a leg kick. Rovio looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Flashlighter lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Flashlighter misses with a low kick as Rovio jumps back.
Rovio shoots in looking for a takedown. Flashlighter tries to sprawl out of it but Rovio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Flashlighter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Flashlighter pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rovio is out of range and Flashlighter settles back down.
Flashlighter lands a jab.
Flashlighter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rovio.
Donk. Flashlighter catches Rovio right on the button with a cross.
Flashlighter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flashlighter is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rovio.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rovio. Flashlighter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Flashlighter throws a good cross that connects.
Rovio tries a head kick but it misses.
Rovio misses with a series of wild punches.
Rovio misses with a leg kick
letting Flashlighter counter with a right hand.
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!
Rovio throws the kick towards the body but Flashlighter avoids it.
Flashlighter scores with a leg kick.
Flashlighter jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rovio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rovio misses with a hook.
Rovio checks a low kick from Flashlighter.

Rovio closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Flashlighter quickly recovers to half guard.
Flashlighter controlling the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rampe Rovio.
I think Rovio 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rampe Rovio!
A relieved looking Rampe Rovio thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.