PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Iikka Runnisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timbo Tinder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Runnisto
vs
Tinder

182 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Runnisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timbo Tinder!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Runnisto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tinder finds it's way round the side to connect with Runnisto's head.
Runnisto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tinder.
Runnisto is looking to counter punch.
Runnisto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tinder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tinder connects with a jab.
Tinder has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Runnisto is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Tinder slips under a jab from Runnisto.
Runnisto misses with a hook
and Tinder counters with a nice body shot.
Tinder throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tinder.
Tinder lands with a kick to the ribs.
Runnisto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tinder throws a right and a left that both miss.
Runnisto throwing a counter right hand but Tinder manages to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tinder uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Runnisto.
Runnisto staying out of range there.
Runnisto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Runnisto throws a shot from downtown. Tinder moves away and avoids it.
Runnisto dodges the punch combination from Tinder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tinder misses with a two punch combination.
Runnisto throws out a loose jab but Tinder uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tinder throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Runnisto jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Timbo Tinder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tinder walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tinder takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tinder works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tinder misses with a body shot.
Tinder takes a swing at Runnisto's ribcage but misses.
Tinder fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Runnisto manages to avoid it.
Tinder looks to land a combination but Runnisto avoids it well.
It looked like Runnisto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Runnisto moves out of range of the strikes.
Runnisto misses with a double jab
and Tinder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Tinder to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Runnisto. That snapped Tinder's head back.
Runnisto throws a hook but Tinder blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tinder.
Timbo Tinder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Runnisto misses with a takedown
and Tinder counters with a left and a right that stings Runnisto.
Runnisto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tinder.
Tinder misses with the combination.
Tinder scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tinder misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Runnisto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tinder's hands.
Tinder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tinder takes one on the button.
Runnisto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Runnisto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tinder tries to bum rush Runnisto with a series of wild strikes but Runnisto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tinder misses the shot to the body.
Tinder falls off balance throwing a combination
and Runnisto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Runnisto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Runnisto shoots in for a double leg but Tinder sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tinder appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Runnisto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tinder throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Runnisto. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Runnisto.
Runnisto throws an off balance right hand
and Tinder counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Runnisto throws a right hand that misses
and Tinder counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tinder tests Runnisto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Runnisto misses with a wild body shot.
Runnisto throws a jab when Tinder was well out of range.
Tinder misses with a wild body shot.
Runnisto misses with a shot to the body
and Tinder counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Runnisto misses with a looping right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tinder throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Runnisto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Runnisto misses with a looping left.
A big left from Runnisto misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timbo Tinder dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Runnisto misses with a lunging right hand
and Tinder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Runnisto scores with a three punch combo!
Runnisto is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Tinder bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Runnisto's head.
Runnisto fails with the takedown
and Tinder counters with a stiff right hand.
Tinder ducks under a wild hook from Runnisto.
Runnisto lands a slapping body shot.
Tinder avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A punch combination from Tinder misses.
Tinder is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Runnisto scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Tinder finds it's way through Runnisto's defenses.
Tinder does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tinder stuffs the takedown.
Runnisto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tinder cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tinder lands an overhand right.
Timbo Tinder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tinder uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Runnisto.
Tinder slips a straight right by Runnisto.
Runnisto throws out a loose jab but Tinder uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tinder doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Runnisto fails to land with a series of punches.
Tinder swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Runnisto takes a kick to the side of the head.
Runnisto lands a nice looking body shot.
Tinder ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tinder slips under a jab from Runnisto.
The fighters circling - Runnisto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Runnisto might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Tinder stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tinder wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iikka Runnisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Runnisto 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice shot by Tinder.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tinder throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Runnisto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tinder.
Runnisto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Runnisto misses with a straight right.
Runnisto throws a jab when Tinder was well out of range.
Tinder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
Runnisto scores with a nice head shot.
Runnisto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tinder uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Runnisto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Runnisto misses the target.
Runnisto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tinder at a distance.
Runnisto throws an off balance right hand
and Tinder counters with a right hand to the body.
Runnisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tinder.
Tinder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Runnisto.
Tinder thumps Runnisto with a low kick.
Runnisto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tinder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Runnisto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tinder.
Tinder is breathing heavily.
Runnisto throws a body punch but Tinder moves out of range.
Tinder blocks a jab.
Runnisto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tinder throws a counter combo.
Runnisto lands with a hook. Tinder tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Runnisto duly obliges.
Timbo Tinder seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Runnisto cracks Tinder with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Runnisto throws an overhand right that lands on Tinder's shoulder, as Tinder tries to avoid the shot.
Tinder avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Runnisto blocks a jab.
Runnisto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A nice combination there by Tinder.
Tinder connects with a single shot there.
Runnisto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Runnisto misses with an uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tinder.
Tinder moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Iikka Runnisto will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tinder lets loose with a powerful body kick. Runnisto will feel that in the morning.
Tinder moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tinder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
Runnisto misses with a hook
and Tinder counters with a straight right hand.
Runnisto misses with a few strikes there.
Tinder slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Runnisto misses with an uppercut.
Runnisto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tinder.
Tinder slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runnisto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Tinder to counter with a crisp jab.
Runnisto jabs Tinder to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tinder stuffs the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tinder falls off balance throwing a combination

and Runnisto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tinder is trying to stand back up but Runnisto is controlling him
Tinder is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Runnisto is working for a kimura but Tinder is defending it quite comfortably.
Runnisto trying to control from Tinder's half guard. Tinder has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Runnisto throws a strike but Tinder rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tinder trying to control the position from guard on top but Runnisto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Runnisto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tinder's guard.

Runnisto throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tinder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Runnisto.
Runnisto throws a strike but Tinder rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Runnisto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tinder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tinder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Runnisto trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tinder trying to control but Runnisto is working from the bottom.

Runnisto is looking for a triangle but Tinder pushes his legs off easily.

Runnisto looking for a guillotine here but Tinder defends easily.
Tinder wants to control from the top but Runnisto keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Runnisto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tinder manages to get himself to full guard.

Runnisto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tinder utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Runnisto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Timbo Tinder.
I think Tinder has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Iikka Runnisto!
Iikka Runnisto seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.