PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Henke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josip Ruzic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Henke
vs
Ruzic

192 cm
19
198 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
192 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Poweful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Combat Pro Design

Sub Zero - 156Q for $95!!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Henke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Josip Ruzic!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henke connects with a looping right hand.
Ruzic misses with a takedown attempt - Henke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No joy there for Henke, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ruzic misses with a looping left.
Henke lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruzic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henke moves away.
Ruzic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ruzic.
Henke throws a hook but Ruzic avoids it easily.
Henke throws a series of punches but Ruzic moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Henke.
Ruzic shoots in but Henke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruzic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Good work by Ruzic as he checks the leg kick.
Ruzic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henke swivels and escapes.
Tom Henke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josip Ruzic.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ruzic.
Ruzic avoids the head kick by Henke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henke misses the shot to the body.
Tom Henke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Henke throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruzic.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Henke misses with an uppercut. Ruzic saw that one coming.
Henke takes one to the side of the head.
Henke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruzic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henke lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruzic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Henke looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A big right from Ruzic misses.
Ruzic is looking to clinch but Henke is avoiding it.
Ruzic moves out of range as Henke strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henke thuds his shin into the meat of Ruzic's side.
Henke moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Henke 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.

Ruzic throws a leg kick
and Henke makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Henke throws a head kick that misses.
Henke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tom Henke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henke scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Henke throws a big shot that misses.
Henke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henke throws a leg kick that misses.
Good leg kick by Henke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Henke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ruzic throws out the jab.
Ruzic slips a jab from Henke.
Ruzic throws out a leg kick but Henke moves out of range and Ruzic only half commits.
Henke swings away with a body shot that misses

and Ruzic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Henke's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henke trying to keep a closed guard but Ruzic is proving a slippery customer.
Ruzic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Henke's head.
Henke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ruzic wants to control from the top but Henke keeps moving.
Ruzic tries to free his leg and advance position but Henke is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henke keeping moving, preventing Ruzic from controlling successfully.
Henke controlling Ruzic's posture.
Ruzic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruzic with a flurry of punches that miss.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ruzic waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Henke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nice defenses there by Henke.
Henke throws a sloppy head kick
and Henke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Ruzic gets a clinch.
Henke wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruzic won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Henke fails to land.

Henke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henke misses with a few strikes there.
Henke scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ruzic in his tracks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josip Ruzic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ruzic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henke.
Ruzic takes a swing at Henke's ribcage but misses.
Henke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ruzic stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ruzic has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henke throws a head kick that misses
and Ruzic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henke lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Henke. No joy for Ruzic on that attempt.
Ruzic tries for a takedown but Henke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tom Henke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josip Ruzic.
Henke misses with an uppercut. Ruzic saw that one coming.
Henke throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ruzic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henke throws a lazy right hand but Ruzic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ruzic fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ruzic misses with a low kick.
Henke throws a head kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Henke as Ruzic shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henke misses with a wild body shot.

Ruzic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ruzic throwing strikes here but Henke is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ruzic moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Henke has worked his arm free - good work by Henke!

Ruzic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Henke has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ruzic is trying to get an arm triangle but Henke is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruzic goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Henke has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ruzic but great work by Henke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henke gets to mount! Ruzic was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruzic is trying to escape the mount.
Henke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Henke clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Henke lands a really nice looking cross but Ruzic seems unphased.
Henke misses with a straight right.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruzic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick from Henke misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruzic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henke.
Ruzic shoots in for a double leg but Henke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ruzic tries to clinch there but Henke circles away.
Tom Henke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruzic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Henke dodges the punch combination from Ruzic.
Ruzic shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Henke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ruzic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Henke throws a hook to the side of Ruzic's head but Ruzic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Henke thows a leg kick but Ruzic checks it
and Ruzic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Ruzic.
Henke misses with a straight left.
Henke takes a swing at Ruzic's ribcage but misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ruzic.
Henke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Josip Ruzic has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruzic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Henke but Henke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tom Henke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josip Ruzic.
Ruzic lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henke goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Henke had his way with Josip Ruzic in that round.
The cut man is working on Josip Ruzic's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Henke drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Henke throws a lazy head kick

and Ruzic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ruzic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ruzic uses his free foot to push down on Henke's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Henke.

Ruzic goes for an armbar but Henke turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Henke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henke is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Ruzic has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Henke is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ruzic.
Ruzic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Henke's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Henke in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ruzic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruzic wants to sweep but Henke has passed to side control!
Ruzic is looking to regain half guard here but Henke keeps moving and retains side control.
Henke advances to full mount.
Tom Henke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruzic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ruzic bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Ruzic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Henke is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Henke has escaped and now he's on top!

Ruzic has an active guard here but Henke has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henke prevents Ruzic from improving his position.
Henke content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ruzic is doing well to control the position and prevent Henke from advancing to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josip Ruzic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Henke 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 48:47
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Henke!
Tom Henke retains his middleweight title!