PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Morueco (ranked 887 p4p, 119 weight class) and Iikka Runnisto (ranked 675 p4p, 89 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Morueco might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Pretender. Runnisto has chosen Alta Pois - Sie sua näkköös! as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Morueco
vs
Runnisto

187 cm
28
188 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

182 cm
28
192 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Aspire Clothing

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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jorge Morueco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Runnisto!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Runnisto.
Runnisto takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Morueco misses with a hook.
Runnisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Morueco throws a big counter combination but Runnisto scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Morueco misses with a wild combination.
Nice defenses there by Morueco.
Morueco lands with a shot to the body.
Runnisto lands a jab to Morueco's midsection.
Runnisto tries to score with a low kick but Morueco moves his leg out of the way.

Morueco scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Runnisto throws Morueco to one side and escapes!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Runnisto avoids the body shot from Morueco.
Runnisto connects with a right hand. Morueco shakes it off.
Runnisto misses the jab.
Runnisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Morueco walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runnisto misses the shot to the body.
Iikka Runnisto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Runnisto takes a swing at Morueco's ribcage but misses.
Runnisto misses the shot to the body.
Morueco looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Morueco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Runnisto was well out of range. Poor timing from Morueco.
Runnisto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Morueco.
Morueco seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Morueco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Morueco keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Runnisto.
Morueco lands a jab to the nose.
Morueco throws out a loose jab but Runnisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morueco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little jabbing left from Runnisto on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Morueco scores with a crisp jab that stopped Runnisto in his tracks.
Runnisto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Morueco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Runnisto manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Runnisto has control of Morueco's left arm, preventing Morueco from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Runnisto wants to get back to his feet but Morueco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Morueco is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Morueco forces his way into half guard.
Runnisto is trying to stand up here but Morueco is controlling him well.

Morueco is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Morueco is thwarting Runnisto's attempts to control the position.
Runnisto wants to get back to his feet.

Runnisto is defending against the submission attempts here by Morueco.
Runnisto is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto is trying is best to control the position here.
Morueco prevents Runnisto from improving his position.
Runnisto is still trying to improve position.
Morueco trying to pass the guard but Runnisto defending well.

Morueco looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Runnisto tries to roll over but Morueco keeps him under control.
Morueco trying to pass the guard but Runnisto defending well.

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 controlling the position well.

Morueco is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Runnisto is just riding it out for now. Morueco eventually gives up the hold.
Morueco prevents Runnisto from improving his position.

Morueco is working for a kimura but Runnisto is defending it quite comfortably.
Runnisto tries to roll over but Morueco keeps him under control.
Runnisto is looking to get back to full guard here but Morueco has managed to pass to side control instead.

Morueco is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Runnisto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jorge Morueco will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Runnisto bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Morueco.
Runnisto is looking for a sweep.

Morueco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Runnisto tries to escape but Morueco is in control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Runnisto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Morueco tries to move into full mount but can't pass Runnisto's legs.
Runnisto gets back to half guard.
Runnisto won't allow Morueco to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runnisto is pressing down on Morueco's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Morueco won't allow Runnisto to get back to his feet.
Runnisto working a defensive guard here.
Runnisto pulls Morueco in to control the position.
Runnisto looking to control.
Runnisto has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jorge Morueco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Morueco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Runnisto seems keen to control Morueco's posture.
Morueco wants to pass the guard but Runnisto is keeping the position.
Runnisto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Runnisto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Morueco uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Runnisto has time to react.
Runnisto misses the jab.
Morueco misses with a body shot.
Runnisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Runnisto moves out of range of the strikes.
Morueco defending well as Runnisto loads up on a big left hand.
Morueco throws a hook to the side of Runnisto's head but Runnisto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Runnisto throws a jab when Morueco was well out of range.
Morueco throws a jab when Runnisto was well out of range.
Morueco swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Runnisto.
Runnisto jabs Morueco right on the nose. Morueco blinks but takes it well.
Runnisto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Morueco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morueco throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Runnisto stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Runnisto. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Runnisto.
Runnisto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Morueco scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Iikka Runnisto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Runnisto throws a big shot that misses.
Morueco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Runnisto.
Morueco uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Runnisto.
Morueco feinted with a counter takedown.
Morueco ducks right into an uppercut from Runnisto.
Morueco thuds a left hand into Runnisto's body.
Morueco avoids the body shot from Runnisto.
Morueco shoots for a takedown but Runnisto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Runnisto lands a glancing blow to the side of Morueco's head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morueco. That's going to slow Runnisto down.
Morueco scoring well with a low kick there.
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!

Morueco shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Morueco was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Runnisto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Morueco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Runnisto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Morueco off and has taken his back!
Runnisto is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Morueco tries to escape the position.
Morueco prevents Runnisto from getting a body triangle.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Runnisto controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Iikka Runnisto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Runnisto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Morueco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morueco keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morueco attempts a counter takedown but Runnisto avoids it well and moves away.

Morueco moves into the clinch.
Runnisto digs a right hand into Morueco's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Morueco's gas tank.
Morueco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Runnisto pushes Morueco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Runnisto digs a right hand into Morueco's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Morueco's gas tank.
Runnisto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runnisto throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Morueco misses with some punches.
Runnisto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Runnisto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morueco blocks an uppercut.
Runnisto misses with a punch on the inside.

Runnisto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Runnisto misses with an uppercut.
Runnisto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morueco throws out the jab.
Runnisto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Morueco at a distance.
Morueco misses with an uppercut. Runnisto saw that one coming.
Runnisto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jab from Runnisto.
Morueco throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Runnisto on the side of the head.
Morueco closes the distance looking to clinch
and Runnisto makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Morueco scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Runnisto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morueco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
A jab from Morueco misses.
It seemed like Runnisto was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Runnisto lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch lands to the side of Morueco 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fighters circling - Morueco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Decent striking displayed by Runnisto there.
Runnisto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morueco manages to avoid it.

Morueco closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Morueco lands in his opponent's guard.
Runnisto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Runnisto trying to keep a closed guard but Morueco is proving a slippery customer.
Morueco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Runnisto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morueco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Runnisto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Morueco drops back looking for a leg! Runnisto is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Runnisto manages to kick Morueco off! Morueco jumps back into Runnisto's guard.

Runnisto has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Morueco is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Runnisto trying to control the position but instead, Morueco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Runnisto into the cage.
Runnisto stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Runnisto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Morueco backwards.
Runnisto effectively controlling the action here.
Morueco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runnisto is stalling here.
Runnisto tries a body shot but Morueco blocks it.
Morueco lands with a light punch inside.

Morueco breaks the clinch.
Morueco connects with a nice looking jab.
Morueco looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Runnisto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice uppercut lands for Runnisto. That snapped Morueco's head back.
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!

Morueco moves into range and clinches up with Runnisto.
Runnisto swings wildly with an uppercut but Morueco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Runnisto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Morueco breaks the clinch.
Morueco scores with a punch to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iikka Runnisto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Runnisto 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 28:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iikka Runnisto!