PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Petri Pikkarainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armas Ruutana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruutana has chosen Ennio Morricone - Man With A Harmonica as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pikkarainen
vs
Ruutana

180 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

174 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Petri Pikkarainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Armas Ruutana!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikkarainen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Armas Ruutana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pikkarainen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruutana as he avoids it easily.
Pikkarainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pikkarainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruutana scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pikkarainen in his tracks.
No luck for Pikkarainen with that takedown attempt.
Pikkarainen has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petri Pikkarainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruutana throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pikkarainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruutana sprawls well. He's pushed Pikkarainen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ruutana showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen takes one to the side of the head.
Pikkarainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruutana's waist but Ruutana gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pikkarainen off to one side.
Ruutana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pikkarainen moves away.
Pikkarainen misses with a hook.
Pikkarainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

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.
A head kick misses from Ruutana.
Ruutana misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ruutana misses with a body kick.
Ruutana throws a big shot that misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ruutana!
Pikkarainen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruutana but Ruutana pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pikkarainen slips under a jab from Ruutana.
Pikkarainen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruutana's waist but Ruutana gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pikkarainen off to one side.
Ruutana throws out a loose jab but Pikkarainen uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pikkarainen scores a takedown into full mount!
Ruutana is desperately trying to improve his position but Pikkarainen has a good base and remains in mount.

Pikkarainen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ruutana has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ruutana!
Pikkarainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ruutana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pikkarainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ruutana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Pikkarainen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruutana defends it easily.
Pikkarainen trying to control the position.
Pikkarainen keeping moving, preventing Ruutana from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Ruutana 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.

Pikkarainen throws a body punch but Ruutana moves out of range.
Ruutana's corner calls for a 1-2. Ruutana obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Pikkarainen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Pikkarainen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ruutana has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pikkarainen has managed to get both his arms back between Ruutana's legs - danger averted.
Ruutana working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruutana is trying to control the position but Pikkarainen postures up.
Pikkarainen trying to control but Ruutana is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen pushing down on Ruutana's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Pikkarainen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ruutana is just riding it out for now. Pikkarainen eventually gives up the hold.
Pikkarainen is trying to control. Ruutana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pikkarainen stalling away here and it's allowed Ruutana to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Pikkarainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ruutana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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.
Pikkarainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pikkarainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruutana is retaining full guard.
Ruutana striking off his back but it's not causing Pikkarainen any problems.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruutana throws a head kick that misses.

Pikkarainen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ruutana's guard.

Pikkarainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pikkarainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruutana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pikkarainen is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruutana looking to control.

Pikkarainen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ruutana is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ruutana has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pikkarainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruutana postures up in Pikkarainen's guard and throws a big left but Pikkarainen blocks it.
Ruutana postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Pikkarainen looking for a guillotine here but Ruutana defends easily.
Ruutana scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ruutana trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ruutana scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ruutana sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pikkarainen's guard.
Pikkarainen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ruutana must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pikkarainen is trying to control the position but Ruutana postures up.
Pikkarainen keeping full guard, as Ruutana tries to pass.
Ruutana is pushing down on Pikkarainen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pikkarainen is fighting to maintain full guard but Ruutana has managed to sneak the leg through.
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 Petri Pikkarainen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pikkarainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ruutana defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pikkarainen.
Ruutana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruutana looks to throw the jab but Pikkarainen is out of range.
Ruutana throws a combination that misses

and Pikkarainen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruutana's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruutana is on top in guard.
Pikkarainen keeping full guard, as Ruutana tries to pass.

Pikkarainen looking for a guillotine here but Ruutana defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pikkarainen is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Ruutana frees his head nicely. Oh but Pikkarainen has switched to an armbar! Ruutana is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Petri Pikkarainen!