PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikkanen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bring The Pain. Rutten has chosen Pride as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tikkanen
vs
Rutten

186 cm
22
209 lbs
9 - 0 - 1

185 cm
21
223 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Brute
- Elite Fighter© + Laundry

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esa Tikkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rutten takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rutten lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tikkanen's sensitive parts.
Rutten takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rutten takes a swing at Tikkanen's ribcage but misses.
Rutten slips a jab from Tikkanen.

Tikkanen clinches up against the cage.

Rutten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tikkanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rutten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkanen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rutten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rutten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Tikkanen.
Rutten works on Tikkanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Tikkanen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruttens head.
Rutten displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tikkanen up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten struggles to land a body shot inside as Tikkanen controls his hands.

Tikkanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tikkanen forces Rutten back against the cage and clinches.
Tikkanen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rutten misses with a knee to the head.

Tikkanen manages to break the clinch.

Tikkanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tikkanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rutten defending well though.
Tikkanen is taking a breather. Rutten says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tikkanen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tikkanen works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen punching from mount but Rutten doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Tikkanen working Rutten over with strikes here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tikkanen controlling the position easily from mount.
Tikkanen with good strikes from the mount here!
Rutten is looking to improve his position but Tikkanen isn't that keen on the idea.
Tikkanen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tikkanen.

Tikkanen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rutten turns into him and now he's in Tikkanen's guard.
Rutten really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tikkanen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen seems keen to control Rutten's posture.
Tikkanen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tikkanen controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rutten scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tikkanen connects with a looping right hand.
Tikkanen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rutten has time to react.
Rutten takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Tikkanen forces Rutten back against the cage and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Rutten as the two fighters clinch.
Rutten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tikkanen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rutten taking a breather.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutten tries to work over Tikkanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rutten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tikkanen's elbow.

Tikkanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tikkanen moves into range and clinches up with Rutten.
Rutten tries to throw a body punch but Tikkanen avoids it by throwing Rutten back against the cage.
Tikkanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rutten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Rutten won't allow it.
Rutten tries a knee to the head but Tikkanen blocks it.
Rutten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rutten trying to stall but Tikkanen improves his position.
Rutten prevents the takedown attempt.
Rutten working aggressively here.
Rutten throws a head punch that misses.

Tikkanen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rutten clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Tikkanen keeps control of the position easily here as Rutten tries to buck him off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tikkanen looking to break Rutten's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rutten remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tikkanen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Tikkanen trying to control momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tikkanen looking for the RNC.

Tikkanen looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Rutten taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Esa Tikkanen!
Esa Tikkanen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.