PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arttu Mahtisaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebasti Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mahtisaari
vs
Rubio

178 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arttu Mahtisaari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sebasti Rubio!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rubio clinches with his opponent.
Rubio looking to throw knees to the head but Mahtisaari is blocking nicely.
Mahtisaari trying to control the position but instead, Rubio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mahtisaari into the cage.
Rubio scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rubio lands a left hand.
Mahtisaari changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rubio fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mahtisaari changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rubio tries to avoid it but Mahtisaari manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rubio to the ground. Rubio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Mahtisaari with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arttu Mahtisaari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahtisaari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rubio.
Rubio moves to clinch but Mahtisaari breaks away

and Mahtisaari counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rubio's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mahtisaari throws a big right hand that misses.
Rubio is controlling Mahtisaari's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtisaari pushes down on Rubio's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Mahtisaari is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mahtisaari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rubio taking some punishment here, with Mahtisaari in his half guard.
Mahtisaari sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rubio defending well though.
Rubio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mahtisaari.
Rubio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mahtisaari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rubio trying to control here.
Mahtisaari is looking to take a break and control but Rubio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubio is in trouble now - Mahtisaari has advanced to mount!
Mahtisaari working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Rubio slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Mahtisaari is trying to control. Rubio wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rubio is looking for a sweep. Mahtisaari is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rubio gets full guard.
Rubio has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mahtisaari has passed into side control.
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!

Mahtisaari is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rubio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rubio regains half guard there - taking advantage of Mahtisaari's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari is just content to waste time from the top position. Rubio takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Mahtisaari won't allow Rubio to sweep him here.
Mahtisaari wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.

Mahtisaari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.
Mahtisaari wants to pass the guard but Rubio is keeping the position.
Rubio wants to sweep but no luck.
Mahtisaari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Arttu Mahtisaari just wasn't active enough.
Rubio closes the distance but Mahtisaari moves to the side

and Mahtisaari counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rubio won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mahtisaari throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mahtisaari 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.
Rubio struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttu Mahtisaari dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mahtisaari swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubio.
Sebasti Rubio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rubio wants to clinch but Mahtisaari slips to the side
and Mahtisaari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mahtisaari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rubio.
Mahtisaari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rubio was well out of range. Poor timing from Mahtisaari.
Mahtisaari tests Rubio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rubio wants to clinch up but Mahtisaari keeps it at a distance.

Rubio gets a clinch.
Mahtisaari takes a knee right on the jaw!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rubio lands with a short shot to the head.
Mahtisaari is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rubio tries to land a knee to the head but Mahtisaari blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtisaari looking to slow down the pace here.
Rubio lands a hook that snaps the head of Mahtisaari backwards.
Rubio connects with a knee to the head.
Rubio leaning against his opponent.
A short uppercut from Rubio.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rubio scores with a knee to the head.
Mahtisaari is trying to stall.
Maybe Mahtisaari would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Mahtisaari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rubio pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rubio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubio misses with a knee to the head.
Rubio with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rubio manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mahtisaari gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Arttu Mahtisaari.
Rubio tries to clinch up.
A jab from Mahtisaari finds it's way through Rubio's defenses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rubio is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mahtisaari misses with a body shot.
Rubio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rubio fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mahtisaari shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Mahtisaari from controlling successfully.
Mahtisaari controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rubio 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rubio can do anything to dispel that myth.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mahtisaari accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mahtisaari postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari with a nice head shot there.
Mahtisaari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mahtisaari wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.
Mahtisaari wants to pass the guard but Rubio is keeping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahtisaari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rubio has Mahtisaari pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttu Mahtisaari dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch but Mahtisaari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mahtisaari lands a slapping body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Mahtisaari.
Mahtisaari missing with a left hand there. Rubio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mahtisaari throws a hook but Rubio avoids it easily.
Rubio tries to clinch there but Mahtisaari circles away.

Rubio gets a clinch.
Rubio throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mahtisaaris head.
Mahtisaari looking for a takedown.
Mahtisaari looking to stall.
Rubio with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rubio lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Rubio.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rubio.
Mahtisaari takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rubio connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mahtisaari's face.
Rubio lands with a left to the head.
Rubio using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mahtisaari takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mahtisaari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rubio scores with a knee to the head.
Rubio manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rubio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rubio lands a right hand.
Rubio tries a knee to the head but Mahtisaari blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rubio gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rubio misses with a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short right from Rubio.
Mahtisaari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rubio is keeping busy.
Rubio is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rubio stalls.
Rubio is trying to maintain a safe position but Mahtisaari gets an underhook and turns Rubio into the cage.
Mahtisaari trying to stall but Rubio improves his position.
Rubio lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari can't find room to land a body shot as Rubio controls the action.
Rubio lands a body punch.
Mahtisaari taking a breather.
Rubio working aggressively here.
Rubio leaning against his opponent.
Rubio looking to throw knees to the head but Mahtisaari is blocking nicely.
Mahtisaari tries to break the clinch but Rubio is controlling the position.

Mahtisaari pulls guard.

Mahtisaari is looking to sinch up a triangle. Rubio throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Mahtisaari's body to avoid the submission. Mahtisaari has instead reached around Rubio's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Mahtisaari arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Arttu Mahtisaari!
A relieved looking Arttu Mahtisaari thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.