PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Veikko Rastila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rastila comes to the cage accompanied by One Hit. Josh Gardner has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Veikko Rastila's chin.

Rastila
vs
Gardner

209 cm
27
285 lbs
14 - 1 - 1

188 cm
29
230 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Perkele!

Zombie Nutrition - LOD
Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Veikko Rastila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Gardner!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gardner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rastila takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Gardner blocks the body kick.
Gardner connects with a leg kick. Rastila looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rastila swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gardner.
Gardner throws a front kick that sends Rastila stumbling back into the cage.
Gardner buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rastila misses the jab.
Gardner throws the kick towards the body but Rastila avoids it.
Gardner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rastila moves away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rastila checks a leg kick.
Rastila bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gardner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rastila tries to land a front kick but Gardner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gardner scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rastila slips under a jab from Gardner.
Both fighters circling a little - Gardner finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rastila chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gardner misses the jab.
Rastila takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rastila with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gardner to score with a decent uppercut.
Rastila misses with a low kick as Gardner jumps back.
Gardner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rastila misses with a wild body shot.
Gardner throws a big shot that misses.
Gardner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gardner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gardner misses with an uppercut. Rastila saw that one coming.
Gardner throws a chopping leg kick but Rastila manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gardner misses with a body kick.
Rastila ducks under a wild hook from Gardner.

Rastila feints and as Gardner raises his hands in defense, Rastila changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rastila throws a big right hand that misses.
Rastila throws a strike but Gardner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gardner won't allow Rastila to sweep him here.
Rastila manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gardner manages to get himself to full guard.
Rastila throwing strikes but missing.
Rastila 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.
Rastila pushing down on Gardner's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rastila seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gardner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rastila stops Gardner from getting back to his feet.
Rastila looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rastila throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gardner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gardner is trying to stand.
Gardner on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gardner felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Rastila thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gardner's head.
Rastila thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rastila performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rastila missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rastila missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rastila in particular looking to stall.
Gardner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rastila wants to free his trapped foot but Gardner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Gardner will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gardner changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gardner throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rastila makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Rastila decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rastila missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rastila is keen to just control but Gardner is a slippery customer.
Rastila not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Veikko Rastila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rastila wants to work for an arm triangle but Gardner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rastila working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gardner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gardner regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rastila.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rastila is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rastila is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rastila trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rastila postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rastila trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rastila throws a strike but Gardner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gardner stops Rastila from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Veikko Rastila just wasn't active enough.
Rastila misses with a head kick.
Gardner throws an overhand right that lands on Rastila's shoulder, as Rastila tries to avoid the shot.
Gardner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gardner checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner misses with a series of wild punches.
Gardner keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Josh Gardner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gardner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rastila.
Gardner looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rastila lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gardner has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gardner and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rastila swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Josh Gardner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A lazy body kick from Gardner
and Rastila connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rastila moves out of range of the body kick.
Gardner misses with a body shot.
Rastila lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rastila scores with a leg kick.
Rastila misses with a looping right.
Gardner scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rastila in his tracks.
Rastila lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gardner will feel that in the morning.
Rastila throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A good leg kick by Gardner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rastila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gardner.
Gardner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Rastila.
Rastila throws a chopping leg kick but Gardner manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gardner lands a nice looking body kick.
Gardner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Josh Gardner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gardner throws a wild body kick that Rastila sees coming a mile off.
Gardner blocks a low kick nicely.
Gardner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rastila lands a jab to Gardner's midsection.
Gardner lands with a nice body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rastila pushes Gardner away with a front kick.
Gardner tries to land a leg kick but Rastila saw it coming and moves away.
Gardner moves out of range of the body kick.
Rastila changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veikko Rastila 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.

A decent looking body kick lands there for Gardner.
Gardner takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gardner throws a leg kick but Rastila moved away.
Gardner tries to clinch but Rastila moves out of range.
Rastila tries to work over Gardner's front leg with a kick but Gardner checks it.
Gardner misses with a low kick.
Rastila throws the kick towards the body but Gardner avoids it.
Gardner thows a body shot but no joy.
Gardner throws a push kick but Rastila slaps the foot to one side.
Rastila uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gardner.
Rastila just misses with a punch to the body.
Gardner wants to land a leg kick but Rastila is out of range.
A big left from Gardner misses.
Gardner just misses with a punch to the body.
Gardner blocks a leg kick.
Gardner lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gardner misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rastila dodges the punch combination from Gardner.
Gardner scoring well with a low kick there.
Gardner throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rastila counters with an inside leg kick.
Rastila misses with a body shot.
Gardner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rastila shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rastila throws a front kick that sends Gardner stumbling back into the cage.
Rastila looks to throw the jab but Gardner is out of range.
Gardner tries to land a body kick
and Rastila counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rastila dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gardner. That did some damage!
Gardner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rastila throws out the jab.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rastila paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gardner.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rastila defending well as Gardner loads up on a big left hand.
Rastila takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Rastila - just one landing.
Gardner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rastila scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gardner needs to keep his hands up - Rastila had a free shot at his head there.
Gardner loads up on a big right hand but Rastila slips the punch.
Gardner throws a body kick that misses.
Rastila defending well as Gardner loads up on a big left hand.
Rastila lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gardner will feel that in the morning.
Rastila takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gardner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rastila bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rastila blocks the body kick.
Rastila is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gardner throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Rastila to counter with a crisp jab.
Gardner throws out a loose jab but Rastila uses good head movement to avoid it.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gardner!
Gardner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner misses with a body kick.
Rastila throws a push kick but Gardner slaps the foot to one side.
Rastila explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Gardner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gardner swinging wildly here.
Rastila lands a jab to Gardner's midsection.
Rastila looks to score with a jab to the body but Gardner is just out of range.
Gardner tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gardner gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Rastila counters with a nice uppercut.
Rastila throws a body punch but Gardner moves out of range.
Rastila lands a jab to the head.
Rastila throws a body punch but Gardner moves out of range.
Rastila uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gardner.
Gardner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rastila.
Rastila scores with a push kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rastila staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Gardner.
Rastila lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rastila lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gardner throws a hook but Rastila avoids it easily.
Gardner lands a jab to Rastila's midsection.
Gardner has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rastila.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch but Rastila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rastila cracks the inside of Gardner's front leg.
Rastila connects with an inside leg kick.
It looks like Rastila has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Gardner takes a jab right on the kisser.

Rastila gets a double leg takedown into Gardner's guard.
Rastila missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rastila landing with the ground and pound.
Rastila throwing strikes from guard but Gardner blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veikko Rastila clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gardner misses with a wild body shot.
Rastila is looking to land body kicks.
Rastila is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rastila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rastila throws a leg kick but Gardner sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gardner scores with a kick to the body.
Gardner tries a low kick but Rastila avoids it.
Gardner uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rastila has time to react.
A slow jab from Gardner misses its intended target.
Gardner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rastila wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A leg kick checked by Rastila.
Gardner's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rastila misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rastila throws a leg kick which misses Gardner's front leg but catches the back leg as Gardner tries to avoid it.
Gardner misses with a kick to the body.
Rastila connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner tries to clinch up but Rastila circles away and keeps his distance.
Gardner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gardner throws a low kick, looking for Rastila's leg but Rastila calmly moves out of range.
Gardner scores with a leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Gardner.
Gardner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rastila.
Rastila slips a straight right by Gardner.
Rastila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gardner.
An inside leg kick lands from Rastila.
Rastila misses the shot to the body.
Rastila avoids a kick to the body.
Gardner avoids a kick to the body.
Gardner stuffs the takedown attempt from Rastila. Rastila gets slowly back to his feet.
Gardner throws a wild body kick that Rastila sees coming a mile off.
Rastila throws a low kick but Gardner moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner throws a shot from downtown. Rastila moves away and avoids it.
Rastila shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gardner as he avoids it easily.
Rastila uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rastila throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gardner looks for the body kick but Rastila saw that one coming.
Gardner misses with an uppercut.
Gardner wants to clinch.
Rastila fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gardner has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rastila ducks under a wild hook from Gardner.
Rastila throws a push kick but Gardner slaps the foot to one side.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rastila.
Rastila uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gardner.
Rastila thows a body kick. Gardner tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner misses with a looping right.
Rastila comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rastila will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gardner checks a low kick from Rastila.
Gardner throws the left hand but Rastila avoids the punch easily.
Gardner throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rastila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gardner is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Gardner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rastila.
Gardner connects with a body shot.
Rastila walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gardner checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gardner lands a nice shot to the body.
Rastila uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gardner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gardner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Gardner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Rastila finds it's way through Gardner's defenses.
Some wild striking there from Gardner.
Rastila looks to land a right hand but Gardner moved out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gardner blocks a low kick nicely.
Gardner misses with a low kick.
Gardner looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rastila throws a hook but Gardner blocks it.
Rastila lands a nice looking body kick.
Rastila throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gardner throws a half hearted mid kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rastila lands a leg kick that knocks Gardner off balance momentarily.
Rastila slips a jab from Gardner.
Rastila avoids a kick to the body.
Rastila ducks right into an uppercut from Gardner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Veikko Rastila will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rastila takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rastila connects with a jab.
Gardner throws a nice looking combination but Rastila bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rastila just misses with a punch to the body.
Gardner throws a jab when Rastila was well out of range.
Rastila throws a low kick, looking for Gardner's leg but Gardner calmly moves out of range.
Gardner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rastila throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rastila wants to slow Gardner down by chopping away at his legs.
Rastila misses with a hook. Gardner ducked under it nicely.
Rastila throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Gardner throws out a loose jab but Rastila uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rastila tries to move into range but Gardner moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gardner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gardner misses with a kick to the body.
Gardner throws a shot from downtown. Rastila moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rastila looks to land a body kick but Gardner moved away.
Rastila throws a leg kick but Gardner checks it.
Rastila throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gardner takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rastila lands with a right hand.
Gardner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rastila takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rastila dodges the punch combination from Gardner.
Rastila tries to score with a low kick but Gardner moves his leg out of the way.
Rastila on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gardner. Gardner obviously looking to wear him down.
Rastila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rastila throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gardner.
Rastila throws a push kick but Gardner slaps the foot to one side.
Gardner avoids the body shot from Rastila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rastila misses with a straight right.
Gardner throws a low kick, looking for Rastila's leg but Rastila calmly moves out of range.
Gardner throws the kick towards the body but Rastila avoids it.
Gardner misses with a looping left.
Rastila throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gardner's waist but Gardner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rastila off to one side.
Rastila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rastila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rastila misses with a low kick.
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!
Both fighters circling a little - Gardner finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gardner thuds a left hand into Rastila's body.
Rastila takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gardner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gardner takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gardner doesn't manage to clinch there - Rastila circles away.
Rastila with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gardner throws a push kick but Rastila slaps the foot to one side.
Gardner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rastila. Rastila obviously looking to wear him down.
Gardner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rastila comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gardner misses with a hook
and Rastila counters with a nice uppercut.
Rastila staying out of range there.
Rastila throws a chopping leg kick but Gardner manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gardner with a jab.
Rastila throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gardner bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rastila connects with a body shot.
Gardner misses with a hook.
Rastila misses with a body shot.
Gardner throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner doesn't manage to clinch there - Rastila circles away.
Rastila misses with a leg kick
and Gardner counters with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rastila throws a front kick that sends Gardner stumbling back into the cage.
Rastila moves out of range as Gardner throws a body kick.
Veikko Rastila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A clash of legs there as Rastila blocks the low kick.
Gardner tries to clinch but Rastila moves out of range.
Josh Gardner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gardner throws a wild body kick that Rastila sees coming a mile off.
Rastila moves out of range of the body kick.
Gardner throws a body kick that misses.
Gardner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rastila.
Gardner misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rastila fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rastila connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rastila slips under a jab.
Rastila throws a quick inside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rastila checks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Veikko Rastila.
Well Rastila has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 47:48
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:46
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Veikko Rastila!
Veikko Rastila retains his heavyweight title!
Veikko Rastila took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Perkele! for their support in the buildup to the fight.