PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Ruggiero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arild Einemo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruggiero's entrance music is Bonobo - The Sicilians. A fine choice. Einemo has chosen Arkasia - Into Nowhere (Feat CoMa) as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Benjamin Ruggiero has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Benjamin Ruggiero seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ruggiero
vs
Einemo

170 cm
24
142 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

175 cm
24
154 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benjamin Ruggiero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Arild Einemo!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Einemo throws a nice looking combination but Ruggiero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Einemo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ruggiero is out of range.
Einemo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheers as Ruggiero lands an impressive looking overhand right. Einemo doesn't seem phased though.
Ruggiero throws a jab when Einemo was well out of range.
Benjamin Ruggiero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Einemo punishes Ruggiero's body with a nice straight punch.
Ruggiero ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ruggiero scores with the left hand. Einemo knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice shot lands for Ruggiero.
Einemo looks for the body kick but Ruggiero saw that one coming.
Einemo checks a leg kick nicely.
Ruggiero fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ruggiero chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ruggiero throws a leg kick that misses.
Ruggiero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Einemo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruggiero manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Einemo lands a glancing blow to the side of Ruggiero's head.
Ruggiero swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Einemo counters with a right hand to the body.
Ruggiero misses with a low kick.
Einemo feints and then cracks Ruggiero's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ruggiero down.
Einemo misses with a low kick.
Einemo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ruggiero throws out the jab.
Einemo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ruggiero rather than just go for the knockout.
Ruggiero jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Einemo throws a series of punches but Ruggiero moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero tries a low kick but Einemo avoids it.
Einemo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ruggiero has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Einemo avoids the head kick by Ruggiero.
Ruggiero throws a sloppy head kick and Einemo moves out of range easily.
Ruggiero tests Einemo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Einemo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ruggiero checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ruggiero throws a head kick that misses
and Einemo counters with a head kick.
Einemo connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Einemo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ruggiero counters with a right hand to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ruggiero, right into the meat.
Einemo throws a leg kick but Ruggiero checks it.
Ruggiero tried to score with a low kick but Einemo checks it.
Ruggiero with a hook.
Ruggiero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Einemo moves away.
Einemo has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Ruggiero throws a hook but Einemo blocks it.
Ruggiero wants to land a leg kick but Einemo is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ruggiero.
Einemo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Einemo dips to his left and cracks Ruggiero with an uppercut!
Einemo slips under a jab.
Einemo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ruggiero has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ruggiero 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 Einemo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Einemo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Einemo throws a leg kick but Ruggiero checks it.
It looks like Ruggiero has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Ruggiero throws a poor cross that misses
and Einemo counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Ruggiero throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Einemo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ruggiero moves away from the strike by Einemo.
A low kick from Ruggiero misses
and Einemo counters with a stiff right hand.
Ruggiero throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ruggiero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Einemo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ruggiero. That one must have hurt.
Ruggiero blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Einemo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Einemo scores with a one two! Ruggiero had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ruggiero throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruggiero throws a poor cross that misses
and Einemo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Einemo throws a sloppy head kick and Ruggiero moves out of range easily.
Ruggiero misses with an attempted mid kick.
Einemo staying out of range there.
Ruggiero throws out a loose jab but Einemo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Einemo thumps Ruggiero with a low kick.
Einemo moves out of range as Ruggiero strikes.
Ruggiero throws a leg kick but Einemo checks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruggiero checks the leg kick.
Einemo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Einemo misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
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 Benjamin Ruggiero will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruggiero on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Einemo. Einemo obviously looking to wear him down.
Ruggiero throws a head kick that misses.
Jab by Einemo.
Ruggiero throws a sloppy head kick and Einemo moves out of range easily.
Good exchange - Ruggiero coming out on top.
Ruggiero tries to clinch up but Einemo circles away and keeps his distance.
Einemo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ruggiero bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Einemo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An inside leg kick from Einemo misses.
Benjamin Ruggiero is winning the standup battle so far.
Einemo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ruggiero motions for Einemo to come forward. Ruggiero throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Einemo jabs Ruggiero to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ruggiero throws a low kick but Einemo moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero moves into range and connects with a jab.
Einemo tries a low kick but Ruggiero avoids it.
Ruggiero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Einemo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruggiero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ruggiero looks to score with a jab to the body but Einemo is just out of range.
Einemo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A slow jab from Einemo misses its intended target.
Ruggiero checks a leg kick.
Einemo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ruggiero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Einemo.
Ruggiero misses with a two punch combination.
Ruggiero avoids a kick to the body.
Ruggiero throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Einemo counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Einemo.
Einemo misses with a wild body shot.
Ruggiero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Einemo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Ruggiero finds it's way through Einemo's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Einemo lands a leg kick that knocks Ruggiero off balance momentarily.
Ruggiero is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Einemo just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruggiero scores with a jab. Einemo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Ruggiero gets a clinch.
Einemo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ruggiero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ruggiero is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Einemo is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Einemo is struggling to control the position.
Ruggiero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruggiero wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ruggiero struggles to land a body shot inside as Einemo controls his hands.
Ruggiero throws a head punch that misses.
Einemo struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruggiero controls his hands.
Ruggiero is trying to push Einemo away but Einemo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Ruggiero breaks the clinch.
Ruggiero throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Einemo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ruggiero moves out of range as Einemo throws a body kick.
Ruggiero throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero lands with a thumping leg kick.
Einemo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Einemo.
Ruggiero takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ruggiero moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Ruggiero instigates a clinch.
Ruggiero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ruggiero working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruggiero throws a head punch that misses.
Ruggiero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Einemo's elbow.
Einemo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Ruggiero fails to land.
Einemo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Einemo wants to stall.
Ruggiero looking to throw knees to the head but Einemo is blocking nicely.
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 Benjamin Ruggiero will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Einemo dips to his left and cracks Ruggiero with an uppercut!
Ruggiero throws a body kick that misses.
Einemo misses with a hook.
Einemo misses with a leg kick
and Ruggiero counters with a slapping leg kick.
Einemo scores with a one two! Ruggiero had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ruggiero crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Einemo - the referee stops the clock and Ruggiero gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Einemo. Ruggiero manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Einemo throws a hook to the side of Ruggiero's head but Ruggiero sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Einemo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ruggiero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Einemo.
Einemo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Einemo throws a sloppy head kick and Ruggiero moves out of range easily.
Ruggiero is looking to slow Einemo down with leg kicks.
Einemo misses with a leg kick
and Ruggiero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ruggiero walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Einemo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Einemo swings for the body but Ruggiero moves out of range.
Ruggiero throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ruggiero lands a nice looking body kick.
Einemo throws a quick inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Einemo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ruggiero connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Einemo scrambles back to his feet.
Ruggiero cracks the inside of Einemo's front leg.
Ruggiero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Einemo connects with an inside leg kick.
Einemo misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Ruggiero misses
and Einemo counters with a good low kick that Ruggiero was not able to check.
Ruggiero bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Einemo's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruggiero gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Einemo trying to control the position but instead, Ruggiero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Einemo into the cage.
Ruggiero tries a knee to the head but Einemo blocks it.
Einemo stalling against the cage.
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!
Ruggiero is trying to break free.
Einemo trying to control the position but instead, Ruggiero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Einemo into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Einemo.
Ruggiero misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruggiero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ruggiero misses with a knee strike.
Benjamin Ruggiero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Einemo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Einemo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Einemo is stalling here.
Einemo blocks an uppercut.
Einemo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Einemo.
Ruggiero working aggressively here.
Arild Einemo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruggiero gets through Einemo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Ruggiero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ruggiero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Einemo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ruggiero lands a knee to the head.
Einemo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ruggiero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ruggiero lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Einemo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruggiero blocks a leg kick.
Ruggiero scores with a decent looking hook.
Einemo misses with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruggiero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Einemo.
Einemo moves out of range of the body kick from Ruggiero.

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 Benjamin Ruggiero.
Well Ruggiero 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Ruggiero!
A victorious Benjamin Ruggiero thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.