PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rutger Svensson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armstrong has chosen Iron Man by Black Sabbath as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Svensson
vs
Armstrong

180 cm
26
195 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
200 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rutger Svensson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hank Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svensson moves out of range as Armstrong strikes.
Armstrong throws a right hand that misses
and Svensson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Svensson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Armstrong throws a hook but Svensson blocks it.
Svensson tries to score with a low kick but Armstrong moves his leg out of the way.
Svensson misses with a looping left.
Svensson swings for the body but Armstrong moves out of range.
Armstrong throws out a loose jab but Svensson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Svensson misses with a body shot.
Armstrong missing with a left hand there. Svensson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Svensson misses with a wild body shot.
Svensson seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rutger Svensson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Armstrong misses the target.
Armstrong throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Svensson to counter with a crisp jab.
A left lands for Armstrong.
Armstrong misses the jab.
Svensson slips a straight right by Armstrong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice cross by Svensson.
Nice cross by Svensson.
Svensson looks to score with a jab to the body but Armstrong is just out of range.
Svensson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Armstrong back to the cage. Svensson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Armstrong takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Svensson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a lunging right hand
letting Svensson counter with a right hand.
Svensson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Armstrong.
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!
Svensson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Armstrong has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Svensson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Armstrong misses with a straight right.
Armstrong tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svensson moves out of range of the strikes.
Armstrong with a hook.
Nice body punch from Svensson.
Svensson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Svensson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Armstrong moves away.
The fighters circling - Armstrong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Armstrong lands a jab.
Svensson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Svensson is looking to wear down Armstrong with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Armstrong takes a swing at Svensson's ribcage but misses.
Armstrong lands a glancing blow to the side of Svensson's head.
Armstrong comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Svensson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Svensson connects with a leg kick. Armstrong looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Armstrong.
Svensson lands with a nice body punch.
Svensson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Armstrong looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Svensson misses with a body shot.
Svensson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Armstrong finds it's way round the side to connect with Svensson's head.
Armstrong looks to land a left hand but Svensson moved out of range nicely.
Armstrong throws a body punch but Svensson moves out of range.
Svensson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
Svensson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Armstrong in his tracks.
Armstrong misses with a left hand
and Svensson counters with an outside leg kick.
Armstrong throws a jab but it's blocked by Svensson.
Armstrong swings widly with a right hand
and Svensson counters with an outside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Armstrong darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Armstrong on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Svensson. Svensson obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Svensson throws the left hand but Armstrong avoids the punch easily.
Armstrong scores with a hook to the body. Svensson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Svensson misses with a body shot.
Armstrong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Svensson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Armstrong might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Armstrong cracks Svensson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Armstrong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Svensson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Armstrong lands a glancing blow to the side of Svensson's head.
Armstrong throws a poor cross that misses
and Svensson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Armstrong looks to throw the jab but Svensson is out of range.
That kick from Svensson tenderised Armstrong's leg. Armstrong is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armstrong jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A big left from Armstrong misses.
Armstrong misses with a hook. Svensson ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Armstrong throws a hook to the side of Svensson's head but Svensson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Armstrong takes a swing at Svensson's ribcage but misses.
Svensson misses with a wild body shot.
Svensson thuds a left hand into Armstrong's body.
A combination from Armstrong does no damage.
Armstrong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Svensson was well out of range. Poor timing from Armstrong.
Armstrong rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Svensson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Armstrong looks to throw the jab but Svensson is out of range.
Armstrong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Svensson looks to land a left hand but Armstrong moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Svensson.
Svensson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Armstrong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Svensson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Armstrong stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Armstrong avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Svensson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a body shot.
Armstrong misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Armstrong. Svensson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Svensson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Armstrong throws a lazy right hand but Svensson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Svensson slips a jab from Armstrong.
Svensson scores with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Svensson misses the target.
Armstrong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Svensson walks into a straight right hand from Armstrong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Svensson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Svensson throws a big shot that misses.
Svensson slips a jab and a cross from Armstrong.
A combination from Svensson does no damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Svensson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Svensson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
Rutger Svensson is winning the standup battle so far.
Armstrong works Svensson's body with a nice hook.
Svensson moves out of range as Armstrong strikes.
A slow jab from Armstrong misses its intended target.
Armstrong lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
An inside leg kick lands from Svensson.
Armstrong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Armstrong swings widly with a right hand
and Svensson counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson misses with a looping left.
Armstrong swings widly with a right hand
and Svensson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Armstrong's knee momentarily.
Armstrong's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Armstrong connects with the punch.
Armstrong misses with a looping right.
Svensson lands with a hook. Armstrong tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Svensson cracks Armstrong with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Armstrong throws a looping overhand right but Svensson ducks down to avoid it.
Svensson lands with a thumping leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Armstrong. Svensson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Armstrong comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Armstrong looks to land a right hand but Svensson moved out of range.
Armstrong throws a lazy right hand but Svensson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Svensson defending well as Armstrong loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong lands with a hook. Svensson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Armstrong blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Svensson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Armstrong misses with a straight right.
Armstrong misses with a hook. Svensson ducked under it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Armstrong misses the target.
Svensson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Armstrong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Svensson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Armstrong swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Armstrong needs to keep his hands up - Svensson had a free shot at his head there.
Svensson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Svensson slips under a jab from Armstrong.
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 Rutger Svensson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Good leg kick by Svensson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Armstrong rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Svensson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Armstrong misses with a right hand
and Svensson counters with a low kick, right behind Armstrong 's knee.
Svensson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Svensson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Armstrong. Armstrong circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Svensson walks into a left hand.
Svensson walks into a straight right hand from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws out a loose jab but Svensson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Armstrong jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Svensson scores with a jab to the body.
Svensson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Armstrong manages to avoid it.
Armstrong throws a series of punches but Svensson moves out of range.
Svensson lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson cracks a nice hook into Armstrong's ribs.
Svensson with a jab.
Armstrong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Svensson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Armstrong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Svensson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Armstrong.
Armstrong looks to land a right hand but Svensson moved out of range.
Svensson scores with a leg kick.
Svensson scores with a jab.
Armstrong lands a nice looking body shot.
Armstrong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Svensson.
Armstrong misses with a left hand
and Svensson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Armstrong swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Svensson.
Armstrong misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Svensson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Svensson slips under a jab from Armstrong.
Armstrong needs to keep his hands up - Svensson had a free shot at his head there.
Svensson slips a straight right by Armstrong.
Svensson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Armstrong misses with a wild body shot.
No joy there for Svensson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Armstrong misses with a straight left.
Svensson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Svensson moves out of range of the strikes.
Svensson scores with a decent looking hook.
Armstrong keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Svensson throws a combination. Armstrong tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Svensson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson missing with a left hand there. Armstrong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Svensson avoids the body shot from Armstrong.
Svensson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Svensson misses with a wild body shot.
Armstrong stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Svensson blocks a jab.
Svensson throws a sloppy body shot

so Armstrong counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svensson has a closed guard, preventing Armstrong from standing up.
Armstrong throws a strike but Svensson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Svensson slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Armstrong is trying to control but Svensson passes into side control!
A lull in the action here as Svensson stalls from top position.
Armstrong tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rutger Svensson clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Svensson misses with a body shot.
Armstrong throws an overhand right that lands on Svensson's shoulder, as Svensson tries to avoid the shot.
Svensson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Armstrong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Svensson moves away.
That kick from Svensson tenderised Armstrong's leg. Armstrong is trying to keep his angry face on.
Svensson ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.
Svensson looks to land a combination. Armstrong sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Armstrong throws a hook but Svensson blocks it.
Armstrong misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Svensson moves away.
Armstrong with a jab.
Armstrong throws a hook but Svensson avoids it easily.
Armstrong avoids the body shot from Svensson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Armstrong misses.
Armstrong misses with a shot to the body
and Svensson counters with a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Svensson, right into the meat.
Svensson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Svensson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Armstrong has time to react.
A looping hook to the body misses from Armstrong. Svensson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Svensson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Armstrong.
Svensson scores with a body shot.
Svensson looks to land a combination. Armstrong sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Armstrong slips a jab from Svensson.
Armstrong lands a lovely overhand right.
Armstrong connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
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!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Svensson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong catches Svensson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Svensson connects with a single shot there.
Armstrong throws a hook but Svensson blocks it.
Svensson misses with a straight right.
Armstrong misses with a hook
and Svensson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A looping hook to the body misses from Svensson. Armstrong does a little dance to reset his feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Armstrong blocks the leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Armstrong there.
Svensson thumps Armstrong with a low kick.
Svensson misses with a wild combination.
Armstrong lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Armstrong was well out of range. Poor timing from Svensson.
Svensson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
A punch combination from Armstrong misses.
Armstrong misses the jab.
Armstrong misses with a hook. Svensson ducked under it nicely.
Svensson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a lunging right hand
and Svensson counters with a thumping low kick.
Armstrong misses with a hook.
A nice inside leg kick there by Svensson. That's going to slow Armstrong down.
Armstrong connects with a right hand. Svensson shakes it off.
Svensson avoids the body shot from Armstrong.
Svensson connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Svensson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Svensson works the jab nicely.
Svensson misses with the combination.
Svensson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Svensson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Svensson throws a looping overhand right but Armstrong ducks down to avoid it.
Armstrong misses with a looping left.
Svensson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Armstrong manages to avoid it.
Armstrong throws a poor cross that misses
and Svensson counters with a nice leg kick.
Armstrong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Svensson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rutger Svensson had his way with Hank Armstrong in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Svensson. That's going to slow Armstrong down.
Armstrong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Svensson manages to avoid it.
Nice cross by Svensson.
Svensson misses with a body shot

and Armstrong counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Armstrong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Svensson is on top in guard.

Svensson stopping the sweep attempt from Armstrong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong wants to stand but Svensson is controlling the position.
Armstrong throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson stopping the sweep attempt from Armstrong.
Armstrong is still trying to improve position.
Armstrong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Svensson controls the pace.
Armstrong looking for a sweep. Not yet Armstrong, not yet.
Svensson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Svensson scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Armstrong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Armstrong misses the jab.
Svensson scores with a body shot.
Svensson moves out of range as Armstrong strikes.
Svensson lands a head shot.
Good work by Armstrong as he checks the leg kick.
Armstrong takes a swing at Svensson's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Armstrong misses the target.
Svensson moves out of range of the strikes.
Svensson lands with a good body shot.
Armstrong's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Svensson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Armstrong scrambles back to his feet.
Svensson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Svensson.
Armstrong misses with a straight left.
Svensson ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.
Svensson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Svensson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws an overhand right that lands on Svensson's shoulder, as Svensson tries to avoid the shot.
Armstrong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Svensson moves away.
Svensson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Svensson ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.
A jab lands there for Armstrong.
Svensson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
A good leg kick by Svensson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong throws out a loose jab but Svensson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Armstrong stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Svensson.
Rutger Svensson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Armstrong looks to throw the jab but Svensson is out of range.
Svensson lands a nice looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Svensson. Armstrong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Armstrong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Svensson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Svensson staying out of range there.
Good leg kick by Svensson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Armstrong slips a straight right by Svensson.
Armstrong throws a right hand that misses
and Svensson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Armstrong's knee momentarily.
Hank Armstrong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Svensson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rutger Svensson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Svensson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 49:47
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 48:47
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rutger Svensson!
Rutger Svensson is the new middleweight champion!
In defeat, Hank Armstrong stepped up to the mic, saying 'I hope I gave the fans a good performance even though I lost. It just wasn't my night but I'm still alive and if my opponent let's me have another go at him I promise to kill him in the rematch.'.