PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ulfric Einarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego Rubio looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Einarsson
vs
Rubio

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
186 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ulfric Einarsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Diego Rubio!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Einarsson looking to score a takedown here. Rubio is defending well but Einarsson drives through and ends up in Rubio's guard.
Einarsson pushing down on Rubio's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rubio wants to control but Einarsson is keeping busy.
Einarsson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Einarsson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rubio with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Einarsson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rubio has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Pro Pain Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Rubio is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Einarsson seems to be looking for submissions.
Einarsson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Einarsson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Einarsson is keen to just control but Rubio is a slippery customer.
Einarsson is controlling the pace.
Rubio is trying to control but can't.
Einarsson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ground and pound from Einarsson.

Einarsson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rubio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Einarsson.
Einarsson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rubio tries to lock up and control but Einarsson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Einarsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rubio is desperately trying to improve his position but Einarsson has a good base and remains in mount.
Einarsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rubio is wriggling around trying to escape.
Einarsson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Einarsson wants to control the pace but Rubio is squirming around nicely.

Einarsson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rubio is surviving well by controlling Einarsson's body position as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Einarsson tries to control but Rubio wriggling away.
Einarsson controlling his opponent.
Einarsson landing shots from mount.
Einarsson 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.

Einarsson working for a guillotine from mount but Rubio is in no mood to give up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Einarsson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rubio is looking to escape.
Einarsson is landing with some decent strikes but Rubio is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulfric Einarsson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Good exchange - Rubio coming out on top.

Einarsson pushes Rubio up against the cage in a clinch.
Rubio tries to break free but Einarsson pushes him back against the cage.

Rubio manages to break the clinch.
Rubio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Einarsson tries to clinch but Rubio is having none of it.

Rubio drives through and clinches with Einarsson against the cage.

Einarsson pulls guard.
Einarsson working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubio being controlled here momentarily.
Rubio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rubio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Einarsson, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rubio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Einarsson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Einarsson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Einarsson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rubio is breathing heavily.
Einarsson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rubio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Einarsson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rubio keeping moving, preventing Einarsson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Einarsson cracks Rubio with a solid left hand.
Einarsson is stalling in the full guard.
Einarsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Einarsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rubio, which made it look bad.
Einarsson misses with a two punch combination.
Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Einarsson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ulfric Einarsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rubio instigates a clinch.

Einarsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Einarsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rubio tries to avoid it but Einarsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rubio to the ground. Rubio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ulfric Einarsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubio tries to clinch but Einarsson is having none of it.
Einarsson tries to counter by clinching up but Rubio breaks away and moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Rubio as Einarsson shoots in.

Einarsson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rubio's guard.

Rubio has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Einarsson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Einarsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rubio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diego Rubio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Einarsson shoots in but Rubio avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rubio drives through and clinches with Einarsson against the cage.

Einarsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rubio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Einarsson.
Rubio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Einarsson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rubio swivels and escapes.
Rubio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rubio just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromEinarsson.
Einarsson shoots in for a double leg but Rubio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rubio rushes Einarsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rubio stalling the fight.
Einarsson slowing the pace effectively.

Einarsson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Rubio has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Einarsson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rubio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rubio pushes Einarsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Rubio stalling against the cage.

Rubio breaks the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Einarsson.
Einarsson shoots in for a takedown but Rubio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rubio closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rubio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Einarsson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rubio to keep the fight standing.
Einarsson stalls.

Einarsson pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Einarsson looking to control.
Einarsson wants to sweep here but Rubio controlling him for the moment.

Einarsson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Einarsson controls Rubio momentarily but Rubio frees himself.

Einarsson is looking for a triangle but Rubio pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Einarsson tries to strike from the bottom.
Einarsson managing to control the position.
Einarsson 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rubio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Einarsson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rubio gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rubio gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rubio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Einarsson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Rubio wants to take a breather but Einarsson is having none of it.
Einarsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rubio is working away from the top position though.
Einarsson wants to control but Rubio passes into side.
Einarsson wants to control but Rubio postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rubio is looking to take a break and control but Einarsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Einarsson tries to improve position but can't.
Einarsson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Einarsson is trying to stand back up but Rubio is controlling him
Rubio prevents Einarsson from improving his position.
Rubio blocks the strikes from Einarsson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rubio is looking for a kimura but Einarsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rubio to get the leverage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Rubio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rubio has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Rubio!