PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Iikka Runnisto (ranked 336 p4p, 41 weight class) and Michael Garibaldi (ranked 624 p4p, 85 weight class). Runnisto comes to the cage accompanied by Alta Pois - Sie sua näkköös!. Garibaldi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Resist and Bite - Sabaton. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Runnisto
vs
Garibaldi

182 cm
31
192 lbs
27 - 13 - 2

190 cm
26
200 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 27 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Iikka Runnisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Garibaldi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Runnisto swings away with a body shot that misses
and Garibaldi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A left lands for Runnisto.
Garibaldi throws a looping overhand right but Runnisto ducks down to avoid it.
Runnisto works the jab nicely.
Runnisto lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Runnisto throws a looping overhand right but Garibaldi ducks down to avoid it.
Runnisto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Runnisto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice uppercut lands for Runnisto. That snapped Garibaldi's head back.
Garibaldi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Runnisto misses with a right hand
and Garibaldi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Garibaldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Runnisto throws a right hand that misses
and Garibaldi counters with a nice body kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Runnisto!
A combination from Runnisto does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runnisto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Runnisto throws a right and a left that Garibaldi avoids nicely.
Garibaldi looks to land a body kick but Runnisto moved away.
A nice combination there by Runnisto.
Garibaldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garibaldi blocks a jab.
Runnisto connects with a single shot there.

Garibaldi clinches up against the cage.
Garibaldi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Garibaldi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Garibaldi lands a shoulder strike.
Runnisto gets through Garibaldi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garibaldi digs a right hand underneath Runnisto's ribcage. Runnisto let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Garibaldi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Runnisto backwards.
Garibaldi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garibaldi.
Garibaldi blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi lands a shot to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Runnisto fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garibaldi.
Garibaldi can't find room to land a body shot as Runnisto controls the action.
Runnisto misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Runnisto.
Garibaldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Runnisto's elbow.
Garibaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Garibaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Garibaldi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Runnisto has a couple of punches blocked by Garibaldi.
Garibaldi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Runnisto.
Garibaldi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Runnisto can't find room to land a body shot as Garibaldi controls the action.
A right handed body shot lands from Garibaldi.
Runnisto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Garibaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Runnisto controls his hands.
Garibaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Runnisto controls his hands.
Garibaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Runnisto.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Runnisto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Garibaldi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Runnisto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Garibaldi pulls guard effortlessly.

Garibaldi looking for a guillotine here but Runnisto defends easily.
Runnisto stays in close to Garibaldi's body and controls the position.

Garibaldi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Runnisto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garibaldi is trying to control the position but Runnisto postures up.
Runnisto controls from within his opponent's guard.

Garibaldi throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Runnisto escapes and throws Garibaldi's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Runnisto slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iikka Runnisto dominated that round.
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.

Runnisto throws a nice looking combination but Garibaldi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Runnisto throws an overhand right that lands on Garibaldi's shoulder, as Garibaldi tries to avoid the shot.
Garibaldi misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Garibaldi.
Runnisto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garibaldi can do to turn this around?
Runnisto misses with a hook. Garibaldi ducked under it nicely.
Runnisto misses with a looping left.
Iikka Runnisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Runnisto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Runnisto bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Garibaldi's head.
Runnisto throws a body punch but Garibaldi moves out of range.
Garibaldi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runnisto moves out of range of the body kick from Garibaldi.
Nice straight punches there by Garibaldi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Garibaldi.
Runnisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Runnisto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garibaldi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garibaldi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runnisto.
Runnisto misses with a looping right.
A nice side step and Garibaldi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Garibaldi misses with a left hand
and Runnisto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Runnisto staying out of range there.
Runnisto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
It looks like Runnisto has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Runnisto throws a jab when Garibaldi was well out of range.
Runnisto misses with a two punch combination.
Garibaldi thinks about the counter body kick.
Runnisto misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from Runnisto misses.
Runnisto misses with a looping right.
Runnisto throws a lazy uppercut

and Garibaldi counters with a head kick that drops Runnisto to the mat! Runnisto scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Runnisto is rocked!
Runnisto gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Garibaldi gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Runnisto is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Garibaldi!
Michael Garibaldi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.