PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reijo Ruthman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruthman's entrance music is Special Teamz - Get Down. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ruthman
vs
Hardy

185 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reijo Ruthman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy throws a series of punches but Ruthman avoids them all with ease.

Ruthman clinches.
Ruthman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hardy avoids it.
Hardy tries to break free but Ruthman pushes him back against the cage.
Hardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hardy tries to break the clinch but Ruthman is controlling the position.
Ruthman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ruthman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hardy lands a knee to the body.

Ruthman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Hardy stands up and waves to Ruthman to follow him.
Hardy throws a push kick but Ruthman slaps the foot to one side.
Hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Ruthman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hardy circles away quickly and effectively.
Ruthman blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Ruthman lands with a kick to the temple. Hardy shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice uppercut there from Ruthman.
George Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy thumps Ruthman with a low kick.
Hardy gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ruthman checks a leg kick.
Hardy throws a low kick but Ruthman avoids it.
Hardy scores with a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruthman throws a right and a left that Hardy avoids nicely.
Hardy walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruthman moves away.
Hardy misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruthman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
George Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruthman is breathing heavily.
Hardy lands a high kick!
Hardy throws a head kick that misses
letting Ruthman counter with a right hand.
Ruthman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ruthman counters with a straight right hand.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardy thumps Ruthman with a low kick.
Hardy plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruthman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Ruthman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy throws a combination. Ruthman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ruthman blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a leg kick
and Ruthman counters with a stiff right hand.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Ruthman moves out of range.
Ruthman lands with a thumping leg kick.

Ruthman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hardy, pushing him back against the cage.
Ruthman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.

Ruthman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hardy, pushing him back against the cage.
Hardy pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Ruthman pulls guard successfully.
Ruthman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ruthman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hardy working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ruthman's head.
Hardy lands a couple of elbows.

Ruthman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hardy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy throws a big right hand that misses.

Ruthman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ruthman is working an open guard so Hardy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hardy dodges the punch combination from Ruthman.
Hardy takes one to the chin there.
Hardy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruthman cracks the inside of Hardy's front leg.
Ruthman throws out a loose jab but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head kick by Hardy misses
and Ruthman counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hardy's knee momentarily.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Ruthman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy tries a low kick but Ruthman avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruthman scores with a nice strike.
Hardy misses with a body kick.
A solid body kick from Hardy.
Hardy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ruthman avoids a kick to the body.
Ruthman looks to land a left hand but Hardy moved out of range nicely.
A head kick by Hardy misses

and Ruthman counters by moving into the clinch.

Ruthman pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruthman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hardy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hardy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ruthman is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ruthman throws a nice head kick!
Hardy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hardy scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but George Hardy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ruthman moves into the clinch.

Ruthman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ruthman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Ruthman is looking for a triangle but Hardy pushes his legs off easily.
Ruthman has a closed guard, preventing Hardy from standing up.

Hardy decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ruthman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardy.
Hardy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruthman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardy looks to land a combination but Ruthman avoids it well.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
Ruthman connects with a right hand. Hardy shakes it off.
Danga de danga de dang - Ruthman scores with a four punch combination!
A punch combination from Hardy misses.
Ruthman scores with a one two! Hardy had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ruthman looks for a takedown but Hardy sprawls well.
Hardy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ruthman.
Hardy is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ruthman moves into the clinch.
Ruthman tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Ruthman drops back down to his feet.
Ruthman tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Ruthman drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Ruthman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruthman has him pressed against the cage.
Ruthman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardy just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hardy is trying to break free.
Ruthman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Ruthman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ruthman has his foot on Hardy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hardy works his way back into a safe position though.

Hardy is sitting in close to Ruthman's body. Ruthman has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Hardy is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Hardy is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Ruthman.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Reijo Ruthman!