PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hermanni Aarnio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roope Rautakoura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aarnio
vs
Rautakoura

184 cm
20
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

177 cm
24
185 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hermanni Aarnio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roope Rautakoura!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rautakoura fails to land the takedown.
Aarnio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aarnio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rautakoura.
Aarnio lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Aarnio clinches.
Rautakoura changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aarnio fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hermanni Aarnio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roope Rautakoura.
A combination from Rautakoura does no damage.
Aarnio wants to clinch but Rautakoura slips to the side

and Rautakoura counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Aarnio pushes Rautakoura off looking to stand but Rautakoura dives back in and keeps control.

Aarnio makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Aarnio tries to sprawl but Rautakoura drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Rautakoura working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Aarnio's thigh. Aarnio counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Rautakoura advances position into side control!
Aarnio is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rautakoura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Aarnio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Aarnio wants to get back to his feet.
Aarnio prevents Rautakoura from moving into mount.

Rautakoura swings around for an armbar but Aarnio sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rautakoura's guard.
Rautakoura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aarnio wants to get up but he can't break Rautakoura's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rautakoura looking to control.
Aarnio wants to control from the top but Rautakoura keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rautakoura has his hands on Aarnio's head, controlling the position.

Aarnio gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Aarnio tries to clinch up

and Rautakoura counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rautakoura.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rautakoura postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Aarnio is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rautakoura, into his guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rautakoura is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rautakoura scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Rautakoura drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rautakoura won't allow Aarnio to get back to his feet.

Rautakoura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rautakoura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rautakoura looking to pass the guard.
Aarnio wants to stand but Rautakoura is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautakoura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aarnio is keeping the position for now.
Rautakoura passes Aarnio's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rautakoura wants to pass to mount but Aarnio is defending the position.

Rautakoura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Aarnio is just riding it out for now. Rautakoura eventually gives up the hold.

Rautakoura wants to work for an arm triangle but Aarnio is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roope Rautakoura dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aarnio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aarnio wants it to stay on the feet.
Aarnio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rautakoura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aarnio closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rautakoura counters with a shoot takedown. Aarnio fights it but they end up in guard.
Rautakoura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aarnio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rautakoura slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rautakoura fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Rautakoura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aarnio is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rautakoura tries for a kimura but Aarnio is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aarnio explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Rautakoura throws a combination. Aarnio tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rautakoura changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aarnio tries to avoid it but Rautakoura manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aarnio to the ground. Aarnio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aarnio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rautakoura circles away quickly and effectively.
Aarnio wants to clinch.

Aarnio gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aarnio using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Aarnio is pressed up against the cage. Rautakoura has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aarnio down to the mat. Aarnio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hermanni Aarnio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roope Rautakoura.
Rautakoura changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aarnio tries to avoid it but Rautakoura manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aarnio to the ground. Aarnio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rautakoura is breathing heavily.
Rautakoura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio closes the distance but Rautakoura moves to the side

and Rautakoura counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aarnio is looking to stand up but Rautakoura isn't so interested in that idea.

Aarnio wriggles free and stands up.
Hermanni Aarnio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Aarnio as Rautakoura shoots in.
Aarnio tries to clinch but Rautakoura moves away

and Rautakoura counters with a single leg into guard. Aarnio didn't expect that.
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!
Rautakoura won't allow Aarnio to get back to his feet.
Rautakoura throwing strikes from guard but Aarnio blocks nicely.
Rautakoura tries to free his leg and advance position but Aarnio is retaining full guard.
Rautakoura is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautakoura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aarnio wants to stand and escape but Rautakoura is having none of it.
Rautakoura looking to pass the guard.
Rautakoura thows a big elbow that misses.
Roope Rautakoura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rautakoura tries to free his leg and advance position but Aarnio is retaining full guard.
Rautakoura stops Aarnio from standing up.
Rautakoura forces his way into half guard.
Aarnio is looking to escape.
Rautakoura passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautakoura works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Rautakoura is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Aarnio is trying to escape and Rautakoura transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Aarnio is forced to tap! Nice work there by Rautakoura! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Roope Rautakoura!