PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joonas Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Sulkijalihas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saarinen comes to the cage accompanied by Sika. Sulkijalihas has chosen SMC Hoodrats as his entrance music. Joonas Saarinen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Saarinen
vs
Sulkijalihas

182 cm
20
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonas Saarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Sulkijalihas!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sulkijalihas throws out a loose jab but Saarinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sulkijalihas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sulkijalihas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saarinen as he jumps to the side.
Saarinen misses with a double jab.
Seppo Sulkijalihas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saarinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sulkijalihas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saarinen.

Saarinen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Saarinen showed some decent athleticism there.
Sulkijalihas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Sulkijalihas pushes Saarinen off looking to stand but Saarinen dives back in and keeps control.
Saarinen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sulkijalihas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sulkijalihas tries to roll over but Saarinen keeps him under control.

Sulkijalihas kicks off Saarinen and gets to his feet.
Sulkijalihas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saarinen misses with a straight right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sulkijalihas walks away with a smile on his face. Saarinen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sulkijalihas gets a takedown into half guard.
Sulkijalihas is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saarinen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sulkijalihas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sulkijalihas stopping the sweep attempt from Saarinen.
Sulkijalihas wants to stand but Saarinen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Saarinen wants to sweep here but Sulkijalihas controlling him for the moment.
Sulkijalihas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saarinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saarinen is on top in guard.
Saarinen wants to control from the top but Sulkijalihas keeps moving.
Sulkijalihas looking for a sweep. Not yet Sulkijalihas, not yet.
Sulkijalihas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Saarinen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Saarinen cracks Sulkijalihas with a big elbow.
Saarinen is looking to take a break and control but Sulkijalihas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sulkijalihas is trying to buck Saarinen off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sulkijalihas regains half guard.
Sulkijalihas wants to improve his position but Saarinen is controlling well.

Sulkijalihas kicks Saarinen off and gets back to his feet.
Saarinen slips under a jab.
Sulkijalihas lands a head kick. Saarinen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Decent striking displayed by Saarinen there.

Saarinen shoots in and bounces Sulkijalihas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Saarinen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sulkijalihas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sulkijalihas wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Saarinen manages to pass to side control.
Sulkijalihas looks gassed!
Saarinen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Saarinen landing punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saarinen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sulkijalihas is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Saarinen has taken his back!
Sulkijalihas turns into Saarinen and is now in his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sulkijalihas is looking to stand up but Saarinen won't let him.
Sulkijalihas tries to free his leg and advance position but Saarinen is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonas Saarinen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sulkijalihas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sulkijalihas fakes the leg kick and cracks Saarinen in the body.
Sulkijalihas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saarinen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saarinen shoots in but Sulkijalihas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that misses.
Sulkijalihas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sulkijalihas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saarinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sulkijalihas.
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sulkijalihas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Saarinen throws a nice looking combination but Sulkijalihas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sulkijalihas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Sulkijalihas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Joonas Saarinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sulkijalihas lands a head kick. Saarinen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sulkijalihas shoots in for a double leg but Saarinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joonas Saarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Sulkijalihas.

Sulkijalihas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saarinen!
Saarinen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Saarinen tries to hold on but Sulkijalihas postures up.
Sulkijalihas dominating with strikes here.
Saarinen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sulkijalihas gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Sulkijalihas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saarinen.
Sulkijalihas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sulkijalihas tries a head kick but it misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Sulkijalihas blocks the leg kick.
Sulkijalihas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that half lands.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick but Saarinen moves out of range.

Sulkijalihas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sulkijalihas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Saarinen is rocked!

Sulkijalihas working for a guillotine from mount but Saarinen is in no mood to give up.
Oh Saarinen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sulkijalihas with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulkijalihas wants to get back to his feet but Saarinen is holding on tight.

Sulkijalihas working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Saarinen seems to have got his legs back now.
Saarinen is trying desperately to improve position.
Sulkijalihas is looking to stand but Sulkijalihas has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Saarinen can't escape the position.
Saarinen tries to hold on but Sulkijalihas postures up.

Sulkijalihas gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four 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.
Saarinen lands a jab.
Saarinen throws a one two combo.
Sulkijalihas throws a head kick that misses.
Sulkijalihas lands with a kick to the temple. Saarinen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Sulkijalihas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sulkijalihas tries to free his leg and advance position but Saarinen is retaining full guard.

Saarinen has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Sulkijalihas should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Saarinen has tightened it up now! Sulkijalihas should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joonas Saarinen!