PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hito Sakaruba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olavi Neumann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakaruba comes to the cage accompanied by Bleed it Out . Neumann has chosen Pantera - Cowboys From Hell as his entrance music. 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.

Sakaruba
vs
Neumann

190 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
20
224 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Hito Sakaruba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olavi Neumann!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neumann will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sakaruba looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Neumann blocks a head kick by Sakaruba.
Nice straight punches there by Neumann. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Neumann.
Sakaruba has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sakaruba there as he acknowledges the shot.
Neumann buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Neumann closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Neumann takes a little break here. Sakaruba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Neumann is putting a hurting on Sakaruba here, landing some big shots from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Neumann decides to stand back up.
Neumann throws a sloppy head kick
and Sakaruba counters with a stiff right hand.
Neumann lands a two punch combo.
Neumann lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sakaruba circles away quickly and effectively.

Neumann scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Neumann takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neumann decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Neumann rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sakaruba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neumann connects with the punch.
Neumann throws a head kick but Sakaruba moves out of range.
Neumann lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Neumann.
Neumann scores with a nice strike.
Neumann lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Neumann cracks Sakaruba with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Neumann looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Neumann throws a series of punches but Sakaruba avoids them all with ease.
Neumann misses with a takedown attempt - Sakaruba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hito Sakaruba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Neumann fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sakaruba.
A right-left combo lands from Neumann.
Neumann scores with a nice strike.
Sakaruba closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A thudding body kick lands there by Neumann!
Neumann tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neumann connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Neumann throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Neumann lands a jab to the head.

Neumann closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sakaruba scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Neumann manages to mount him!
Neumann really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakaruba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Neumann won't let Sakaruba get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Neumann content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olavi Neumann dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Neumann smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Neumann swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Neumann with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sakaruba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Neumann cracks Sakaruba with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Neumann fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sakaruba is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Neumann.

Neumann has taken the fight to the clinch.

Neumann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Neumann lands a nice looking body shot.
Neumann punishes Sakaruba's body with a nice straight punch.
Neumann dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Neumann scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neumann misses with a head kick.
Hito Sakaruba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Neumann connects with a high kick.

Sakaruba is rocked!

Neumann closes the distance looking for a takedown. Sakaruba stuffs it but Neumann still has hold of him. Neumann picks Sakaruba up in a fireman's lift! The crowd roars in approval. Neumann slams Sakaruba to the floor and that's really hurt Sakaruba - he doesn't know where he is! Neumann throws a couple of strikes and the referee steps in to save him! This one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Olavi Neumann!