PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazu Saku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Svensson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Svensson has chosen swedish national anthem as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Saku
vs
Svensson

183 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kazu Saku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sven Svensson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saku looks for a takedown but Svensson sprawls well.
Saku fails with a takedown attempt.

Saku rushes Svensson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Svensson works on Saku's body with a couple of short punches.

Svensson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Svensson shoots in but Saku avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Saku drives through with a takedown into guard.
Svensson wants to stand but Saku is controlling the position.
Saku controls from within his opponent's guard.
Svensson wants to stand and escape but Saku is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saku controls from within his opponent's guard.
Svensson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saku is one step ahead there.
Saku wants to control from the top but Svensson keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Svensson pushes Saku up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Svensson stalls.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Svensson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Svensson throws a punch but it's blocked by Saku.
Saku fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazu Saku. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Svensson manages to break the clinch.
Svensson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Saku counters with a takedown into side control.
Saku controls the position.
Saku tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Svensson trying to control but Saku flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saku is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Saku is breathing heavily.

Saku working for a choke but Svensson is defending well.
Saku really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Svensson.
Svensson is trying to stand back up.
Svensson rolls, trying to escape but Saku keeps control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Svensson showing good submission defense here.
Svensson wants to escape the position.
Svensson prevents Saku from getting a body triangle.
Saku throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Svensson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Saku.
Saku controlling well, preventing Svensson from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Svensson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saku as he avoids it easily.
Svensson shoots and misses

and Saku counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Svensson!
Saku looking to control but Svensson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Svensson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saku. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Svensson is looking to improve his position but Saku isn't that keen on the idea.
Saku controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saku fails to advance to Svensson's back.
Saku landing punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Svensson tries to lock up and control but Saku gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saku controlling from the full mount.
Saku blocks Svensson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Svensson is squirming around, avoiding Saku's attempts to control the action.
Svensson is desperately trying to improve his position but Saku has a good base and remains in mount.
Svensson wants to hold on but Saku pushes him away.
Saku tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two 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.
Saku seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Svensson for as long as he can get away with.
Saku wants to control the pace but Svensson is squirming around nicely.
Svensson wants to hold on but Saku pushes him away.
Svensson is looking to improve his position but Saku isn't that keen on the idea.

Saku is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Svensson tries a head kick but it misses.
Saku tries for a takedown but Svensson circles away easily

and Svensson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saku's head.
Svensson prevents Saku from standing back up.
Svensson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Svensson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Saku wants to control but Svensson is keeping busy.
Svensson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Svensson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Saku knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Svensson is nestled in close to Saku, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Svensson shoots and misses

and Saku counters with a takedown into side control.
Kazu Saku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Svensson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Saku stalls from top position.
Saku trying to control the action but Svensson is working from the bottom.
Svensson pushes Saku away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Saku gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Saku is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Svensson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazu Saku dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Saku drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saku tries to free his leg and advance position but Svensson is retaining full guard.
Svensson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Saku looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saku is looking to stand up but Svensson won't let him.
Saku stopping the sweep attempt from Svensson.
Svensson controlling the position.
Saku postures up in Svensson's guard and throws a big left but Svensson blocks it.
Svensson managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Svensson looking for a sweep. Not yet Svensson, not yet.
Saku throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Svensson shoots for a double leg takedown but Saku sprawls well. He's pushed Svensson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saku shoots and misses

and Svensson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Svensson throws and elbow that misses. Saku uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Svensson's guard. Nice move by Saku!
Saku throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Svensson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saku not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Saku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Svensson is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Saku controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Svensson trying to control the position.

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.
Saku content to stall in guard here.
Svensson is trying to control the position but Saku postures up.
Saku looking to pass the guard.
Saku would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kazu Saku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Svensson is pulling down on Saku's head. It's preventing any offense from Saku, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sven Svensson.
I think Saku has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazu Saku!