PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riku Noitalahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakke Pietila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Sakke Pietila was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Noitalahti
vs
Pietila

192 cm
21
267 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

183 cm
20
276 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Noitalahti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sakke Pietila!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pietila doesn't manage to clinch there - Noitalahti circles away.

Pietila clinches with his opponent.
Pietila stalls.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Noitalahti.
Pietila landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.
Pietila lands an elbow inside.
Pietila makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pietila controlling the action here for a moment.
Pietila lands a knee to the body.

Noitalahti breaks the clinch.
Noitalahti throws a big shot that misses.
Pietila scores with a crisp jab that stopped Noitalahti in his tracks.

Pietila instigates a clinch.
Noitalahti tries to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling the position.
Pietila makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pietila lands an elbow inside.
Noitalahti is trying to force a seperation but Pietila has the dominant position.
Pietila lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Noitalahti tries to break free but Pietila pushes him back against the cage.
Pietila unloads a knee to the mid-section. Noitalahti lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Noitalahti is breathing heavily.
Pietila with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Noitalahti has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pietila scores a nice knee to the body.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietila lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Riku Noitalahti has been cut.
Noitalahti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pietila crunches a lovely knee into Noitalahti's ribcage.
Pietila lands a nice elbow.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Noitalahti takes an elbow to the temple.
Pietila tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pietila landing knees to the head.
Pietila lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pietila leaning his opponent against the cage.
Pietila putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noitalahti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A short left from Pietila.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pietila with a knee to the head.
A short right from Pietila on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pietila gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pietila utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pietila makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietila utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pietila will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Noitalahti up against the cage.
Pietila crunches a lovely knee into Noitalahti's ribcage.
Pietila utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pietila lands a damaging elbow.
Pietila lands a nice elbow.
A knee to the head by Pietila.
Pietila is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pietila gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Pietila lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pietila.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pietila obliges.
Pietila connects with a knee to the head.
Pietila pushes Noitalahti back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Noitalahti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pietila scores with a shoulder strike.
Noitalahti has a couple of punches blocked by Pietila.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pietila avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling him.
Pietila lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Noitalahti takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pietila gets through Noitalahti's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pietila gets through Noitalahti's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Pietila.
Pietila with a knee to the head.
Noitalahti takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pietila lands a nice elbow.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.
Pietila presses Noitalahti against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Pietila taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Noitalahti throws a punch but it's blocked by Pietila.
Noitalahti wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pietila lands a knee to the body.
Noitalahti takes an elbow to the temple.
Pietila with a knee to the head.
Pietila lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pietila with a knee to the head.
Noitalahti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pietila lands a good knee to the midsection. Noitalahti won't want to take too many of those.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pietila.
Pietila lands a hook to the side of the head.
Noitalahti has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Knees to the body from Pietila.
Pietila lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pietila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Noitalahti takes a knee to the side of the body.
Noitalahti takes a knee to the side of the body.
Noitalahti working hard to break the clinch.
Pietila tries to land a knee to the head but Noitalahti blocks with his arms.
Pietila lands a hook that snaps the head of Noitalahti backwards.

Noitalahti breaks from the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Pietila blocks the leg kick.

Pietila drives through and clinches with Noitalahti against the cage.
Pietila connects with a nasty looking knee right to Noitalahti's face.
Noitalahti is looking to break free of the clinch but Pietila has double underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietila lands with a right to the head.
Noitalahti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Noitalahti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Noitalahti has had enough of the clinch but Pietila keeps him there for the moment.
A nice left hand lands by Pietila.
Pietila keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Noitalahti's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakke Pietila dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Riku Noitalahti's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jab by Pietila.
Noitalahti will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Noitalahti tries to bum rush Pietila with a series of wild strikes but Pietila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pietila doesn't manage to clinch there - Noitalahti circles away.
Pietila is looking to clinch but Noitalahti is avoiding it.
Noitalahti throws a leg kick that misses.
Noitalahti just misses with a punch to the body.
Riku Noitalahti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pietila tries to close the distance and clinch but Noitalahti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Pietila moves into the clinch successfully.
Pietila works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Noitalahti tries to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling the position.
Pietila landing knees to the body.
Pietila lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
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!
Pietila lands a hook that snaps the head of Noitalahti backwards.
Pietila lands a good knee to the midsection. Noitalahti won't want to take too many of those.
Pietila putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noitalahti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pietila stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pietila lands a knee to the head.
Pietila lands an elbow that stopped Noitalahti in his tracks for a moment.
Pietila putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noitalahti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.
Pietila landing knees to the body.
Noitalahti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sakke Pietila seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pietila creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Noitalahti's defenses.
A head punch on the inside from Noitalahti fails to land.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pietila creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pietila is struggling to control the position.
Pietila misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noitalahti.
Pietila pushes Noitalahti back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Noitalahti manages to break the clinch.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut. Pietila saw that one coming.
Nice body punch from Noitalahti.
Pietila tries to clinch up.
Noitalahti throws a hook but Pietila blocks it.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut. Pietila saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pietila looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pietila walks into a straight right hand from Noitalahti.
Pietila blocks a low kick nicely.
A punch combination from Noitalahti misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Noitalahti tries to keep at a distance but Pietila has taken the fight into the clinch.
Noitalahti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pietila lands a right hand that snaps the head of Noitalahti backwards.
Pietila stalling in the clinch.
Pietila landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pietila creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Noitalahti's defenses.
Pietila lands a damaging elbow.
Pietila has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pietila lands with a left to the head.
Noitalahti wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pietila lands a right hand that snaps the head of Noitalahti backwards.
Pietila lands an elbow inside.
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!
Pietila lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Noitalahti backwards.
Pietila digs a right hand underneath Noitalahti's ribcage. Noitalahti let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Pietila with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pietila is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pietila lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Noitalahti tries to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling the position.
Pietila is pushing Noitalahti up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Noitalahti tries to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietila lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pietila throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Noitalahtis head.
Pietila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pietila lands with a left to the head.
Pietila misses with a knee to the head.
Noitalahti is trying to break free.
Noitalahti is looking to break free of the clinch but Pietila has double underhooks.
Pietila lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pietila lands with a light punch inside.
Pietila putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noitalahti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pietila landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pietila gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pietila.
Pietila scores a nice knee to the body.
Noitalahti can't break the clinch.
Pietila stalling against the cage.
Pietila lands a damaging elbow.
A short right from Pietila on the inside.
Pietila lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Noitalahti.
Noitalahti wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling him.
Pietila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pietila lands with a light punch inside.
Pietila tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pietila utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pietila lands with a right to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Noitalahti's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pietila lands a good knee to the midsection. Noitalahti won't want to take too many of those.
Good body shot from Pietila.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pietila creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Noitalahti is looking to break free of the clinch but Pietila has double underhooks.
Pietila lands an elbow just above Noitalahti 's eye.
Pietila with a knee to the head.
Noitalahti wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pietila scores a nice knee to the body.
Noitalahti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietila unloads a knee to the mid-section. Noitalahti lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Noitalahti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pietila tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Noitalahti wants to get back to striking at distance but Pietila won't allow it.
Pietila lands a nice elbow.
Pietila tries a knee to the head but Noitalahti blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakke Pietila showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Riku Noitalahti's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Noitalahti avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pietila staying out of range there.
Noitalahti throws a series of punches but Pietila avoids them all with ease.
Noitalahti is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pietila tries to close the distance and clinch but Noitalahti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pietila slips under a jab from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti misses with an uppercut.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pietila in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Pietila has closed the distance and engaged Noitalahti in a clinch.
Pietila lands a knee to the body.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pietila scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pietila lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pietila lands an elbow inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pietila.
Pietila scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pietila.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pietila using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Noitalahti is trying to force a seperation but Pietila has the dominant position.
Pietila lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietila is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Noitalahti blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noitalahti wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Noitalahti wants to break the clinch but can't.
Noitalahti's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pietila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Noitalahti or not.
Pietila's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Noitalahti takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pietila putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noitalahti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pietila with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pietila is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pietila connects with a nasty looking knee right to Noitalahti's face.
Noitalahti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pietila gets through Noitalahti's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pietila lands a shot to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pietila misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noitalahti.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.
A hook to the body from Pietila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Noitalahti scores with a hook to the body.
Noitalahti can't break the clinch.
Noitalahti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pietila is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Noitalahti is defending well for now.
Noitalahti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.
Noitalahti can't break the clinch.
Noitalahti misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Pietila.
Pietila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pietila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Noitalahti throws a head punch that misses.
Pietila lands an elbow just above Noitalahti 's eye.
Noitalahti lands with a left to the head.
Pietila lands a nice elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Pietila.
Pietila stalling against the cage.
Pietila putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noitalahti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Pietila.
Pietila digs a right hand underneath Noitalahti's ribcage. Noitalahti let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A knee to the head by Pietila.
Pietila is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Noitalahti is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietila throws a knee to the head but misses.
Noitalahti tries to circle away but Pietila has him pinned against the cage.
Noitalahti dodges an elbow strike from Pietila.
Pietila throws an elbow but it misses.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Pietila.
Noitalahti blocks an elbow strike from Pietila.
Pietila has Noitalahti pressed against the cage, preventing Noitalahti from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pietila pushes off an throws an elbow but Noitalahti leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.
Pietila lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Pietila.
Pietila landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Pietila.
A knee to the head by Pietila.
Pietila lands an elbow just above Noitalahti 's eye.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.

Noitalahti manages to break the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pietila checks a leg kick.
Pietila throws a combination. Noitalahti tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Pietila has closed the distance and engaged Noitalahti in a clinch.
Pietila stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietila stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pietila lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pietila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pietila lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Pietila.
Sakke Pietila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pietila lands a nice knee to the body.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling him.
Pietila lands an elbow just above Noitalahti 's eye.
Noitalahti is trying to break free.
Noitalahti wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Riku Noitalahti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pietila throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Noitalahti blocks it with crossed arms.
Pietila lands an elbow that stopped Noitalahti in his tracks for a moment.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noitalahti takes a knee to the side of the body.
Noitalahti is trying to break the clinch but Pietila is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Noitalahti.
Pietila lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sakke Pietila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pietila winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sakke Pietila!