PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saku Sammakko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sammakko comes to the cage accompanied by Saku Sammakko. Knight comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Let's Fighting Love kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Sammakko
vs
Knight

171 cm
21
166 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
167 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Saku Sammakko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Will Knight!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Sammakko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sammakko.
Knight moves in looking to clinch but Sammakko pushes him off.
Knight misses with a looping right.
Sammakko slips under a jab.
Sammakko slips under a jab from Knight.
Knight looks to land a right hand but Sammakko moved out of range.
Sammakko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sammakko moves into range and clinches up with Knight.
Knight tries to circle away but Sammakko has him pinned against the cage.
Sammakko effectively controlling the action here.
A head punch on the inside from Sammakko fails to land.
Sammakko leaning against his opponent.
A left hand lands to the body for Sammakko.
Sammakko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Knight walks away with a smile on his face. Sammakko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Knight misses its intended target.
Knight missing with a left hand there. Sammakko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Will Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sammakko gets the takedown into side control.
Knight is looking for a sweep.
Sammakko creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Knight sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammakko tries to score with some ground and pound. Knight controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sammakko working the ground and pound.

Sammakko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sammakko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knight, who protects the arm well.
Sammakko wants to control but Knight is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Sammakko.
Sammakko throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Knight works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight is pressing down on Sammakko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Knight preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sammakko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knight wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sammakko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sammakko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight is pulling down on Sammakko's head. It's preventing any offense from Sammakko, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Sammakko from controlling successfully.
Knight wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Knight thows a body shot but no joy.
Knight loads up on a big right hand but Sammakko slips the punch.
Knight throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sammakko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Knight uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sammakko has time to react.
Knight connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Knight drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight thows a big elbow that misses.
Knight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sammakko controls Knight momentarily but Knight frees himself.
Knight content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sammakko trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Knight throws a big right hand that misses.
Knight throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sammakko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Knight scoring with some ground and pound.
Knight looks gassed!
Knight lands a couple of elbows.
Sammakko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sammakko is trying to control the position but Knight postures up.

Sammakko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Will Knight will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Knight thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knight throws a shot from downtown. Sammakko moves away and avoids it.
Knight lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sammakko circles away quickly and effectively.
Knight throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sammakko avoids the body shot from Knight.
Knight misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sammakko.
Knight throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sammakko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight missing with a left hand there. Sammakko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Saku Sammakko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sammakko slips under a jab.
Sammakko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sammakko moves out of range as Knight strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Knight.
Knight is breathing heavily.
Sammakko moves out of range of the strikes.
Sammakko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knight throws a jab but it's blocked by Sammakko.
Sammakko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Knight throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sammakko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sammakko misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick from Sammakko lands but Knight takes it in his stride.
Knight throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sammakko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Knight looks to land a right hand but Sammakko moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sammakko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sammakko tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sammakko.

Sammakko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sammakko in side control, throwing shots but Knight defends.
Knight is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sammakko off and has taken his back!
Sammakko takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammakko trying to control the hands but Knight won't let him.
Sammakko tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Knight landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sammakko is in a horrible position here. Knight smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Knight lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sammakko hang on?
Sammakko is trying desperately to improve position.
Sammakko is working hard here to advance position.
Knight lands a big shot there that rocks Sammakko but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sammakko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Knight working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight lands with some strikes.
Knight has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sammakko's face.
Knight is landing with some decent strikes but Sammakko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sammakko is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Knight connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sammakko regains half guard.
Knight with the ground and pound but Sammakko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Knight thows a big elbow that misses.
Sammakko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sammakko controls Knight momentarily but Knight frees himself.
Sammakko is really struggling to control Knight but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Knight thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knight throws a hook but Sammakko blocks it.

Sammakko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knight throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knight throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sammakko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Knight throws out the jab.
Sammakko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Knight stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sammakko moves away from the strike by Knight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sammakko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Knight throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sammakko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Knight takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knight falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sammakko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sammakko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sammakko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sammakko slows down the pace here.
Knight wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knight is trying to break the clinch but Sammakko has him pressed against the cage.
Knight is trying to force a seperation but Sammakko has the dominant position.
Knight blocks an elbow strike.
Knight wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sammakko blocks an uppercut.
Knight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Knight breaks from the clinch.

Sammakko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Knight to the mat! Knight manages to get full guard.
Knight is adopting a defensive guard.
Knight wants to sweep but no luck.
Sammakko wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sammakko wants to pass the guard but Knight is keeping the position.
Sammakko trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Knight manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Sammakko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Sammakko looking for a guillotine here but Knight defends easily.
Sammakko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Knight landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sammakko has his foot on Knight's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knight works his way back into a safe position though.
Knight postures up and lands a big shot to Sammakko's brow.
Knight scoring with some ground and pound.
Knight postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Knight postures up and lands a big shot to Sammakko's brow.
Knight postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Knight is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sammakko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sammakko is trying to keep Knight in close.
Knight must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Knight preventing the sweep.
Sammakko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Knight manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sammakko is one step ahead there.
Saku Sammakko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sammakko slips nicely into half guard.
Will Knight is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knight is trying to get back to full guard.
Sammakko lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saku Sammakko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knight has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Will Knight!