PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paddie Ohallahan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauri Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ohallahan comes to the cage accompanied by Home For A Rest by Spirit Of The West. 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.

Ohallahan
vs
Saarinen

190 cm
25
215 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

190 cm
26
219 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paddie Ohallahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauri Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ohallahan just misses with a punch to the body.
Ohallahan throws a looping overhand right but Saarinen ducks down to avoid it.
Saarinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Saarinen slips a straight right by Ohallahan.
Saarinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ohallahan.
Nice defenses there by Saarinen.
Ohallahan misses the jab.
Ohallahan throws a jab but it's blocked by Saarinen.
Ohallahan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ohallahan tries to bum rush Saarinen with a series of wild strikes but Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ohallahan just misses with a punch to the body.
Ohallahan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saarinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Ohallahan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ohallahan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ohallahan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saarinen manages to avoid it.
Saarinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Saarinen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saarinen wants to clinch up but Ohallahan keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohallahan takes a swing at Saarinen's ribcage but misses.
Ohallahan looks to score with a jab to the body but Saarinen is just out of range.
Ohallahan throws a leg kick but Saarinen checks it.

Saarinen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ohallahan regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Saarinen.
Saarinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ohallahan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ohallahan has his hands on Saarinen's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ohallahan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saarinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen distracts Ohallahan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Saarinen being controlled here momentarily.

Ohallahan working for a triangle but Saarinen defends it easily.
Saarinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saarinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ohallahan pulls Saarinen in close to prevent any damage.
Ohallahan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saarinen is one step ahead there.
Ohallahan keeping full guard, as Saarinen tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ohallahan misses the jab.
Saarinen cracks Ohallahan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Saarinen slips a jab from Ohallahan.
Ohallahan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saarinen.
Saarinen misses with a takedown attempt - Ohallahan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ohallahan gets caught flat footed, as Saarinen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ohallahan wants to sweep but no luck.
Ohallahan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Saarinen's guard.
Saarinen keeping moving, preventing Ohallahan from controlling successfully.
Ohallahan is really struggling to control Saarinen but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen wants to sweep here but Ohallahan controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ohallahan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ohallahan prevents Saarinen from improving his position.
Ohallahan is keen to just control but Saarinen is a slippery customer.
Saarinen trying to control but Ohallahan postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ohallahan wants to take a breather but Saarinen is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ohallahan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saarinen at a distance.
Ohallahan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Saarinen.
Ohallahan looks to land a right hand but Saarinen moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paddie Ohallahan will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ohallahan throws a hook to the side of Saarinen's head but Saarinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saarinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ohallahan.
Ohallahan throws a body punch but Saarinen moves out of range.
Ohallahan misses with a straight left.
Ohallahan lands a glancing blow to the side of Saarinen's head.
Ohallahan loads up on a big right hand but Saarinen slips the punch.
Ohallahan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Saarinen slips a jab from Ohallahan.
Ohallahan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Saarinen avoids the body shot from Ohallahan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ohallahan looks to land a combination but Saarinen avoids it well.
Saarinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ohallahan.
Ohallahan misses the jab.
Ohallahan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ohallahan throws a hook but Saarinen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ohallahan looks to land a combination but Saarinen avoids it well.
Saarinen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ohallahan lands a lovely overhand right.
Ohallahan loads up on a big right hand but Saarinen slips the punch.
Ohallahan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ohallahan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ohallahan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ohallahan misses with a body shot.
Saarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saarinen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ohallahan misses with a hook.
Ohallahan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saarinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ohallahan misses with an uppercut. Saarinen saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohallahan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saarinen.

Saarinen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saarinen lands in his opponent's guard.
Ohallahan has his hands on Saarinen's head, controlling the position.
Saarinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ohallahan holds on and takes a little breather.
Ohallahan 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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ohallahan holds on and takes a little breather.
Saarinen throwing strikes from guard but Ohallahan blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ohallahan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ohallahan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Saarinen trying to control but Ohallahan is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ohallahan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saarinen.
A jab lands there for Ohallahan.
Saarinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ohallahan defends it nicely.
Paddie Ohallahan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauri Saarinen.
Saarinen ducks under a wild hook from Ohallahan.
Ohallahan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ohallahan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Saarinen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ohallahan is trying to control Saarinen's posture but Saarinen avoids it.
Ohallahan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The strikes coming from Saarinen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ohallahan is trying to improve his position.
Ohallahan is trying to control Saarinen's posture but Saarinen avoids it.
Saarinen looks up at the clock and then as Ohallahan takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Saarinen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ohallahan is trying to control Saarinen's posture but Saarinen avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Saarinen.

Saarinen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ohallahan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ohallahan sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mauri Saarinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ohallahan misses with a straight left.
Ohallahan throws a looping overhand right but Saarinen ducks down to avoid it.
Ohallahan throws a big shot that misses.
Ohallahan lands a head shot.

Saarinen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ohallahan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Ohallahan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ohallahan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Saarinen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ohallahan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Saarinen there.
Saarinen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ohallahan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ohallahan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen prevents Ohallahan from improving his position.
Saarinen is thwarting Ohallahan's attempts to control the position.
Saarinen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Saarinen is thwarting Ohallahan's attempts to control the position.
Ohallahan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saarinen.
Ohallahan is looking to improve his position.
Ohallahan is looking to control Saarinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ohallahan avoid being mounted?
Ohallahan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

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.
Ohallahan gets back to full guard.
Ohallahan pulls Saarinen in to control the position.
Ohallahan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saarinen is one step ahead there.
Saarinen forces his way into half guard.
Saarinen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ohallahan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saarinen.
Ohallahan wants to control but Saarinen is keeping busy.
Saarinen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ohallahan's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen stalling.
Saarinen working Ohallahan over with strikes.
Ohallahan wants to improve his position but Saarinen is controlling well.
Ohallahan punching from the bottom.
Ohallahan is looking for a sweep. Saarinen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saarinen slips a nice elbow through Ohallahan's hands, connecting with Ohallahan's forehead.
Ohallahan tries to get to full guard but Saarinen has control of the leg.
Ohallahan trying to control from the bottom.
Saarinen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saarinen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ohallahan is looking to control Saarinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ohallahan avoid being mounted?
Ohallahan is controlling Saarinen's trapped leg to prevent Saarinen from advancing to side control.
Saarinen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ohallahan tries to get to full guard but Saarinen has control of the leg.
Ohallahan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ohallahan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ohallahan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ohallahan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Saarinen's guard.
Ohallahan trying to control but Saarinen is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauri Saarinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saarinen 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!