PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Per Saukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veli Rokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Per Saukkonen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Saukkonen
vs
Rokka

189 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

186 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Control Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Per Saukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veli Rokka!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saukkonen takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Per Saukkonen has been cut.
Saukkonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Saukkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Rokka.
Rokka stuffs the takedown.
Rokka slaps away a takedown attempt from Saukkonen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Per Saukkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rokka has Saukkonen up against the cage in a clinch.
Rokka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Saukkonen being controlled against the cage.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but Rokka won't allow it.
Saukkonen has had enough of the clinch but Rokka keeps him there for the moment.
Saukkonen can't get the takedown.
Rokka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Rokka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rokka prevents Saukkonen from breaking the clinch.
Saukkonen letting Rokka take a breather here.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
Saukkonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Saukkonen 's eye.
Saukkonen is trying to break free.
Rokka leaning against his opponent.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Saukkonen is trying to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling him.
Saukkonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Rokka won't allow it.
Saukkonen letting Rokka take a breather here.
Saukkonen is trying to maintain a safe position but Rokka gets an underhook and turns Saukkonen into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the temple.
Rokka lands an elbow inside that Saukkonen shrugs off.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Rokka slowing the pace effectively.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Saukkonen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rokka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rokka prevents Saukkonen from breaking the clinch.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but Rokka won't allow it.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rokka lands an elbow inside that Saukkonen shrugs off.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
The referee calls for Rokka to work.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saukkonen's defenses.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.

Per Saukkonen's cut is getting worse.
Rokka keeps control of Saukkonen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rokka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rokka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rokka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rokka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Saukkonen looking for a takedown.
Saukkonen trying to control the position but instead, Rokka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Saukkonen into the cage.
Saukkonen is breathing heavily.
Rokka stalling in the clinch.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but Rokka holds him up against the cage and eventually Saukkonen drops back down to his feet.
Saukkonen wants to stall.
Saukkonen tries to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokka keeps control of Saukkonen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rokka keeps control of Saukkonen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saukkonen tries to break free but Rokka pushes him back against the cage.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Saukkonen 's eye.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Rokka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Saukkonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rokka stalling against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Saukkonen fails to land.
A bit of stalling here from Rokka.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
Saukkonen looking for a takedown.
Saukkonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Rokka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Rokka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Per Saukkonen'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.

Rokka wants to clinch.
Saukkonen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rokka is looking to clinch.
Saukkonen looks for a takedown but Rokka sprawls well.
Rokka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Veli Rokka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters circling a little - Rokka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Saukkonen swinging wildly here.
Rokka fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rokka has managed to clinch.
Rokka has Saukkonen pressed against the cage, preventing Saukkonen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
The referee calls for Rokka to work.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but Rokka holds him up against the cage and eventually Saukkonen drops back down to his feet.
Saukkonen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Per Saukkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Rokka leaning against his opponent.
Nice elbow from Rokka.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
A bit of stalling here from Rokka.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Saukkonen 's eye.
Rokka lands an elbow inside that Saukkonen shrugs off.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Rokka stalling the fight.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Saukkonen 's eye.
Rokka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saukkonen's defenses.

Per Saukkonen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Saukkonen can't break the clinch.
Rokka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saukkonen's defenses.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Rokka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokka stalling in the clinch.
Saukkonen tries to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling the position.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Saukkonen is trying to force a seperation but Rokka has the dominant position.
Saukkonen is trying to break the clinch but Rokka has him pressed against the cage.
Rokka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Saukkonen tries to circle away but Rokka has him pinned against the cage.
Rokka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rokka is stalling here.
Rokka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
Saukkonen letting Rokka take a breather here.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Rokka avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Veli Rokka.
Saukkonen tries to clinch but Rokka is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rokka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saukkonen shoots for a takedown but Rokka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rokka tries to clinch there but Saukkonen circles away.
Rokka tries to clinch there but Saukkonen circles away.

Rokka has closed the distance and engaged Saukkonen in a clinch.
Rokka slows down the pace here.
Saukkonen can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the temple.

Jeez, Per Saukkonen's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Rokka effectively controlling the action here.
Saukkonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saukkonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saukkonen is trying to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling him.
Nice elbow from Rokka.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Saukkonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Rokka.
Rokka is stalling here.
Saukkonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Saukkonen in his tracks for a moment.
Saukkonen trying to control the position but instead, Rokka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Saukkonen into the cage.
Saukkonen jumps guard but Rokka stands there with Saukkonen around his waist. Saukkonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Rokka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Per Saukkonen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saukkonen misses with a series of wild punches.

Saukkonen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rokka sprawls well initially but Saukkonen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Saukkonen prevents Rokka from standing back up.

Rokka kicks Saukkonen off and gets back to his feet.

Rokka has closed the distance and engaged Saukkonen in a clinch.
Saukkonen letting Rokka take a breather here.
Rokka lands an elbow inside.
Rokka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
Rokka lands an elbow inside that Saukkonen shrugs off.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Saukkonen 's eye.
Rokka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Saukkonen can't break the clinch.
Saukkonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rokka smiles and moves away.
Per Saukkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rokka wants to clinch up but Saukkonen keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Saukkonen with that takedown attempt.
Saukkonen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Per Saukkonen's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Veli Rokka!