PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santeri Norzu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norzu has chosen Anekdoten - Karelia as his entrance music. Sami Salama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Salama
vs
Norzu

180 cm
23
165 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
163 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Santeri Norzu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salama throws a head kick that half lands.
Norzu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Salama.
Salama throws a hook but Norzu avoids it easily.
Salama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Norzu misses
and Salama counters with an inside leg kick.
Norzu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Norzu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Norzu, right into the meat.
Norzu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Norzu lands a nice looking body shot.
Norzu jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Norzu connects with a solid leg kick.
Norzu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Norzu tries to work over Salama's front leg with a kick but Salama checks it.
Norzu checks a leg kick.
Norzu tries to bum rush Salama with a series of wild strikes but Salama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salama moves forwards but Norzu connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Salama sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Salama is breathing heavily.
Salama tried to score with a low kick but Norzu checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama misses with a body kick.
Norzu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Norzu lands with a good body shot.
Salama stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Norzu.
Salama jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Norzu with a hook.
Norzu tests Salama's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Norzu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Salama circles away quickly and effectively.
Norzu with a jab.
Salama takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Salama throws a leg kick but Norzu checks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Salama misses the target.
Norzu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Salama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Salama misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Norzu counters with a stiff right hand.
Norzu throws a leg kick which misses Salama's front leg but catches the back leg as Salama tries to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salama wants to clinch.
Salama is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nice shot by Norzu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a head kick that misses.
Norzu cracks the inside of Salama's front leg.
Norzu sizes up Salama with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A solid leg kick lands there for Norzu.
Norzu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Salama's head.
Danga de danga de dang - Norzu scores with a four punch combination!
Norzu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Norzu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Norzu scores with a decent looking hook.
Salama is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Norzu.
A chopping leg kick lands by Norzu.
An inside leg kick lands from Norzu.
Nice straight punches there by Norzu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Norzu.
Norzu lands a high kick!

Salama is rocked!
Norzu tests Salama's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Oh Salama is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Norzu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salama. That did some damage!
Salama seems to have got his legs back now.
Norzu cracks Salama with a right hand to the side of the head.
Salama on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Salama moves forwards but Norzu connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Norzu lands a big head kick that sends Salama tumbling to the mat! Norzu takes a step backwards and waves Salama back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Norzu throws a quick inside leg kick.

Norzu feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Salama sprawling to the canvas! Salama rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Norzu finish him?!
Norzu lands a nice looking body shot.
Norzu cracks the inside of Salama's front leg.
Salama stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Norzu.
Salama on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Norzu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Norzu scores with a nice head shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Norzu. That snapped Salama's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norzu cracks Salama with a good jab.
Salama with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Norzu to score with a decent uppercut.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Norzu. Salama shrugs it off though.
Norzu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Norzu sizes up Salama with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A jab from Norzu finds it's way through Salama's defenses.
Norzu looks to score with a jab to the body but Salama is just out of range.
Norzu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Norzu is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Salama had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Norzu tests Salama's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Norzu lands with an overhand left.
A chopping leg kick lands by Salama.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Norzu connects with a crisp jab.
Norzu checks a leg kick.
Norzu lands a slapping body shot.
Norzu misses with an attempted mid kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santeri Norzu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Salama lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Norzu thuds a left hand into Salama's body.
Norzu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Norzu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Norzu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Norzu lands a head kick. Salama smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Norzu looks to score with a jab to the body but Salama is just out of range.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Norzu as he connects with a hook.
Norzu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Norzu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Salama looks for the body kick but Norzu saw that one coming.
Norzu looks to land a combination. Salama sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Norzu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Salama backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salama throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Norzu counters with a nice leg kick.
Norzu checks a leg kick nicely.
Salama checks a low kick from Norzu.
Salama with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Norzu to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norzu. Salama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norzu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Norzu misses with a hook.
Salama tries to land a leg kick but Norzu saw it coming and moves away.
Salama blocks a head kick by Norzu.
Salama throws a leg kick that misses.
Norzu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salama checks a leg kick.
Salama takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Salama throws a leg kick that misses.
Norzu lands with a right hand.
Norzu lands the left hand.
Norzu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salama. That did some damage!
Salama lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Norzu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Salama. Salama circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Salama has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Salama there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama blocks a low kick nicely.
Salama looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Norzu throws a head kick that misses
and Salama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Santeri Norzu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Norzu throws a body punch but Salama moves out of range.
Salama looks to land a body kick but Norzu moved away.
Salama tries to clinch there but Norzu circles away.
Salama throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Norzu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Salama throws a head kick that misses
and Norzu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Norzu scores with a jab to the body.
Good exchange - Norzu coming out on top.
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!
Norzu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Norzu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Salama.
A nice inside leg kick there by Salama. That's going to slow Norzu down.
No joy there for Norzu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Salama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Norzu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Salama counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a leg kick
and Norzu counters with a good low kick that Salama was not able to check.
Norzu lands an overhand right.
Norzu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice defenses there by Norzu.
Salama throws a low kick but Norzu avoids it.
Norzu thows a body shot but no joy.
Norzu thuds a left hand into Salama's body.
Norzu lands a high kick!
Salama throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Norzu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salama slips a jab and a cross from Norzu.
Norzu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Norzu connects with a body shot.
Salama throws a head kick that misses.
Salama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salama throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Norzu scores with a punch to the head.
Norzu avoids the head kick by Salama.
Norzu lands with an overhand left.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some bone on bone action there as Norzu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Norzu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Norzu misses with a kick to the body
and Salama counters with a thumping low kick.
Salama throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Norzu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Norzu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Salama throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nice defenses there by Salama.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Salama is predictable there
and Norzu counters with a straight right hand.

Salama moves into the clinch successfully.
Norzu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Norzu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Salamas head.
Norzu avoids a wild elbow strike from Salama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santeri Norzu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Norzu.
Norzu throws a shot to the body.
Norzu falls off balance throwing a combination

and Salama counters by clinching up.
Norzu avoiding damage as Salama throws knees to the body.
Salama blocks an uppercut.
Norzu is trying to maintain a safe position but Salama gets an underhook and turns Norzu into the cage.
Norzu is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Salama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Salama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Norzu avoids it.
Salama displaying some good clinch control by pressing Norzu up against the cage.
Norzu tries to stall but Salama uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Salama wants to stall.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Norzu pushes Salama back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama throws a punch but it's blocked by Norzu.

Norzu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Norzu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Norzu avoids the body shot from Salama.
Salama moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Norzu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salama.
Some wild striking there from Norzu.
Norzu tries to land a leg kick but Salama saw it coming and moves away.
Salama throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Norzu sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Salama closes the distance and clinches.
Norzu lands a hook that snaps the head of Salama backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Norzu.
Salama'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.
Salama tries to land a knee to the head but Norzu blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama misses with the head strike.

Norzu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Norzu throws a body kick that misses.
Norzu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Norzu connects with a solid leg kick.
Norzu misses with a leg kick
and Salama counters with a slapping leg kick.
A low kick from Salama is predictable there
and Norzu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Salama looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Salama is looking to slow Norzu down with leg kicks.
Salama misses with a head kick.
Salama misses with a low kick.
Salama misses with a low kick.
Norzu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Salama throws a low kick but Norzu avoids it.
Norzu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norzu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Norzu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Salama misses with a body kick.
Salama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Norzu.
Salama checks the leg kick nicely there.
Norzu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salama.
Salama sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Norzu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Salama takes a step back to recover.
Salama takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Norzu.
Norzu lands a jab to the nose.
Salama will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Decent striking displayed by Norzu there.
Salama takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Norzu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salama on the side of the head.
Salama gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Norzu.
Norzu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Norzu throws a leg kick which misses Salama's front leg but catches the back leg as Salama tries to avoid it.

Norzu drops Salama with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Salama looks back up at him and smiles so Norzu waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Norzu drops Salama with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Salama! Norzu dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Santeri Norzu!
Santeri Norzu is the new lightweight champion!