PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elliot Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Tapio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elliot Saunders has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saunders
vs
Tapio

182 cm
26
205 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
220 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elliot Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Tapio!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tapio scores with a head kick. Saunders tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Saunders blocks a head kick by Tapio.
Tapio throws a lazy uppercut
and Saunders counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tapio bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Saunders's head.
Saunders takes a swing at Tapio's ribcage but misses.
Saunders fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tapio looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tapio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saunders keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tapio.
Tapio throws a head kick that half lands.
Tapio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saunders shoots in for a takedown but Tapio shows good takedown defense.
Tapio cracks Saunders with an open hand slap.
Saunders closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A head kick by Tapio misses
and Saunders counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tapio throws a poor cross that misses
and Saunders counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tapio's knee momentarily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tapio. That's going to slow Saunders down.
The crowd cheers as Tapio lands an impressive looking overhand right. Saunders doesn't seem phased though.
Tapio fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Saunders checks it well.
Tapio throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapio lands with a slapping head kick.
Saunders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tapio.
Tapio misses with a hook
and Saunders counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tapio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saunders misses with a looping left.
Tapio wants to clinch

and Saunders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tapio has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Saunders doesn't defend quickly enough and Tapio has managed to lock this one up! Can Saunders escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Tapio on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Kari Tapio!