PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikko Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Goodnight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Saarinen
vs
Goodnight

181 cm
25
248 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikko Saarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jacob Goodnight!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarinen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Goodnight.
Goodnight connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Goodnight looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saarinen shoots in looking for a takedown. Goodnight tries to sprawl out of it but Saarinen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Goodnight manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Saarinen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Goodnight tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Saarinen is in Goodnight's guard.
Goodnight wants to stand but Saarinen is controlling the position.
Saarinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Goodnight should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Saarinen looking to sit in guard and control but Goodnight gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Saarinen working a defensive guard but Goodnight manages to pass into side control anyway.
The referee asks Goodnight politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Goodnight prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodnight trying to control the action but Saarinen is working from the bottom.
Goodnight staying calm.
Saarinen is not content to let Goodnight control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Jacob Goodnight has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Goodnight connects with a body shot.
Goodnight scores with a head kick. Saarinen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Goodnight stuns Saarinen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Saarinen is breathing heavily.
Goodnight plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Mikko Saarinen has been cut.
Goodnight looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saarinen is fending him off so far but Goodnight persists. Nope, Saarinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Goodnight misses with the combination.
Goodnight lets loose with a powerful body kick. Saarinen will feel that in the morning.
Goodnight shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saarinen sprawls well. Saarinen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Goodnight gets slowly back to his feet.
Mikko Saarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Goodnight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goodnight changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Saarinen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Goodnight stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Goodnight throws a nice looking combination but Saarinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A cross from Goodnight lands.
Goodnight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Goodnight scores with a three punch combo!
Goodnight stalks Saarinen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Saarinen's face. Saarinen staggers backwards, shaken.
Goodnight connects with a body shot that sends Saarinen's belly button to the back.

Goodnight fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saarinen, pushing him back against the cage.

Goodnight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goodnight wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goodnight looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Goodnight - that will leave a mark!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No joy there for Goodnight, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A chopping leg kick lands by Goodnight.

Goodnight bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Goodnight stands up and beckons Saarinen to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saarinen leaves Goodnight with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Goodnight dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikko Saarinen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saarinen tries to keep at a distance but Goodnight has taken the fight into the clinch.
Saarinen misses with a hook from the clinch.

Saarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goodnight shoots in and drives through. Saarinen sprawls well.
Goodnight keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saarinen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Goodnight counters with a body kick.
Goodnight tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Goodnight fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Goodnight wants to clinch up but Saarinen keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saarinen stuffs the takedown.
Mikko Saarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Goodnight.
Goodnight is looking to clinch but Saarinen is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Goodnight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Goodnight lands a nice looking body kick.
Goodnight lands with a kick to the ribs.
Goodnight misses with the combination.

Goodnight moves into the clinch successfully.
Goodnight looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Goodnight has had enough of the clinch but Saarinen keeps him there for the moment.
Goodnight using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saarinen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Goodnight just stands there and leans against the cage.

Goodnight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters circling a little - Goodnight finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Goodnight closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saarinen circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Goodnight, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Goodnight lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Saarinen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Goodnight throws a nice head kick!
Goodnight tries to clinch up but Saarinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Goodnight throws a nice head kick!
Jacob Goodnight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goodnight throws a nice outside leg kick.
Saarinen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Goodnight counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Goodnight tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Goodnight plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Goodnight lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Goodnight fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saarinen avoids it really well and circles away.
Mikko Saarinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saarinen looks for a takedown but Goodnight sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saarinen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Saarinen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Goodnight is looking to stand up but Saarinen isn't so interested in that idea.
Saarinen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Saarinen chips away with some ground and pound.
Saarinen throws and elbow that misses. Goodnight uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saarinen's guard. Nice move by Goodnight!
Goodnight trying to control but Saarinen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen has a closed guard, preventing Goodnight from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saarinen keeping moving, preventing Goodnight from controlling successfully.
Saarinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goodnight slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Goodnight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikko Saarinen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saarinen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Goodnight pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saarinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick from Goodnight lands but Saarinen takes it in his stride.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saarinen is defended easily by Goodnight.

Saarinen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Goodnight is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Saarinen is controlling him well.

Goodnight bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Goodnight misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodnight throws a nice inside leg kick.
Goodnight bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saarinen's head backwards.
Saarinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Goodnight.
A left and a right from Goodnight both land. Nice combination.
Goodnight fails to land with a series of punches.
Saarinen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Goodnight counters with a nice uppercut.
Goodnight shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saarinen defends it nicely.
Goodnight lands a nice looking body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Goodnight shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saarinen defends it nicely.
Saarinen with a poor takedown
and Goodnight counters with a nice body kick.
Saarinen shoots in and drives through. Goodnight sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikko Saarinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saarinen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Goodnight lands a slapping body shot.
Goodnight fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saarinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Goodnight lands with a nice combination. Saarinen backs away looking to recover.
Goodnight throws a quick inside leg kick.
Goodnight throws a nice head kick!
Goodnight stuffs the takedown attempt from Saarinen. Saarinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Saarinen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Goodnight finds it's way round the side to connect with Saarinen's head.
Jacob Goodnight seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodnight throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Saarinen.
A good leg kick by Goodnight.
Goodnight tries to clinch but Saarinen is having none of it.

Saarinen gets tackled into the cage by Goodnight. Goodnight maintains the clinch.
Saarinen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Goodnight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Goodnight stalks Saarinen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Saarinen's face. Saarinen staggers backwards, shaken.
Jacob Goodnight is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Goodnight fails to land with a series of punches.
Goodnight misses with a double jab.
A nice combination there by Goodnight.
Goodnight lands with a kick to the temple. Saarinen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Saarinen fails with the takedown
and Goodnight counters with a three punch combo that has Saarinen backing up. Saarinen nods at Goodnight to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodnight throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Saarinen.
Goodnight lands a glancing blow to the side of Saarinen's head.
Goodnight looks to land a combination but Saarinen avoids it well.
Goodnight lands a nice hook to Saarinen's body. Saarinen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Goodnight has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Goodnight feints a jab promting Saarinen to slip. Goodnight then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Saarinen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Goodnight looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saarinen is fending him off so far but Goodnight persists. Nope, Saarinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Goodnight swinging wildly here.
Goodnight connects with an inside leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Goodnight.
Goodnight throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mikko Saarinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saarinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Goodnight counters with a three punch combo that has Saarinen backing up. Saarinen nods at Goodnight to acknowledge the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Goodnight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Goodnight has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Goodnight!