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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Toshihiro Kai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heikko Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saarinen has chosen I Walk Alone as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 215 cm
27
157 lbs
13 - 6 - 0 |
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170 cm
27
154 lbs
20 - 5 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toshihiro Kai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
20 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heikko Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kai looks to score with a jab to the body but Saarinen is just out of range.
Saarinen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kai tests Saarinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Saarinen ducks under a wild hook from Kai.
Saarinen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kai. Kai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Saarinen throws the left hand but Kai avoids the punch easily.
Saarinen throws a leg kick but Kai moved away.
Kai clobbers Saarinen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A good leg kick by Saarinen.
Kai misses with the combination.
Kai slips a jab from Saarinen.
Saarinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saarinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Kai checks a low kick from Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a jab when Kai was well out of range.
Saarinen throws a wild body kick that Kai sees coming a mile off.
Kai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saarinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Kai digs a good hook to Saarinen's body.
Kai misses with a body shot
and Saarinen counters with a nice body kick.
Saarinen loads up on a big right hand but Kai slips the punch.
Saarinen throws a wild body kick that Kai sees coming a mile off.
Kai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kai throws a solid leg kick but Saarinen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kai.
Kai is looking to clinch but Saarinen is avoiding it.
Saarinen tries to land a leg kick but Kai saw it coming and moves away.
Kai scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Saarinen lands a nice hook to Kai's body. Kai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saarinen moves away.
Kai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kai throws a hook but Saarinen avoids it easily.
Saarinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kai throws a jab but it's blocked by Saarinen.
Kai looks to score with a jab to the body but Saarinen is just out of range.
Kai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saarinen manages to avoid it.
Toshihiro Kai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen blocks the body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kai darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Saarinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kai.
Kai lands with a nice body punch.
Some wild striking there from Kai.
Saarinen avoids a kick to the body.
Kai misses the shot to the body.
Saarinen misses the shot to the body.
Saarinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kai slips under a jab from Saarinen.
Saarinen misses with a hook.
Kai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Saarinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Saarinen misses with a straight right.
Saarinen is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Kai misses with a wild body shot.
Saarinen misses with a kick to the body.
Saarinen takes one to the side of the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Saarinen.
Kai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saarinen.
Saarinen swings for the body but Kai moves out of range.
Kai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kai doesn't manage to clinch there - Saarinen circles away.
Saarinen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kai swings for the body but Saarinen moves out of range.
Kai tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Saarinen misses the target.
Kai slips under a jab.
Saarinen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nice uppercut there from Kai.
Kai stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kai cracks Saarinen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Saarinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saarinen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a shot from downtown. Kai moves away and avoids it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saarinen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Kai.
Saarinen blocks a body shot from Kai.
Saarinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saarinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kai is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Saarinen throws a low kick, looking for Kai's leg but Kai calmly moves out of range.
Saarinen misses with a wild body shot.
Kai on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Saarinen, right into the meat.
Saarinen throws a hook but Kai avoids it easily.
Saarinen misses with a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Saarinen.
Kai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kai tries to close the distance and clinch but Saarinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saarinen thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Heikko Saarinen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Donk. Saarinen catches Kai right on the button with a cross.
Kai fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Heikko Saarinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Saarinen. Saarinen obviously looking to wear him down.
Kai has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Saarinen.
Kai slips under a jab from Saarinen.
Kai throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Saarinen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saarinen manages to avoid it.
Saarinen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Saarinen backs up against the cage.
Kai is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kai wants to clinch up but Saarinen keeps it at a distance.
Kai tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from Kai misses its intended target.
Saarinen throws a looping overhand right but Kai ducks down to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saarinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Saarinen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Saarinen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai lands a head shot.
Kai throws a combination. Saarinen tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Saarinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kai is looking to clinch but Saarinen is avoiding it.
Kai lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Saarinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Saarinen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kai sizes up Saarinen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Saarinen in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A solid leg kick lands there for Saarinen.
Saarinen staying out of range there.
Saarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saarinen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kai blocks a leg kick.
Saarinen misses with a body kick.
Kai throws a series of punches but Saarinen avoids them all with ease.
Saarinen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kai misses with a wild combination.
Saarinen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Saarinen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Saarinen misses the jab.
Kai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saarinen.
Kai is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kai thows a body shot but no joy.
Saarinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Saarinen throws a hook but Kai blocks it.
Kai stuns Saarinen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Saarinen misses the shot to the body.
Saarinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kai.
Saarinen tries a low kick but Kai avoids it.
Kai jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kai staying out of range there.
A swing and a miss from Kai.
Saarinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Donk. Kai catches Saarinen right on the button with a cross.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai moves out of range of the leg kick from Saarinen.
Kai tries a head kick but it misses.
Saarinen connects with a crisp jab.
Saarinen connects with a body shot.
Kai tries to clinch up.
Saarinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Kai.
Kai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saarinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saarinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kai's calf.
Kai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saarinen lands a slapping body shot.
Saarinen lands with a right hand.
Kai throws a low kick, looking for Saarinen's leg but Saarinen calmly moves out of range.
Saarinen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Saarinen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Saarinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Saarinen.
Kai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kai scores with a jab.
Kai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Saarinen moves forwards but Kai connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kai checks the leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Saarinen.
Saarinen connects with a leg kick. Kai looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Saarinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kai looks to land a left hand but Saarinen moved out of range nicely.
Saarinen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kai ducks under a wild hook from Saarinen.
Saarinen moves out of range as Kai throws a body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saarinen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saarinen dips to his left and cracks Kai with an uppercut!
Saarinen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Heikko Saarinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
A solid leg kick lands there for Saarinen.
Kai loads up on a big right hand but Saarinen slips the punch.
Kai's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saarinen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kai scrambles back to his feet.
Nice defenses there by Kai.
Saarinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saarinen throws a looping overhand right but Kai ducks down to avoid it.
Saarinen throws a looping overhand right but Kai ducks down to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Kai - just one landing.
Kai lands an overhand right.
Saarinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saarinen motions for Kai to come forward. Saarinen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kai avoids the body shot from Saarinen.
Kai thuds his shin into the meat of Saarinen's side.
Kai throws a nice looking combination but Saarinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kai just misses with a punch to the body.
Saarinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai scoring well with a low kick there.
Kai looks to land a right hand but Saarinen moved out of range.
Saarinen throws a push kick but Kai slaps the foot to one side.
Saarinen lands with an overhand left.
Kai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saarinen.
Saarinen scores with a leg kick.
Saarinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kai.
Kai throws a leg kick but Saarinen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kai throws a head kick but Saarinen moves out of range.
Saarinen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Saarinen throws the kick towards the body but Kai avoids it.
Kai misses with a wild body shot.
Kai throws a jab but it's blocked by Saarinen.
Kai is looking to clinch.
Saarinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kai.
Kai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saarinen.
Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kai.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kai looks to score with a jab to the body but Saarinen is just out of range.
That kick from Saarinen tenderised Kai's leg. Kai is trying to keep his angry face on.
Saarinen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Saarinen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saarinen blocks a head kick by Kai.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kai takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big right from Kai misses.
Kai misses the jab.
Kai tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Saarinen looks to throw the jab but Kai is out of range.
Saarinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Kai fails to land with a series of punches.
Kai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Saarinen misses with a looping right.
Saarinen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai throws a wild body kick that Saarinen sees coming a mile off.
Saarinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Saarinen throws a leg kick but Kai checks it.
Saarinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kai.
Saarinen slips a straight right by Kai.
Saarinen misses with a looping right.
An inside leg kick lands from Saarinen.
Saarinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Saarinen throws a body punch but Kai moves out of range.
Saarinen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Saarinen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kai.
Kai misses with a two punch combination.
Saarinen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Saarinen scores with a nice right hand.
Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kai.
Saarinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kai.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Kai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saarinen.
Saarinen misses with a kick to the body.
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!
Saarinen lands with an uppercut that bounces Kai off the cage and back into range.
Saarinen is looking to slow Kai down with leg kicks.
Saarinen scores with a jab to the body.
Saarinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Kai thuds his shin into the meat of Saarinen's side.
Kai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kai looks to land a body kick but Saarinen moved away.
Saarinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kai moves away.
Saarinen misses with an uppercut. Kai saw that one coming.
Saarinen scores with the left hand. Kai knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Heikko Saarinen really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Saarinen lands a head shot.
Kai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saarinen jabs Kai to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Saarinen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kai wants to clinch but Saarinen slips to the side
and Saarinen counters with a nice uppercut.
A good leg kick by Kai.
Saarinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kai moves away.
Kai tries to bum rush Saarinen with a series of wild strikes but Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kai lands with a cross.
Saarinen connects with a solid leg kick.
Good shot there by Kai.
Some wild striking there from Kai.
Saarinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Saarinen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Saarinen misses with a looping right.
Kai misses with a straight right.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen cracks a nice hook into Kai's ribs.
Some bone on bone action there as Kai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Saarinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kai moves forwards but Saarinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Saarinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kai.
Kai throws out a loose jab but Saarinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kai throws a jab but it's blocked by Saarinen.
Kai slips under a jab.
Saarinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Saarinen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saarinen lands a head shot.
Saarinen throws a hook but Kai avoids it easily.
Saarinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kai.
Saarinen clobbers Kai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a chopping leg kick but Kai manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Good standup being displayed there by Saarinen as he connects with a hook.
Kai throws a hook but Saarinen avoids it easily.
Kai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saarinen.
Saarinen lands an overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarinen sizes up Kai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Saarinen scores with a leg kick.
Saarinen scores with a body shot.
Kai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saarinen.
Kai checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Saarinen, right into the meat.
Kai swings for the body but Saarinen moves out of range.
Kai avoids the body shot from Saarinen.
Kai misses with a body shot.
Kai wants to clinch.
Kai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai misses with a wild body shot.
Saarinen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kai wants to slow Saarinen down by chopping away at his legs.
Saarinen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kai in his tracks.
Kai blocks a jab.
A big right from Saarinen misses.
Saarinen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Saarinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kai was well out of range. Poor timing from Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kai throws the left hand but Saarinen avoids the punch easily.
Kai defending well as Saarinen loads up on a big left hand.
Kai misses with a double jab.
Saarinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen misses with a kick to the body.
Saarinen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kai throws a hook but Saarinen blocks it.
Kai walks into a stiff left hand from Saarinen.
Saarinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saarinen throws a leg kick which misses Kai's front leg but catches the back leg as Kai tries to avoid it.
Saarinen needs to keep his hands up - Kai had a free shot at his head there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Saarinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kai manages to avoid it.
Kai thuds a left hand into Saarinen's body.
Saarinen moves away from the strike by Kai.
Saarinen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Saarinen. That did some damage!
Saarinen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A solid leg kick lands there for Saarinen.
Saarinen lands a really nice looking cross but Kai seems unphased.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Heikko Saarinen dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Kai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Kai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Saarinen misses with a double jab.
Saarinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A head kick misses from Kai.
A slow jab from Kai misses its intended target.
Saarinen throws a nice looking combination but Kai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kai clinches with his opponent.
Saarinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kai tries to throw a body punch but Saarinen avoids it by throwing Kai back against the cage.
Kai lands a hook that snaps the head of Saarinen backwards.
Kai misses with some punches.
Kai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saarinen has him pressed against the cage.
Kai lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Saarinen is trying to maintain a safe position but Kai gets an underhook and turns Saarinen into the cage.
Saarinen blocks a body shot from Kai.
Kai tries a body shot but Saarinen blocks it.
Kai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Saarinen backwards.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kai.
Saarinen scores with a shoulder strike.
Saarinen scores with a hook to the body.
Kai misses with a punch to the body.
Kai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saarinen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kai up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kai.
Kai tries to work over Saarinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kai breaks from the clinch.
Saarinen throws a body punch but Kai moves out of range.
Saarinen throws a leg kick but Kai moved away.
Kai on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Good leg kick by Saarinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kai thows a body shot but no joy.
Kai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Saarinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Kai throws a nice looking combination but Saarinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Saarinen connects with a leg kick. Kai looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Toshihiro Kai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kai throws a leg kick
and Saarinen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Saarinen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saarinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Decent striking displayed by Saarinen there.
A slow jab from Saarinen misses its intended target.
Saarinen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Saarinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kai.
Saarinen slips a straight right by Kai.
Kai throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Saarinen to counter with a crisp jab.
Kai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saarinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Kai.
Jab, jab by Saarinen - just one landing.
Kai misses the shot to the body.
Saarinen scores with a nice strike.
Saarinen scores with a nice right hand.
Saarinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kai scores with a crisp jab that stopped Saarinen in his tracks.
Heikko Saarinen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kai misses with a head kick.
Kai throws a front kick aimed at Saarinen's knee but Saarinen avoids it well.
Saarinen looks to land a right hand but Kai moved out of range.
Saarinen throws a push kick but Kai slaps the foot to one side.
Saarinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a hook but Kai blocks it.
Saarinen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Saarinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kai.
Kai throws a poor cross that misses
and Saarinen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
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!
Saarinen lands a nice hook to Kai's body. Kai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saarinen.
Saarinen is looking to slow Kai down with leg kicks.
Saarinen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saarinen looks to throw the jab but Kai is out of range.
A clash of legs there as Kai blocks the low kick.
Kai throws an overhand right that lands on Saarinen's shoulder, as Saarinen tries to avoid the shot.
Kai throws a series of punches but Saarinen avoids them all with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice uppercut lands for Saarinen. That snapped Kai's head back.
Saarinen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kai works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Toshihiro Kai.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 46:50
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 47:49
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 45:50
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heikko Saarinen!
Heikko Saarinen was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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