PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauri Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikkanen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bring The Pain. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Saarinen
vs
Tikkanen

190 cm
32
219 lbs
18 - 7 - 2

186 cm
21
209 lbs
8 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauri Saarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen dodges the punch combination from Saarinen.
Mauri Saarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saarinen misses with the combination.
Tikkanen wants to clinch.
Saarinen throws a right and a left that Tikkanen avoids nicely.
Saarinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up but Saarinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tikkanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saarinen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Saarinen looks to land a combination but Tikkanen avoids it well.
Saarinen punishes Tikkanen's body with a nice straight punch.
Saarinen misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Tikkanen moves into the clinch.
Saarinen tries to circle away but Tikkanen has him pinned against the cage.
Tikkanen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saarinen backwards.
Saarinen is trying to break free.
Tikkanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tikkanen misses with a punch to the body.
Tikkanen tries to work over Saarinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tikkanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tikkanen tries a body shot but Saarinen blocks it.
Saarinen is trying to break free.
Saarinen wants to break the clinch but can't.
A bit of stalling here from Tikkanen.
Saarinen tries to circle away but Tikkanen has him pinned against the cage.
Tikkanen tries to throw a body punch but Saarinen avoids it by throwing Tikkanen back against the cage.
Tikkanen tries to work over Saarinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tikkanen tries to throw a body punch but Saarinen avoids it by throwing Tikkanen back against the cage.
Tikkanen lands with a left to the head.
Tikkanen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saarinen's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen stops a takedown attempt from Tikkanen.

Saarinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tikkanen throws a right and a left that Saarinen avoids nicely.

Tikkanen clinches up with Saarinen and pushes him back against the cage.
Tikkanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarinen can't break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Tikkanen scores with a nice short uppercut.

Saarinen breaks the clinch.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Saarinen moves out of range.
Saarinen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tikkanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Saarinen.
A punch combination from Saarinen misses.
Saarinen throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Tikkanen counter with a right hand.
Saarinen keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen misses with a hook.
Saarinen tries to bum rush Tikkanen with a series of wild strikes but Tikkanen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tikkanen misses with a two punch combination.
Saarinen scores with a three punch combo!
The fight stays on the outside here - Tikkanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice straight punches there by Saarinen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Saarinen.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tikkanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tikkanen wants to clinch up but Saarinen keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen misses with a two punch combination.
Saarinen throws a right hand that Tikkanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Tikkanen also avoids with ease.
Saarinen throws a nice looking combination but Tikkanen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Saarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tikkanen tries to clinch there but Saarinen circles away.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tikkanen wants to clinch.
No joy there for Tikkanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tikkanen misses with a two punch combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saarinen misses with a double jab

and Tikkanen counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mauri Saarinen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saarinen lands with an overhand left.

Tikkanen has Saarinen up against the cage in a clinch.

Saarinen breaks from the clinch.
Saarinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saarinen throws a series of punches but Tikkanen avoids them all with ease.
Saarinen looks to land a combination but Tikkanen avoids it well.
Tikkanen takes one to the chin there.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tikkanen slips under a jab from Saarinen.
Tikkanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tikkanen is looking to clinch.

Saarinen gets tackled into the cage by Tikkanen. Tikkanen maintains the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tikkanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Tikkanen fails to land.
Tikkanen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saarinen's efforts to push away.

Tikkanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saarinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Saarinen misses.
Nice shot lands for Saarinen.
Tikkanen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Saarinen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saarinen misses with a two punch combination.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saarinen misses the jab.
Saarinen misses with a straight right.
Tikkanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen jabs Tikkanen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tikkanen looks to clinch
and Saarinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tikkanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tikkanen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Saarinen is having none of it.
Saarinen misses with a looping left.
Tikkanen tries to bum rush Saarinen with a series of wild strikes but Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mauri Saarinen is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saarinen digs a good hook to Tikkanen's body.
Saarinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saarinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tikkanen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saarinen.
Saarinen misses with a double jab
and Tikkanen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen is looking to clinch but Saarinen is avoiding it.
Saarinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big left from Tikkanen misses.
Tikkanen takes one on the button.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Saarinen is having none of it.
Tikkanen takes a swing at Saarinen's ribcage but misses.
Saarinen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tikkanen ducks under a wild hook from Saarinen.
Tikkanen takes a swing at Saarinen's ribcage but misses.
Saarinen scores with a nice right hand.
Tikkanen scores with a jab to the body.
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen tries to clinch there but Saarinen circles away.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tikkanen is looking to clinch.
Nice shot by Saarinen.
Saarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tikkanen slips a jab from Saarinen.
Saarinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Tikkanen.
Saarinen misses with a double jab.
Tikkanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Saarinen. Those never looked like landing.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Saarinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tikkanen tries to clinch there but Saarinen circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkanen lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esa Tikkanen 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Saarinen does no damage.
Saarinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tikkanen wants to clinch up but Saarinen keeps it at a distance.
Saarinen moves out of range as Tikkanen strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Tikkanen misses the target.
Saarinen throws a right hand that Tikkanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Tikkanen also avoids with ease.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up
and Saarinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Tikkanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Saarinen breaks the clinch.
Saarinen slips under a jab.
Tikkanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tikkanen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Saarinen is just out of range.
Saarinen throws a right hand that Tikkanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Tikkanen also avoids with ease.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up.
Tikkanen misses with a looping left.
Tikkanen tries to clinch
and Saarinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tikkanen shoots for a double leg takedown but Saarinen sprawls well. He's pushed Tikkanen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saarinen scores with a jab. Tikkanen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Saarinen, as that shot connected.
Saarinen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tikkanen misses with a wild body shot.
Tikkanen moves in looking to clinch but Saarinen pushes him off.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Saarinen moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saarinen walks into a stiff left hand from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tikkanen missing with a left hand there. Saarinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Saarinen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tikkanen scores with a nice head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarinen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Saarinen duly obliges.

Tikkanen moves into the clinch.
Saarinen wants to break free but Tikkanen has control.

Saarinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saarinen looks to land a combination. Tikkanen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Saarinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Tikkanen.

Tikkanen rushes Saarinen and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Tikkanen.
Saarinen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tikkanen tries a body shot but Saarinen blocks it.

Saarinen breaks the clinch.
Saarinen throws a series of punches but Tikkanen avoids them all with ease.
Saarinen misses with a few strikes there.
Tikkanen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up.
Nice defenses there by Saarinen.
Tikkanen misses with an uppercut. Saarinen saw that one coming.
Saarinen misses with a series of wild punches.

Tikkanen closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Saarinen's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen tries to circle away but Tikkanen has him pinned against the cage.
Tikkanen working aggressively here.
Tikkanen digs a right hand underneath Saarinen's ribcage. Saarinen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Esa Tikkanen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Saarinen breaks the clinch.
Tikkanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saarinen.
Tikkanen moves out of range as Saarinen strikes.
Tikkanen wants to clinch up but Saarinen keeps it at a distance.
Saarinen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tikkanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tikkanen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tikkanen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Saarinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saarinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Tikkanen tries to clinch there but Saarinen circles away.
Tikkanen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Esa Tikkanen.
I think Tikkanen 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Esa Tikkanen!
Esa Tikkanen very nearly forgot to thank Kobra Clothing Inc. amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.