PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antti Karhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiro Sata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karhu's entrance music is Samuli Edelmann - Teit meistä kauniin. A fine choice. Sata is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Onward to Victory!. 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.

Karhu
vs
Sata

176 cm
34
138 lbs
26 - 15 - 1

171 cm
37
143 lbs
23 - 27 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antti Karhu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 27 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akiro Sata!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karhu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sata is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karhu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Karhu half committed to a counter leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Karhu.
Sata throws a series of punches but Karhu avoids them all with ease.
A decent looking cross lands there for Karhu.
Karhu lands a jab to the head.

Karhu clinches up with Sata and pushes him back against the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sata has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Sata is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karhu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Karhu misses with a punch to the body.
Karhu swings wildly with an uppercut but Sata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sata looking to slow down the pace here.
Karhu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karhu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karhu trying to land knees to the body.
Karhu misses with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Karhu.
Sata fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karhu blocks an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Karhu as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karhu.
Sata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Karhu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karhu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karhu struggles to land a body shot inside as Sata controls his hands.

Sata has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Karhu clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sata is throwing strikes but Karhu counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Karhu regains half guard.
Karhu won't allow Sata to pass to mount.
Karhu moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karhu is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sata trying to control but Karhu is working from the bottom.
Sata is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sata looking to sit in guard and control but Karhu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sata pulls Karhu in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sata is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sata is trying to hold Karhu in close to prevent damage but Karhu has managed to pass into half guard.
Karhu is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sata missing with punches from the bottom.

Sata is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Karhu pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Karhu controlling the action here.
Sata trying to control here.
Karhu is taking a breather. Sata says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karhu lands a nice looking body shot.
Karhu scores with a decent looking hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Karhu dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Karhu pushes Sata up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sata.
Karhu swings wildly with an uppercut but Sata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sata prevents a body shot from Karhu.
Karhu missing with knees to the body.
Karhu cracks Sata with a nice body shot.
Karhu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sata avoids it.
A right hand to the body from Karhu.

Sata jumps guard and drags Karhu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Sata working for submissions but it's allowed Karhu to get to half guard.
Karhu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sata can do to turn this around?
Karhu prevents Sata from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sata trying to get back to full guard but Karhu takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Antti Karhu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sata tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karhu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sata is trying desperately to improve position.
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sata working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sata wants to control but Karhu is having none of it.
Sata is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sata is still trying to improve position.
Sata tries to hold on but Karhu postures up.
Karhu looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sata is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sata sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sata trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Karhu manages to pass to mount!
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sata is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sata is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sata swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sata bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karhu keeping moving, preventing Sata from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Karhu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Karhu instigates a clinch.
Karhu lands a nice elbow.
Karhu scores with a shot to the side of Sata's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karhu.
Sata blocking some punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sata.
A short right from Karhu.
Karhu swings wildly with an uppercut but Sata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karhu throws a punch but it's blocked by Sata.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karhu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sata has a couple of punches blocked by Karhu.
A short uppercut from Karhu.
Karhu has a couple of punches blocked by Sata.
Karhu lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karhu lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Karhu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Karhu has a couple of punches blocked by Sata.
Karhu scores with a shot to the side of Sata's head.

Sata is rocked!
Karhu tries a body shot but Sata blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Karhu just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sata's brow.
Karhu is working Sata over against the cage.
Sata changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karhu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sata takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Karhu blocks a jab.
Sata shoots in looking for a takedown but Karhu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sata's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sata changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karhu tries to avoid it but Sata manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karhu to the ground. Karhu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Antti Karhu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akiro Sata.
Sata takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sata misses with a body shot.
Karhu misses with a leg kick
and Sata counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu connects with a solid leg kick.
Sata throws a jab but it's blocked by Karhu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sata chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Karhu can pounce on him.
Karhu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sata if he has to take too many more of those.
Sata has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sata there as he acknowledges the shot.
Karhu is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

Karhu gets a clinch.
Karhu misses with some punches.
Karhu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sata or not.
Antti Karhu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Karhu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sata backwards.
Still in the clinch, Karhu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sata blocks a body shot from Karhu.
Karhu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sata's elbow.
Sata blocking some punches.
Karhu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karhu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sata backwards.
Karhu presses Sata against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Karhu lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sata prevents a body shot from Karhu.
Karhu misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karhu.
Sata tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Karhu smiles and moves away.
Sata swats away the attempt to clinch by Karhu.
Sata throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Karhu throws a leg kick but Sata sees it coming and moves out of range.
Karhu connects with a solid leg kick.
Sata takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sata throws a lazy uppercut
and Karhu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Karhu tries to score with a low kick but Sata moves his leg out of the way.
Karhu ducks under a wild hook from Sata.
Antti Karhu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sata is defended easily by Karhu.
Karhu moves in looking to clinch but Sata pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sata if he has to take too many more of those.

Sata has closed the distance and engaged Karhu in a clinch.
Karhu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Karhu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sata has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sata struggles to land a body shot inside as Karhu controls his hands.
Akiro Sata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sata changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karhu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Karhu scores with a body shot.
Karhu throws a head kick that Sata semi-blocks.
Karhu lands with a slapping head kick.
Karhu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A jab from Karhu finds it's way through Sata's defenses.
Karhu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Karhu.
Karhu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Karhu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Karhu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Karhu!
Antti Karhu spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.