PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Pera (ranked 1438 p4p, 222 weight class) and Ahti Saarelainen (ranked 1456 p4p, 226 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Pekka Pera has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Pekka Pera seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Pera
vs
Saarelainen

150 cm
23
178 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ahti Saarelainen!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pera scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pera sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Saarelainen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Pera grinds an elbow into Saarelainen's temple.
Pera scores with punches from side control.
Saarelainen lands with an elbow strike from the bottom.
Saarelainen prevents Pera from improving position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pera works to advance to full mount. Saarelainen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Pera avoids the attempt from Saarelainen to control.
Pera lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Saarelainen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pera passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Saarelainen!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pera landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pera scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Saarelainen?
Pera avoids the attempt from Saarelainen to control.
Pera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pera lands a couple of good shots and Saarelainen has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Pera gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Saarelainen rolls, trying to escape but Pera keeps control of the position.
Saarelainen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Saarelainen is taking damage to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen rolls, trying to escape but Pera keeps control of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pera struggling to keep hold of the position.
Saarelainen takes a big shot to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Saarelainen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Saarelainen trying to control the hands but Pera breaks the grip.
Pera is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Saarelainen is trying to remain composed but Pera is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Saarelainen trying to control the position but Pera manages to sink in the hooks.
Pera is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Pera gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Pera gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Pera apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera throws a lazy right hand but Saarelainen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pera tests Saarelainen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Saarelainen misses with an uppercut
and Pera counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saarelainen's knee momentarily.
Pera takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
That kick from Pera tenderised Saarelainen's leg. Saarelainen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pera looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saarelainen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pera on the side of the head.
Saarelainen lands a jab to Pera's midsection.
Pera takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Saarelainen throws a right hand that misses
and Pera counters with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pera lands with a thumping leg kick.
Saarelainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pera was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Saarelainen scores with the left hand. Pera knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saarelainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Saarelainen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pera's elbow.
Pera misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Saarelainen fails to land.
Pera lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pera throws a punch but it's blocked by Saarelainen.
Saarelainen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saarelainen stalling against the cage.
Saarelainen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pera to keep the fight standing.
Pera misses with some punches.
Pera stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Saarelainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pera prevents Saarelainen from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera dominated that round.
That's time! Pera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Saarelainen's calf.
Saarelainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saarelainen lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice jab there from Pera.
Nice shot lands for Saarelainen.
Pera misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saarelainen! But no joy.
Pera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ahti Saarelainen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saarelainen moves away.
Pera throws an overhand right that lands on Saarelainen's shoulder, as Saarelainen tries to avoid the shot.

Pera shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Saarelainen is trying to defend but Pera finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarelainen is trying to get back to full guard.
Pera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarelainen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pera is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Pera works over Saarelainen with some ground and pound from guard.

Saarelainen looking for a guillotine here but Pera defends easily.
Saarelainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pera keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saarelainen's head.
Pekka Pera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Saarelainen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pera works over Saarelainen with some ground and pound from guard.
Pera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saarelainen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Saarelainen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saarelainen can do to turn this around?
Saarelainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pera keeps working.
Pera trying to control from the bottom.
Saarelainen is trying to control. Pera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pera wants to get back to full guard.
Saarelainen trying to control the action but Pera is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen is nestled in close to Pera, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Saarelainen is trying to control. Pera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pera wants to get back to full guard.
Pera wants to control but Saarelainen is keeping busy.
Pera is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pera.
Saarelainen throws a series of punches but Pera moves out of range.

Pera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saarelainen sprawls well initially but Pera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pera slows the pace down in half guard.
Pera seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saarelainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pera wants to control but Saarelainen is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera dominated that second round.
That's time! Pera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pera scores with a jab to the jaw.
Pera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saarelainen lands with a right hand.
Nice body punch from Pera.
Pera throws a good cross that connects.
Pera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saarelainen.
Saarelainen thuds a left hand into Pera's body.
Pera defending well as Saarelainen loads up on a big left hand.
Saarelainen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saarelainen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pera can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarelainen misses with a takedown
and Pera counters with a nice body shot.
Saarelainen shoots for a double leg takedown but Pera sprawls well. He's pushed Saarelainen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saarelainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Pera.
A little feinted left hand from Pera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Pera misses.
Saarelainen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pera wants to slow Saarelainen down by chopping away at his legs.
Saarelainen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Pera ducks under a wild hook from Saarelainen.
Pera looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Saarelainen misses with a body shot
and Pera counters with a leg kick.
Pera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saarelainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Pera.
Pera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saarelainen throws out the jab.
Saarelainen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Pera looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pera throws an elbow that misses. Saarelainen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pera's guard. Nice move by Saarelainen!

Pera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen looking to sit in guard and control but Pera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Saarelainen trying to control the position.

Saarelainen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarelainen trying to control the position here.
Pera trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarelainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saarelainen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Saarelainen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pera is positioning himself well to prevent Saarelainen advancing to mount.
Pera tries to get to full guard but Saarelainen has control of the leg.
Pera is not content to let Saarelainen control the position.
Pera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ahti Saarelainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pera keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Saarelainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pera tries to get to full guard but Saarelainen has control of the leg.
Saarelainen passes to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pera is trying to control Saarelainen's posture but Saarelainen avoids it.

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 Pekka Pera.
Well Pera 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Pera!
An out of breath Pekka Pera thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.