PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lars Bottas (ranked 5103 p4p, 5107 weight class) and Pekka Salo (ranked 532 p4p, 531 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bottas
vs
Salo

182 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lars Bottas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Salo!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling each other endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Bottas moves to clinch but Salo breaks away
and Salo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bottas loads up on a big right hand but Salo slips the punch.
Bottas sets himself, and Salo steps forward looking for the clinch! Bottas avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bottas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salo.
Bottas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Bottas misses with an uppercut
and Salo counters with a straight right hand.
Salo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bottas counters with a stiff right hand.
Bottas cracks Salo with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bottas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bottas moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bottas has Salo pushed against the cage.
The referee calls for Salo to work.
Salo is trying to break free.
Bottas slowing the pace effectively.

That's four 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.
The referee is keeping an eye on Salo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Salo is stalling here.

Bottas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Salo has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lars Bottas will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A telegraphed right hand from Salo misses the target.
Salo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Salo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bottas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bottas tries to counter by clinching up but Salo breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Salo.
Salo lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bottas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salo misses the jab.
Bottas is looking to counter the offense by Salo and move into the clinch.
Bottas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salo.
Salo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Salo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bottas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bottas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Salo tries to clinch but Bottas moves out of range.
Bottas is looking to counter the offense by Salo and move into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Salo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bottas throws a looping overhand right but Salo ducks down to avoid it.
It seemed like Salo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bottas tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Salo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Salo closes the distance but Bottas moves to the side
and Bottas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bottas tries to clinch there but Salo circles away.
Salo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A swing and a miss from Bottas.
Bottas tries to clinch but Salo moves out of range.
Bottas sets himself, and Salo steps forward looking for the clinch! Bottas avoids it this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salo fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Bottas dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bottas instigates a clinch.

Salo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Salo tries to clinch but Bottas moves away
and Bottas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bottas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bottas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bottas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salo can do to turn this around?
Bottas avoiding damage.
Bottas stalling in the clinch.
Salo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

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.

Bottas breaks the clinch.
Salo looks to land a left hand but Bottas moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Salo misses the target.
Bottas is looking to clinch.
Salo wants to counter the offense by Bottas and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo takes a jab right on the kisser.
The fighters circle momentarily. Salo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Salo pushes Bottas up against the cage in a clinch.
Bottas tries to break free but Salo pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bottas is trying to break the clinch but Salo is controlling him.

Bottas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bottas wants to clinch
enabling Salo to counter with a crisp jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters circling - Salo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

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 Lars Bottas.
Well Bottas 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lars Bottas!