PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Saari (ranked 2971 p4p, 1944 weight class) and Bartholomew Bainbridge (ranked 378 p4p, 257 weight class). Saari's entrance music is Oranssi Pazuzu - Lahja . A fine choice. 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.

Saari
vs
Bainbridge

191 cm
22
207
5 - 4 - 1

185 cm
22
206
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

New Standard

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 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksi Saari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartholomew Bainbridge!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Saari.
Nice uppercut lands for Saari. That snapped Bainbridge's head back.
Bainbridge doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Saari misses with a wild body shot.
Bainbridge uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saari.
Bainbridge ducks under a wild hook from Saari.
Saari throws a body shot but no joy.
Saari misses with a hook. Bainbridge ducked under it nicely.
Saari jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Saari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Saari darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bainbridge feints and then cracks Saari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saari down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bainbridge tries a head kick but it misses.
Saari scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bainbridge lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Saari lands an overhand right.
Saari scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saari uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bainbridge.
Saari with a jab.
Bainbridge takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bainbridge uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saari.
Saari blocks a jab.
Saari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bainbridge.
A big right from Bainbridge misses.
Saari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bainbridge was well out of range. Poor timing from Saari.
Saari throws a looping overhand right but Bainbridge ducks down to avoid it.
Bainbridge steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Saari just misses with a punch to the body.
Bainbridge throws out a counter right but Saari avoids it with no problem.
A combination from Saari does no damage.
Saari is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Saari lands a jab to Bainbridge's midsection.
Saari throws out a loose jab but Bainbridge uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bainbridge slips a jab and a cross from Saari.
Bainbridge tries to clinch up.
Bainbridge tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Saari is able to avoid easily.
As Bainbridge looks to move away, Saari throws a big counter combo but Bainbridge just gets out of the way.
Bainbridge throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bainbridge takes a jab right on the kisser.
Saari lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bainbridge fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Aleksi Saari has been cut.
Saari paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Saari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bainbridge.
Bainbridge takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Saari misses with a left hand
and Bainbridge counters with a series of strikes. Saari will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saari blocks a head kick by Bainbridge.
A shot to the body from Saari misses
and Bainbridge counters with a nice kick to the body.
Saari looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bainbridge.
Saari throws an overhand right that lands on Bainbridge's shoulder, as Bainbridge tries to avoid the shot.
Bainbridge feints a counter leg kick.
Saari punishes Bainbridge's body with a nice straight punch.
Saari throws the left hand but Bainbridge avoids the punch easily.
Saari moves out of range of the body kick.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Bainbridge! Saari is out on his feet! Bainbridge rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Saari is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Saari is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bartholomew Bainbridge!
Bartholomew Bainbridge decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
The defeated Aleksi Saari had this to say: 'Niin metsä vastaa, kuin sinne huudetaan.'.