PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between kalja maha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

maha
vs
Savolainen

175 cm
23
264 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, kalja maha!
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 Savolainen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Savolainen can't break the clinch.
maha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Savolainen.
Savolainen is trying to break the clinch but maha has him pressed against the cage.
Savolainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

maha turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
maha has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Savolainen!
Savolainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

maha is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Savolainen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
maha takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savolainen throwing hammer fists to the chest of maha. What's that going to do exactly?
maha is in the full mount, landing strikes.
maha tries to control but Savolainen wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen has given up his back here.
Savolainen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
maha not allowing Savolainen to control his hands.

Savolainen defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
maha cracks Savolainen with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Savolainen from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Savolainen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from maha.
What can Savolainen do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
maha keeps control of the position easily here as Savolainen tries to buck him off.
maha throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

maha working for the choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
maha wants to control but Savolainen manages to buck him off and is now in maha's guard! Nice work there by Savolainen!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maha is trying to keep Savolainen in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
maha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if maha tries to get out of the position.

Savolainen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Pekka Savolainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savolainen misses with a takedown attempt - maha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Savolainen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

maha changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Savolainen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Savolainen looks gassed!
Savolainen is trying to buck maha off.
Savolainen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
maha controlling from mount.

maha is going olschool here, as he tries to force Savolainen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Savolainen shrugs it off.

maha has hold of Savolainen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Savolainen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
maha trying to control but Savolainen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Savolainen clinches but maha breaks the clinch

and maha decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Savolainen's guard.
maha controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee stands the fighters back up. kalja maha just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Savolainen lands with a kick to the temple. maha shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like kalja maha has been cut.
maha circles away from the clinch attempt

and maha moves into the clinch.
maha lands a nice uppercut.
Savolainen tries for a takedown. No joy.

maha has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Savolainen uses from the top position.
maha trying to keep a closed guard but Savolainen is proving a slippery customer.
Savolainen is breathing heavily.
Savolainen stopping the sweep attempt from maha.
Savolainen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maha wants to sweep but no luck.
maha has his hands on Savolainen's head, controlling the position.
Savolainen postures up.

maha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
maha might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Savolainen looking to sit in guard and control but maha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
maha postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen is trying to hold maha in close to prevent damage but maha has managed to pass into half guard.
maha works his foot free and advances to mount.
maha controlling his opponent.
maha seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Savolainen for as long as he can get away with.
maha raining down shots from the mount!
maha looking to control but Savolainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maha content just to control the position here.
Savolainen is trying to stand.
maha controlling his opponent.
Savolainen is looking to improve his position but maha isn't that keen on the idea.
maha controlling from mount.
maha takes Savolainen's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

maha has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Savolainen is defending well but eventually maha manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Savolainen has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). kalja maha!