PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joonas Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Winner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Saarinen
vs
Winner

182 cm
18
169 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonas Saarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stan Winner!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.

Saarinen tries to keep at a distance but Winner has taken the fight into the clinch.

Winner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Winner misses with a wild combination.
Saarinen misses with a double jab

and Winner counters with a shoot takedown. Saarinen fights it but they end up in guard.
Winner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Saarinen keeping busy on the bottom but Winner has passed one foot through into half guard.
Saarinen tries to roll over but Winner keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen wants to get back to full guard but Winner has passed into side control.

Winner jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Saarinen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Winner working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saarinen tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Winner wants to stand but Saarinen is controlling his arm.
Saarinen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Winner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Who's going to make the next move?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Winner throws a one two combo.

Saarinen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Winner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Saarinen advances nicely into full mount.
Winner wants to control but Saarinen is having none of it.
Winner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saarinen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winner is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Saarinen is staying active.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winner working to try and regain half guard.
Winner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Saarinen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Winner wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Saarinen.

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.
Saarinen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Saarinen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Saarinen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Winner tries to hold on but Saarinen pushes him away.
The referee warns Winner that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stan Winner will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saarinen misses with a double jab.
Joonas Saarinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saarinen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Winner counters by clinching up.
Winner scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Saarinen tries to break the clinch but Winner is controlling the position.

Winner pulls guard successfully.
Saarinen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Winner 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winner has his hands on Saarinen's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winner lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Saarinen!
Saarinen tries to reverse the position but Winner maintains control.
Saarinen wants to get back to his feet.
Saarinen can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saarinen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Saarinen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Saarinen wants to hold on but Winner pushes him away.
Winner prevents Saarinen from getting the reversal.
Saarinen is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saarinen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saarinen flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Winner controlling his opponent.
Saarinen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Winner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saarinen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saarinen regains half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saarinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Winner is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Winner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Saarinen waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Winner.
The crowd cheers as Winner lands an impressive looking overhand right. Saarinen doesn't seem phased though.
Saarinen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Winner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Saarinen!
Winner controlling from the full mount.
Saarinen is working to get back to half guard.
Winner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saarinen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Winner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saarinen is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two 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.
Winner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Winner content just to control the position here.
Winner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Winner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saarinen tries to hold on but Winner pushes him away.
Saarinen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Saarinen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Winner content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen looking for a sweep. Not yet Saarinen, not yet.
Winner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Winner stays in close to Saarinen's body and controls the position.
Joonas Saarinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saarinen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saarinen pushes a forearm under Winner's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Winner is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joonas Saarinen!