PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Atte Savitaipale (ranked 398 p4p, 52 weight class) and Enitan Arendse (ranked 78 p4p, 9 weight class). Savitaipale comes into the arena with Roger Whittaker - Finnish Whistler blaring out of the sound system. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Savitaipale
vs
Arendse

177 cm
31
160 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

170 cm
27
155 lbs
20 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Atte Savitaipale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Enitan Arendse!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savitaipale misses with a hook. Arendse ducked under it nicely.
Arendse is looking to slow Savitaipale down with leg kicks.
Atte Savitaipale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savitaipale takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Arendse throws a shot to the body.
Arendse misses with a hook.
Savitaipale's corner calls for a 1-2. Savitaipale obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Arendse punishes Savitaipale's body with a nice straight punch.
Arendse gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Arendse is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Arendse moves away from the strike by Savitaipale.
Savitaipale connects with a single shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arendse throws a body shot but no joy.
Savitaipale lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Arendse listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Savitaipale takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Arendse misses with a body shot.
Arendse buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Savitaipale is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Savitaipale doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Savitaipale fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arendse is looking to clinch.
Savitaipale throws a body shot but no joy.
Arendse displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Savitaipale.
Arendse misses with an attempted mid kick.
Savitaipale feinted with a counter takedown.
Savitaipale throws a jab but it's blocked by Arendse.
Savitaipale has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Arendse.
Arendse throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Arendse lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Arendse blocks a jab.
Arendse slips under a jab from Savitaipale.
Arendse uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Savitaipale is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
An inside leg kick lands from Arendse.
Arendse lands a nice shot to the body.
Savitaipale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arendse feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Savitaipale's calf.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savitaipale walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Arendse cracks Savitaipale with a good jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale throws a jab when Arendse was well out of range.
Arendse lets loose with a powerful body kick. Savitaipale will feel that in the morning.
Arendse throws the kick towards the body but Savitaipale avoids it.
Savitaipale appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Enitan Arendse is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Arendse, as that shot connected.
Arendse thumps Savitaipale with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Savitaipale misses the target.
Arendse is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Savitaipale with a body shot.
Arendse lands a jab to the nose.
Savitaipale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Savitaipale avoids a kick to the body.
Arendse defending well as Savitaipale loads up on a big left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Arendse.
Savitaipale avoids the body shot from Arendse.
Arendse tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Savitaipale paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Arendse fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Savitaipale, pushing him back against the cage.
Arendse softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Savitaipale manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Arendse controlling from the top position.

Savitaipale has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Arendse is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Savitaipale.
We've been hearing good reports from Savitaipale's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale is trying to get back to half guard.
Savitaipale is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Savitaipale is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Savitaipale trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Savitaipale sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Savitaipale wants to improve his position but Arendse is controlling well.
Savitaipale makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Savitaipale.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Savitaipale throws out a loose jab but Arendse uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savitaipale throws a shot from downtown. Arendse moves away and avoids it.
Savitaipale looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Savitaipale takes a swing at Arendse's ribcage but misses.
As Savitaipale backs off Arendse throws a huge counter combo but Savitaipale manages to avoid it all.
Savitaipale slips under a jab.
Arendse has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Savitaipale misses with an uppercut. Arendse saw that one coming.
Arendse throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savitaipale looks to land a left hand but Arendse moved out of range nicely.
Arendse lands a right hook to the body.
Savitaipale looks to land a right hand but Arendse moved out of range.
Arendse moves away from the strike by Savitaipale.
Arendse works the jab nicely.
No luck for Savitaipale with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arendse lands a nice looking body shot.
Arendse lands a nice leg kick that just misses Savitaipale's sensitive parts.
Savitaipale dives in for a single leg takedown but Arendse sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Arendse feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Savitaipales jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savitaipale takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Arendse comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Arendse fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Savitaipale on the side of the head.
Arendse's jab looks to have found its range, popping Savitaipale under the eye.
Arendse avoids the body shot from Savitaipale.
Enitan Arendse seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Savitaipale swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Arendse makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Arendse throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Arendse stuns Savitaipale with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Arendse lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Savitaipale uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Arendse.
Savitaipale takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arendse looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arendse lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Savitaipale fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Arendse.
Savitaipale will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Savitaipale shoots in and drives through. Arendse sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atte Savitaipale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savitaipale fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Arendse has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale blocks the body kick.
Arendse connects with a body shot.
Arendse is looking to land body kicks.
Arendse ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Savitaipale is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Savitaipale throws a jab when Arendse was well out of range.
Arendse thinks about the counter body kick.
Savitaipale with a jab.
Arendse lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Arendse!
Savitaipale jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arendse lands a nice shot to the body.
Arendse feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Savitaipale's calf.
Arendse slips under a jab from Savitaipale.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Arendse.
Arendse scoring well with a low kick there.
Arendse uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Savitaipale.
Arendse misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arendse dips to his left and cracks Savitaipale with an uppercut!
Arendse throws a body shot but no joy.
Arendse moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Good leg kick by Arendse there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Savitaipale drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Savitaipale swings for the body but Arendse moves out of range.
Savitaipale swings for the body but Arendse moves out of range.
Arendse defending well as Savitaipale loads up on a big left hand.
Savitaipale throws an overhand right that lands on Arendse's shoulder, as Arendse tries to avoid the shot.
Arendse scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Savitaipale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arendse lands with a good body shot.
Arendse scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Savitaipale doesn't seem bothered though.
Savitaipale tries to move into range but Arendse moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arendse lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Arendse thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Savitaipale if he has to take too many more of those.
Savitaipale takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Savitaipale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arendse as he jumps to the side.
Savitaipale throws a right hand that misses
and Arendse counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Arendse ducks under a wild hook from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Arendse connects with a right hand. Savitaipale shakes it off.
Savitaipale takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Savitaipale throws a lazy right hand but Arendse sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Arendse appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Arendse ducks under a wild hook from Savitaipale.
Arendse is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Savitaipale rather than just go for the knockout.
Donk. Arendse catches Savitaipale right on the button with a cross.
Arendse throws out a powerful jab.
Arendse defending well as Savitaipale loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arendse lands with a slapping head kick.
Arendse lands a jab.
Arendse fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arendse tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Savitaipale was well out of range. Poor timing from Arendse.
Savitaipale takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enitan Arendse showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Arendse lands a slapping body shot.
Savitaipale bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Arendse's head.
Savitaipale takes one to the chin there.
Savitaipale throws an off balance right hand
and Arendse counters with a stiff right hand.
Savitaipale throws out a loose jab but Arendse uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savitaipale looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Arendse explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Savitaipale throws an overhand right that lands on Arendse's shoulder, as Arendse tries to avoid the shot.
Savitaipale misses with an uppercut.
Savitaipale connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Savitaipale misses the shot to the body.
Arendse was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Arendse lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Arendse uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savitaipale misses with a hook. Arendse ducked under it nicely.
Arendse throws out a counter right but Savitaipale avoids it with no problem.
Savitaipale throws out a loose jab but Arendse uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savitaipale waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arendse.
Arendse lands a nice leg kick that just misses Savitaipale's sensitive parts.
A big right from Savitaipale misses.
Arendse misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arendse wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Arendse digs a good body shot into Savitaipale's ribs.
Savitaipale throws a jab but it's blocked by Arendse.
A little jabbing left from Arendse on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Savitaipale takes one on the button.
Arendse takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Arendse wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Arendse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arendse ducks under a wild hook from Savitaipale.
Arendse lands with a shot to the body.
Arendse connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Savitaipale's hands.
Arendse fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Savitaipale looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Savitaipale throws a hook but Arendse blocks it.
A little jabbing left from Arendse on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Arendse cracks Savitaipale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big right from Savitaipale misses.
A solid body kick from Arendse.
Savitaipale takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Savitaipale throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Arendse sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arendse cracks Savitaipale with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Arendse slips under a jab.
Savitaipale looks to land a right hand but Arendse moved out of range.
Savitaipale walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Savitaipale throws a hook to the side of Arendse's head but Arendse sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arendse bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Savitaipale's head.
Arendse comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Arendse throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Arendse uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale misses with a straight left.
Arendse with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Arendse lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Savitaipale at a distance.
Arendse lands a nice leg kick that just misses Savitaipale's sensitive parts.
Savitaipale tries to bum rush Arendse with a series of wild strikes but Arendse uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Savitaipale on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Savitaipale just misses with a punch to the body.
Arendse steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Savitaipale.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale missing with a left hand there. Arendse was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Arendse punishes Savitaipale's body with a nice straight punch.
Arendse scores with a body shot.
Arendse is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Arendse throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arendse fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
An inside leg kick lands from Arendse.
Arendse lands with a right hand.
Savitaipale takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Arendse swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Savitaipale.
Arendse wants to clinch up but Savitaipale keeps it at a distance.
Savitaipale pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Atte Savitaipale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arendse moves out of range as Savitaipale strikes.
Savitaipale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arendse tries to clinch but Savitaipale moves out of range.
Savitaipale pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Arendse moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Arendse lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Arendse lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Savitaipale backwards.
Arendse is working Savitaipale over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short body shot lands from Arendse as the two fighters clinch.
Savitaipale has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arendse is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Arendse lands with a light punch inside.
Savitaipale blocks a body shot from Arendse.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Arendse.
Arendse lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Arendse gets through Savitaipale's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Arendse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arendse bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Savitaipale's head.
Savitaipale looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arendse is fending him off so far but Savitaipale persists. Nope, Arendse circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atte Savitaipale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arendse connects with a crisp jab.
Arendse scores with a nice right hand.
Arendse explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Savitaipale throws a combination that misses
and Arendse counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Arendse cracks Savitaipale with a right hand to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enitan Arendse comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arendse winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enitan Arendse!
Atte Savitaipale spoke after the fight, saying 'Better man won..Respect to him!Gonna choke him back stage..'.