PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomisan Tsuruta (ranked 725 p4p, 1563 weight class) and Saku Lehtonen (ranked 99 p4p, 221 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Tsuruta
vs
Lehtonen

192 cm
28
209
14 - 7 - 1

175 cm
24
220
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomisan Tsuruta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saku Lehtonen!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsuruta fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lehtonen lands with a nice body punch.
Lehtonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Tsuruta lands with a nice body punch.
Tsuruta checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lehtonen connects with an inside leg kick.
Saku Lehtonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Lehtonen as Tsuruta shoots in.
As Tsuruta backs off Lehtonen throws a huge counter combo but Tsuruta manages to avoid it all.
Tsuruta blocks a jab.
Lehtonen tries to clinch there but Tsuruta circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehtonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lehtonen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Lehtonen rushes Tsuruta and presses him up against the cage.
Tsuruta stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Tsuruta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tsuruta staying out of range there.
Saku Lehtonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lehtonen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tsuruta misses with a wild body shot.
Donk. Tsuruta catches Lehtonen right on the button with a cross.
Tsuruta throws a hook but Lehtonen blocks it.
Lehtonen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Tsuruta connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lehtonen scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta avoids a punch combination nicely.

Tsuruta shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tsuruta showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lehtonen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta is nestled in close to Lehtonen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tsuruta slips a nice elbow through Lehtonen's hands, connecting with Lehtonen's forehead.
Tsuruta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lehtonen is looking to control Tsuruta's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lehtonen avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Tsuruta.
Lehtonen is trying to get back to full guard.
Lehtonen felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tsuruta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsuruta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tsuruta looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lehtonen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've been hearing that Tsuruta has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Tsuruta working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tsuruta lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tsuruta working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tsuruta is thwarting Lehtonen's attempts to control the position.
Tsuruta takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lehtonen has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tsuruta controlling the pace.
Lehtonen wants to control but Tsuruta is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tsuruta lands strikes from half guard.
Tsuruta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tsuruta drops an elbow to the side of Lehtonen's head.
Tsuruta takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lehtonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tsuruta.
Tsuruta feinted with a counter takedown.
Tsuruta throws a body shot but no joy.
Tsuruta walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lehtonen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tsuruta is out of range and Lehtonen settles back down.
Lehtonen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Tomomisan Tsuruta has been cut.
Tsuruta misses with a wild body shot.
Lehtonen motions for Tsuruta to come forward. Lehtonen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tsuruta drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lehtonen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lehtonen throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta misses with a straight right.
Lehtonen catches Tsuruta with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tsuruta connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lehtonen slips a jab from Tsuruta.
Lehtonen misses with the combination.
Lehtonen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tsuruta swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lehtonen.
Tsuruta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta lands with a right hand.
A big left from Lehtonen misses.
Lehtonen misses with a looping right.
Lehtonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tsuruta sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tsuruta drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lehtonen sprawls and moves away.
Lehtonen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lehtonen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tsuruta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lehtonen can do to turn this around?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tsuruta works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lehtonen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Tsuruta shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lehtonen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tsuruta is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Tsuruta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tsuruta has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen is trying to keep Tsuruta in close.
Tsuruta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tsuruta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tsuruta connects with a couple of short punches.
Tsuruta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lehtonen's head.
Tsuruta works over Lehtonen with some ground and pound from guard.

Lehtonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tsuruta chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tsuruta stands up over Lehtonen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tsuruta wants to pass the guard but Lehtonen is keeping the position.

Lehtonen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Tsuruta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Lehtonen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tomomisan Tsuruta's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lehtonen misses with a straight left.
Tsuruta throws a big shot that misses.
Lehtonen misses with a looping right.
Tsuruta bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lehtonen's head backwards.
Lehtonen misses with a leg kick

so Tsuruta counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lehtonen looking for a sweep. Not yet Lehtonen, not yet.
Tsuruta distracts Lehtonen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Lehtonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lehtonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tsuruta's guard.

Lehtonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsuruta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta controls Lehtonen momentarily but Lehtonen frees himself.
Lehtonen won't allow Tsuruta to sweep him here.
Tsuruta is working hard here to advance position.
Tsuruta bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lehtonen's guard.

Lehtonen controlling the position.
Lehtonen wants to sweep but no luck.
Tsuruta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tsuruta scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lehtonen looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Lehtonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tsuruta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tsuruta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tsuruta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tsuruta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tsuruta pushes down on Lehtonen's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Lehtonen looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta is looking to stall here but Lehtonen recovers full guard.
Tsuruta works over Lehtonen with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tsuruta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Lehtonen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lehtonen looking for a guillotine here but Tsuruta defends easily.
Tsuruta wants to pass the guard but Lehtonen is keeping the position.

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.
Tsuruta sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tomomisan Tsuruta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tsuruta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tsuruta working some strikes from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tsuruta lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Tomomisan Tsuruta's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lehtonen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tsuruta.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tsuruta. Lehtonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tsuruta misses with a hook
and Lehtonen counters with an inside leg kick.

Tsuruta bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of short elbows.
Tsuruta landing a few strikes.
Tsuruta landing strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta working the ground and pound from side control.
Tsuruta working the body and head with strikes.
Lehtonen can't do much from the bottom here.
Tsuruta scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta cracks Lehtonen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tsuruta wants to control but Lehtonen is keeping him busy.
Tsuruta takes a little break here. Lehtonen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tsuruta connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lehtonen some visible discomfort.
Tsuruta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lehtonen keeps working.
Tsuruta working the body and head with strikes.
Tsuruta wants to control but Lehtonen is keeping him busy.
Tsuruta is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lehtonen will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Lehtonen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tsuruta working the ground and pound.
Tsuruta working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta wants to control but Lehtonen is keeping him busy.
Tsuruta remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Tsuruta grinds an elbow into Lehtonen's temple.
Tsuruta cracks Lehtonen with a big elbow.
Tsuruta slows the pace down.
Tsuruta working away.
Lehtonen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Tsuruta connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen is not content to let Tsuruta control the position.
Tsuruta in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Lehtonen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tsuruta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lehtonen can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta had his way with Saku Lehtonen in that round.
The cut man is working on Tomomisan Tsuruta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tsuruta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lehtonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Tsuruta.
Lehtonen slips a jab from Tsuruta.
Lehtonen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lehtonen throws a hook but Tsuruta blocks it.
Tsuruta feinted with a counter takedown.
Tsuruta catches Lehtonen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tsuruta scores with a nice right hand.

Lehtonen is rocked!
Lehtonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta walks into a left hand.
Tsuruta throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Lehtonen to counter with a crisp jab.
A punch lands to the side of Lehtonen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lehtonen is still on wobbly legs! Can Tsuruta finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehtonen is looking to clinch but Tsuruta is avoiding it.
Lehtonen seems to have recovered his senses.
Tsuruta is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tsuruta throws a body shot but no joy.
Tsuruta misses with a hook. Lehtonen ducked under it nicely.
Tsuruta throws a jab but it's blocked by Lehtonen.
Lehtonen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Good standup being displayed there by Tsuruta as he connects with a hook.
A head kick misses from Lehtonen.
Tsuruta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tsuruta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tsuruta attempts a counter takedown but Lehtonen avoids it well and moves away.
Tsuruta throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saku Lehtonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Tsuruta.
Tsuruta scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lehtonen.

Tsuruta bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tsuruta is looking to take a break and control but Lehtonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
You can see the frustration on Lehtonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta landing a few strikes.
Tsuruta working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tsuruta working away.
Lehtonen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tsuruta is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Tsuruta working Lehtonen over with strikes here.
Tsuruta lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Tsuruta! Lehtonen is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Tomomisan Tsuruta!
Tomomisan Tsuruta retains his light heavyweight title!