PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Saric (ranked 2130 p4p, 6236 weight class) and Mauno Pirhonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauno Pirhonen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Saric
vs
Pirhonen

200 cm
33
195
14 - 10 - 0

191 cm
25
194
0 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Valentin Saric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauno Pirhonen!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pirhonen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Saric counters with a nice leg kick.
Pirhonen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saric's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from Saric.
Pirhonen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pirhonen misses with a wild combination.
Pirhonen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mauno Pirhonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pirhonen throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pirhonen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Saric counters with a straight right hand.
Saric has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pirhonen throws a big shot that misses.
Pirhonen swings widly with a right hand
and Saric cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saric thuds a left hand into Pirhonen's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pirhonen throws a lazy uppercut
and Saric counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pirhonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Saric half committed to a counter leg kick.
Pirhonen misses with a right hand

and Saric counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saric.

Saric thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Saric is in close to Pirhonen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saric passes into half guard.
Saric lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saric is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric moves into full mount! Pirhonen won't be happy about that!
Saric content just to control the position here.

Saric throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Pirhonen has his hands clasped together but Saric breaks the hold and Pirhonen is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Saric!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Valentin Saric!
In his post fight interview, Valentin Saric started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.