PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Viking Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sankari has chosen SMC Hoodrats as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Fighter
vs
Sankari

190 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Viking Fighter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pauli Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sankari slips under a jab.
Sankari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fighter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sankari feints and then cracks Fighter's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fighter down.
Sankari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fighter misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bone on bone clash there as Fighter blocks the leg kick.
Sankari thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sankari gets the takedown into side control.

Sankari wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fighter, who protects the arm well.
Fighter parries the strikes from Sankari easily there. Sankari is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Fighter to escape.
Fighter manages to get back to half guard.

Sankari is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fighter has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fighter on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fighter tries to get out of the position.

Sankari is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fighter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sankari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sankari's back!
Sankari has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sankari is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter trying to control momentarily.
Sankari rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Fighter is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Fighter is keen to just control but Sankari is a slippery customer.
Fighter lands with a punch from half guard.
Fighter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fighter thows a huge punch but Sankari dodges it nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sankari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sankari taking some punishment here, with Fighter in his half guard.
Fighter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sankari does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sankari missing with punches from the bottom.
Sankari gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sankari's head.
Fighter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fighter is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Fighter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fighter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fighter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fighter trying to control but Sankari is working from the bottom.
Fighter lands a couple of digs.
Sankari wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fighter takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

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.
Sankari uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fighter.
Fighter swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fighter misses with an uppercut.
Sankari misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fighter tries to clinch but Sankari moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Viking Fighter will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fighter loads up on a big right hand but Sankari slips the punch.
Sankari moves out of range as Fighter strikes.
Fighter doesn't manage to clinch there - Sankari circles away.
Fighter fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Pauli Sankari has been cut.
Fighter avoids the head kick by Sankari.
Fighter throws the left hand but Sankari avoids the punch easily.
Fighter wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter throws a wild body kick that Sankari sees coming a mile off.
Fighter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sankari manages to avoid it.
Fighter tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sankari was well out of range. Poor timing from Fighter.
Fighter leaves Sankari with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

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.
Fighter pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sankari is looking to clinch but Fighter is avoiding it.
An inside leg kick from Sankari misses.
Sankari ducks under a wild hook from Fighter.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sankari lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Fighter has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Fighter and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sankari is defended easily by Fighter.
Viking Fighter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter checks a low kick from Sankari.

Sankari closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fighter did well to prevent Sankari getting side control.
Fighter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fighter.
Fighter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sankari tries to free his leg and advance position but Fighter is retaining full guard.
Fighter throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sankari wants to stand but Fighter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sankari postures up.
Sankari preventing the sweep.
Sankari stays in close to Fighter's body and controls the position.
Fighter throwing short punches from the bottom.
Fighter striking off his back, scoring a few points.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fighter is looking to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good exchange - Fighter coming out on top.
Sankari bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viking Fighter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pauli Sankari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sankari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fighter.
Sankari throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Sankari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fighter looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sankari lands an elbow.

Sankari is trying to get an arm triangle but Fighter is defending well.
Fighter sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fighter tries to roll over but Sankari keeps him under control.

Sankari is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sankari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fighter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sankari manages to get himself to full guard.
Fighter trying to control the position from guard on top but Sankari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fighter postures up in Sankari's guard and throws a big left but Sankari blocks it.
Fighter trying to control the position from guard on top but Sankari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sankari throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fighter thows a big elbow that misses.
Fighter works over Sankari with some ground and pound from guard.
Fighter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sankari's head.
Fighter sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fighter swats away the attempt to clinch by Sankari.

That's two 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.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sankari. That's going to slow Fighter down.
Fighter misses with a hook. Sankari ducked under it nicely.
A low kick from Fighter is predictable there
and Sankari counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sankari scores a takedown into full mount!

Fighter defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sankari.
Fighter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sankari on the ground.
Fighter is looking to get to half guard.
Sankari takes Fighter's back.
Fighter trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Fighter is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Fighter tries to roll but Sankari sticks to his back.

Sankari has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Fighter has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Sankari doesn't have the hooks in and Fighter manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter throwing strikes from guard but Sankari blocks nicely.

Sankari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fighter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fighter controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pauli Sankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sankari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fighter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Viking Fighter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fighter postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fighter working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fighter lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pauli Sankari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fighter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!