PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ray J (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joonas Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). J's entrance music is Can't Be Touched. A fine choice. Joonas Saarinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

J
vs
Saarinen

200 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

179 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ray J!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joonas Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saarinen moves into range and clinches up with J.
Saarinen looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
J has had enough of the clinch but Saarinen keeps him there for the moment.
J is trying to break free.
J tries to break the clinch but Saarinen is controlling the position.
J is working for takedown but Saarinen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Saarinen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saarinen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from J.
J avoids the elbow strike from Saarinen, against the cage.
J wants to get back to striking at distance but Saarinen won't allow it.
J digs a right hand into Saarinen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Saarinen's gas tank.
J tries to break the clinch but Saarinen is controlling the position.
J dodges an elbow strike from Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a knee to the head but misses.
J really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saarinen landing knees to the body.
Saarinen lands a knee to the body.
Saarinen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Saarinen.
J wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saarinen has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saarinen.
J wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

J breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
J tries a head kick but it misses.
J moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J scores with a leg kick.
Saarinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saarinen avoids the head kick by J.
J swats away the attempt to clinch by Saarinen.

J closes the distance and clinches.
Saarinen tries a knee to the head but J blocks it.
Saarinen blocks the elbow strike.
J missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Saarinen.
Saarinen missing with knees to the body.

J successfully pulls guard.

J pushes Saarinen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Saarinen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Saarinen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Saarinen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Saarinen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Knees to the body from Saarinen.
J tries to break the clinch but Saarinen is controlling the position.

J breaks from the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from J.
J tries to land a body kick
and Saarinen counters with a slapping leg kick.
J connects with a high kick.

It looks like Joonas Saarinen has been cut.
J throws a sloppy head kick and Saarinen moves out of range easily.
J misses with a two punch combination.
J throws a head kick that misses

and Saarinen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Saarinen is looking to advance position but J won't allow it.

J pushes Saarinen off and gets back to his feet.
J plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Saarinen is rocked!
Saarinen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and J makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Saarinen really felt that one!
Saarinen is still on wobbly legs! Can J finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
J throws a quick inside leg kick.
Saarinen seems to have recovered his senses.
J pulls out of a head kick attempt.
J circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saarinen closes the distance looking to clinch

and J moves into the clinch.
J wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saarinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but J has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
J wants to break free but Saarinen has control.

Saarinen breaks from the clinch.

Saarinen forces J back against the cage and clinches.

Saarinen manages to break the clinch.
J misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but J moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
J throws a head kick that misses

and Saarinen moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen scores with a shot to the side of J's head.
J has had enough of the clinch but Saarinen keeps him there for the moment.
J blocks a body shot from Saarinen.
J can't break the clinch.
J tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray J. That's going to take a lot out of him.
J wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saarinen has him pressed against the cage.
Saarinen tries to pull guard but J holds him up against the cage and eventually Saarinen drops back down to his feet.

J manages to break the clinch.
J thows a body kick. Saarinen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
J misses with a body kick.
J tries to land a body kick
and Saarinen counters with a straight right hand.
Saarinen is looking to clinch.
Saarinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saarinen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and J counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Saarinen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saarinen fails with an attempt to clinch.
J tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
J misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray J dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joonas Saarinen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

J throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Saarinen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ray J is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from J is predictable there
and Saarinen counters with a big head kick but J shrugs it off.
Ray J is winning the standup battle so far.
J keeps the fight on the outside.
Ray J seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
J fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Saarinen instigates a clinch.
J dodges an elbow strike from Saarinen.

Saarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saarinen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and J counters with a body kick that stops Saarinen in his tracks momentarily.
Saarinen moves out of range as J throws a body kick.
Saarinen blocks a head kick by J.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saarinen misses with a head kick.
J goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by J misses

and Saarinen counters by moving into the clinch.
J has had enough of the clinch but Saarinen keeps him there for the moment.
J tries to break the clinch but Saarinen is controlling the position.

J breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saarinen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
J scores with a leg kick.
J moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - J finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
J throws a sloppy head kick and Saarinen moves out of range easily.
J tries a head kick but it misses.
A lazy body kick from J

and Saarinen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Saarinen.
J looking to slow down the pace here.
Saarinen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
J softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Saarinen.
Saarinen lands an elbow inside that J shrugs off.
Saarinen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Saarinen throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. J avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
J wants to get back to striking at distance but Saarinen won't allow it.

J pulls Saarinen into guard.
Saarinen stands and throws J's legs to the side, diving into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saarinen prevents J from escaping the position.

J throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
J throws a head kick that misses.
A solid body kick from J.
J throws a quick inside leg kick.
J throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Saarinen counters with a series of strikes. J will be more careful next time no doubt.

Saarinen has J up against the cage in a clinch.
J is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saarinen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
J wants to break free but Saarinen has control.
Saarinen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from J.
Saarinen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saarinen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but J is keeping busy.
J tries to break the clinch but Saarinen is controlling the position.
A hook to the body from Saarinen.
J wants to get back to striking at distance but Saarinen won't allow it.

Saarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
J throws a head kick that misses

and Saarinen moves into the clinch.
Saarinen lands an elbow inside that J shrugs off.
J wants to break the clinch but can't.
J wants to get back to striking at distance but Saarinen won't allow it.
Saarinen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from J.
Saarinen keeps control of J as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
J has had enough of the clinch but Saarinen keeps him there for the moment.
J goes for a takedown in the clinch but Saarinen prevents it.
J tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray J. That's going to take a lot out of him.
J blocks the elbow strike.

J escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
J looks to land a body kick but Saarinen moved away.
J keeps the fight on the outside.
Saarinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A lazy body kick from J
and Saarinen counters with a two punch combo.
Saarinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Saarinen clinches.

J escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
J throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
J tries to clinch up but Saarinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Saarinen wants to clinch but J slips to the side
and J counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Saarinen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Saarinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
J throws a head kick but Saarinen moves out of range.

Saarinen moves into the clinch.
J wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saarinen dodges an elbow strike from J.
Saarinen misses with some punches.
J fails to pull the fight into his guard.
J wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
J can't break the clinch.

J breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray J dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joonas Saarinen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

J shoots in looking for a takedown. Saarinen tries to sprawl out of it but J keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saarinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
J tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
J tries to land a front kick but Saarinen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Saarinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
J throws a sloppy head kick and Saarinen moves out of range easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from J.
J moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
J tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saarinen swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saarinen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with J, pushing him back against the cage.
J wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saarinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

J breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
J tries to land a front kick but Saarinen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Saarinen wants to clinch but J slips to the side
and J counters with a body kick that stops Saarinen in his tracks momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen blocks a head kick by J.
J pushes Saarinen away with a front kick.
J throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
J takes one to the chin there.
Ray J is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saarinen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from J.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray J. That's going to take a lot out of him.
J throws a body kick that misses.
A low kick from J misses
and Saarinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saarinen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and J counters with a left and a right that stings Saarinen.
J throws a leg kick that is checked
and Saarinen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
J moves in looking to clinch but Saarinen pushes him off.
Saarinen avoids the head kick by J.
Nice sprawl there from J as Saarinen shoots in.
J throws a sloppy head kick

and Saarinen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short body shot lands from J as the two fighters clinch.

J breaks the clinch.
J is looking to land body kicks.
Saarinen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by J.
J wants to clinch.
Saarinen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and J counters with a nice body kick.
J tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saarinen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A chopping leg kick lands by J.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
J throws a head kick that misses.
J tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
J circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saarinen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and J counters with a big head kick but Saarinen shrugs it off.
Saarinen tries to clinch but J is having none of it.
J pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Joonas Saarinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
J tries a head kick but it misses.
J throws a head kick but Saarinen moves out of range.
Saarinen tries to clinch up.
J lands with a slapping head kick.
J stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saarinen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saarinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
J tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
J throws a sloppy head kick and Saarinen moves out of range easily.
J swats away the attempt to clinch by Saarinen.
J throws a head kick that misses.
Saarinen wants to clinch up but J keeps it at a distance.
J looks to land a body kick but Saarinen moved away.
J takes a kick to the side of the head.
J throws the kick towards the body but Saarinen avoids it.
Saarinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick by J misses

and Saarinen counters by moving into the clinch.

J breaks from the clinch.
Saarinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but J swats him away and circles back towards the center.
J misses with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray J showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for J, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray J!