PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Per Saukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Saukkonen
vs
Machida

189 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Per Saukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saukkonen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Saukkonen stalling.
Saukkonen drops an elbow to the side of Machida's head.
Saukkonen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Saukkonen passes to full mount!
Saukkonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Machida is looking to escape.

Saukkonen working for a guillotine from mount but Machida is in no mood to give up.
Saukkonen looking to finish Machida with some ground and pound. This is bad for Machida!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukkonen avoids the attempt from Machida to control.
Saukkonen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Machida hang on?
Saukkonen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Machida has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Saukkonen's lack of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida is positioning himself well to prevent Saukkonen advancing to mount.
Saukkonen 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.

Saukkonen wants to work for an arm triangle but Machida is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Saukkonen is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen throwing shots but Machida is blocking nicely.

Saukkonen is looking for a kimura here.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Machida wants to control but Saukkonen passes into side.

Saukkonen is trying to get an arm triangle but Machida is defending well.
Saukkonen controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to improve position but can't.
Saukkonen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Machida will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Saukkonen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saukkonen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Saukkonen is breathing heavily.
Machida can't do much from the bottom here.

Saukkonen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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.
Machida is looking to reverse the position.
Saukkonen prevents Machida from escaping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saukkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Machida thows a body kick. Saukkonen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Machida connects with a high kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Per Saukkonen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Machida with a poor takedown

and Saukkonen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Saukkonen is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.
Saukkonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Saukkonen is pressing down on Machida's thigh, looking to free his foot. Machida is holding on for now.
Machida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Machida trying to hold on to Saukkonen's head to control him but Saukkonen postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saukkonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saukkonen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida is not content to let Saukkonen control the position.
Saukkonen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Saukkonen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Saukkonen misses with a low kick as Machida jumps back.
Saukkonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Saukkonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saukkonen is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to stand but Saukkonen is controlling the position.
Saukkonen wants to pass the guard but Machida is keeping the position.
Machida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saukkonen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Saukkonen from controlling successfully.
Machida keeping full guard, as Saukkonen tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Saukkonen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Machida's guard.

Saukkonen gets to his feet. Machida looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Saukkonen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.

Saukkonen moves into the clinch.
Saukkonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Machida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida jumps guard but Saukkonen stands there with Machida around his waist. Machida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saukkonen prevents Machida from breaking the clinch.
Saukkonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Saukkonen has Machida pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Saukkonen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Machida tumbling to the mat - Saukkonen dives into Machida's guard.
Saukkonen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Saukkonen lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Per Saukkonen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Saukkonen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Machida to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Saukkonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Machida is one step ahead there.
Per Saukkonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saukkonen has a closed guard, preventing Machida from standing up.
Saukkonen looking to control.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Saukkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukkonen is controlling Machida's posture.
Machida throws a strike but Saukkonen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Saukkonen being controlled here momentarily.

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.
Saukkonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saukkonen with a nice head shot there.
Saukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida is trying to hold Saukkonen in close to prevent damage but Saukkonen has managed to pass into half guard.
Machida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saukkonen is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen content to control rather than advance.
Saukkonen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Saukkonen passes to full mount!
Machida is wriggling around trying to escape.
Saukkonen unloading with bombs!
Saukkonen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Machida is bucking up trying to escape but Saukkonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen content just to control the position here.
Machida tries to hold on but Saukkonen pushes him away.
The referee warns Machida that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Saukkonen working for a submission but Machida is keeping him at bay.
Saukkonen controlling from mount.

Saukkonen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Machida manages to avoid the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Per Saukkonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saukkonen, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Per Saukkonen!