PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Potts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taavi Liisteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liisteri has chosen Solid Base - I like it 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.

Potts
vs
Liisteri

175 cm
22
162 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

170 cm
26
162 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Paul Potts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taavi Liisteri!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Liisteri has closed the distance and engaged Potts in a clinch.

Liisteri successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liisteri keeping moving, preventing Potts from controlling successfully.
Liisteri throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Potts trying to control but Liisteri is working from the bottom.
Potts is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Liisteri is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Liisteri looking for a guillotine here but Potts defends easily.
Potts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liisteri is keeping the position for now.
Potts throwing strikes from guard but Liisteri blocks nicely.
Potts pushes down on Liisteri's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Potts missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Potts looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liisteri looking for submissions off his back.
Potts wants to pass the guard but Liisteri is defending well.

Liisteri actively working from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Potts looks to land a combination but Liisteri avoids it well.
Paul Potts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Potts fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Liisteri dives in and grabs Potts's left leg, looking for a takedown. Potts pushes down on Liisteri's head and hops out.
Potts misses with the combination.
Potts tries to bum rush Liisteri with a series of wild strikes but Liisteri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two 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.
Liisteri missing with a left hand there. Potts was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Potts throws a sloppy head kick and Liisteri moves out of range easily.
Potts misses with a double jab.
Potts misses with the combination.
Potts throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Potts swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Liisteri or perhaps it was just good defense by Potts which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts leaves Liisteri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Paul Potts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.
Potts throws a right and a left that both miss.
Potts throws a series of punches but Liisteri moves out of range.
Potts lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Liisteri closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Potts did well to prevent Liisteri getting side control.
Potts wants to improve his position but Liisteri is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potts is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liisteri missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Potts is looking to improve his position.
Liisteri trying to control the action but Potts is working from the bottom.

Liisteri is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Liisteri trying to control from half guard but Potts is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Potts swinging wildly here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Potts looks to land a combination but Liisteri avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taavi Liisteri dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Liisteri moves out of range of the strikes.
Potts misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liisteri.
Liisteri slips a jab and a cross from Potts.
Potts thows a body shot but no joy.

Liisteri darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Potts is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liisteri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Potts looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Liisteri seems to be looking for submissions.

Liisteri wants to work for an arm triangle but Potts is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Liisteri seems to be looking for submissions.

Liisteri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Liisteri is breathing heavily.
Potts trying to control from the bottom.

Liisteri is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Potts sees it coming and defends easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No joy there for Potts, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two 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.
Potts throws a combination. Liisteri tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Potts moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Liisteri shoots in for a takedown but Potts shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Potts swinging wildly here.
Potts throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liisteri blocks a head kick by Potts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts misses with a hook.
Paul Potts is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Potts throws a right and a left that Liisteri avoids nicely.
Potts throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liisteri fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Liisteri ducks right into an uppercut from Potts.
A big left from Potts misses.
Liisteri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liisteri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Paul Potts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.

That's four 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.
Liisteri looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Potts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liisteri closes the distance and clinches up with Potts, looking for a takedown. Liisteri pushes Potts against the cage but Potts circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Liisteri shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Potts defends it nicely.
Liisteri wants to clinch up but Potts keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Potts dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Potts lands a body shot.
Liisteri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Potts misses with the combination.
Potts throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Potts misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liisteri moves in looking to clinch but Potts pushes him off.
Potts rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liisteri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liisteri closes the distance and clinches up with Potts, looking for a takedown. Liisteri pushes Potts against the cage but Potts circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Potts misses with a wild combination.
Liisteri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liisteri dodges the punch combination from Potts.
Potts throws a good cross that connects.
Potts throws a series of punches but Liisteri avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Liisteri dodges the punch combination from Potts.
Potts throws a head kick that misses.
Potts throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Liisteri shoots in for a double leg but Potts sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Paul Potts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.
Potts looks to land a combination but Liisteri avoids it well.

Liisteri shoots in and bounces Potts off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Liisteri drops back looking for a leg! Potts is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Potts manages to kick Liisteri off! Liisteri jumps back into Potts's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liisteri trying to control the position from guard on top but Potts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potts looking to hit a scissor sweep but Liisteri is one step ahead there.
Liisteri trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Liisteri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Potts works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Liisteri trying to control but Potts is working from the bottom.

Potts looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Liisteri wants to control from the top but Potts keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Potts misses with a few strikes there.

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.
Potts rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liisteri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Potts fails to land with a series of punches.
Paul Potts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liisteri will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Potts throws a head kick that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Liisteri avoids the head kick by Potts.
Potts throws a nice looking combination but Liisteri bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Potts.
I think Potts 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Potts!