PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Per Saukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Per Saukkonen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paavo Matinheimo's chin.

Matinheimo
vs
Saukkonen

177 cm
22
197 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

189 cm
23
190 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Matinheimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Per Saukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matinheimo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Saukkonen. Saukkonen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Matinheimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Matinheimo slaps away a takedown attempt from Saukkonen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saukkonen needs to keep his hands up - Matinheimo had a free shot at his head there.
Matinheimo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Matinheimo throws a jab but it's blocked by Saukkonen.
Saukkonen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saukkonen is defended easily by Matinheimo.
Paavo Matinheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Per Saukkonen.
Saukkonen fails with the takedown.
Matinheimo dips to his left and cracks Saukkonen with an uppercut!
Matinheimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Matinheimo tests Saukkonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Matinheimo misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukkonen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matinheimo pinned against the cage. Matinheimo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matinheimo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saukkonen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good leg kick by Matinheimo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Saukkonen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saukkonen misses with an uppercut. Matinheimo saw that one coming.
Saukkonen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matinheimo but Matinheimo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matinheimo throws a nice looking combination but Saukkonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matinheimo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Saukkonen looks gassed!
Matinheimo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saukkonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Matinheimo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matinheimo finds it's way round the side to connect with Saukkonen's head.
Matinheimo misses with a wild body shot.
Matinheimo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saukkonen's head backwards.
Matinheimo lands with an overhand left.
Matinheimo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saukkonen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Saukkonen defending well as Matinheimo loads up on a big left hand.

Matinheimo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saukkonen sprawls well initially but Matinheimo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matinheimo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saukkonen wants to control but Matinheimo is keeping busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Matinheimo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matinheimo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Matinheimo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Matinheimo wants to control but Saukkonen is keeping him busy.
Saukkonen trying to hold on to Matinheimo's head to control him but Matinheimo postures up.

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.
Matinheimo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saukkonen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Saukkonen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saukkonen looks to land a combination. Matinheimo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Saukkonen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Matinheimo counters with a stiff right hand.
Saukkonen tries to close the distance and clinch but Matinheimo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saukkonen tries to clinch but Matinheimo moves out of range.
Matinheimo lands a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matinheimo cracks Saukkonen with a good jab.
Matinheimo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matinheimo lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Matinheimo dominated that round.
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.

A looping hook to the body misses from Matinheimo. Saukkonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saukkonen misses with a takedown attempt
and Matinheimo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matinheimo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Matinheimo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Saukkonen tries to hold on but Matinheimo postures up.
Saukkonen taking shots to the head.
Saukkonen taking shots to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matinheimo lands with some strikes.
Matinheimo with shots to the head and body - Saukkonen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Matinheimo 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.
Matinheimo looking to control but Saukkonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Saukkonen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukkonen is bucking up trying to escape but Matinheimo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Matinheimo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matinheimo unloading with bombs!
Matinheimo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saukkonen is looking to escape.
Saukkonen is in a horrible position here. Matinheimo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Saukkonen squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Matinheimo trying to control but Saukkonen is having none of it.
Matinheimo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Matinheimo looking to control but Saukkonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matinheimo working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matinheimo is working for a guillotine from mount but Saukkonen frees his head quite easily.
Matinheimo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Saukkonen's face.
Matinheimo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Matinheimo looking to control but Saukkonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Matinheimo is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Saukkonen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Saukkonen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matinheimo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Saukkonen defends well.
Saukkonen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Saukkonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matinheimo is keeping the position for now.
Saukkonen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saukkonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Matinheimo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saukkonen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saukkonen won't allow Matinheimo to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Matinheimo dominated that second round.
That's time! Matinheimo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saukkonen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Matinheimo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saukkonen's guard.
Matinheimo trying to control but Saukkonen is working from the bottom.
Matinheimo is stalling in the full guard.
Matinheimo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Matinheimo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Saukkonen some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Saukkonen struggling a bit here.

Matinheimo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Saukkonen is trying to control Matinheimo's posture but Matinheimo avoids it.
Paavo Matinheimo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saukkonen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Matinheimo.
Paavo Matinheimo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matinheimo controlling from side mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paavo Matinheimo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Matinheimo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Matinheimo as Saukkonen shoots in.
Paavo Matinheimo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Matinheimo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Saukkonen wants to get back to his feet.
Saukkonen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Saukkonen is trying to stand.
Matinheimo not doing much here.
Matinheimo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four 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.
Saukkonen trying to hold on to Matinheimo's head to control him but Matinheimo postures up.
Matinheimo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Matinheimo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Matinheimo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matinheimo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Per Saukkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Saukkonen looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Matinheimo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matinheimo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Matinheimo!