PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henry Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Aittosumu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Saari
vs
Aittosumu

195 cm
23
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
240 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henry Saari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Aittosumu!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aittosumu doesn't manage to clinch there - Saari circles away.
Aittosumu moves in looking to clinch but Saari pushes him off.
Aittosumu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saari jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aittosumu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saari sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aittosumu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saari defends it nicely.
Henry Saari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Aittosumu.
Aittosumu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aittosumu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aittosumu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aittosumu somewhat.
Aittosumu tries for a takedown but Saari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

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.
Saari lands a really nice looking cross but Aittosumu seems unphased.
Aittosumu fails to land the takedown.
Aittosumu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saari pinned against the cage. Saari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aittosumu fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aittosumu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gary Aittosumu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saari looks to land a right hand but Aittosumu moved out of range.
Saari jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aittosumu shoots for a double leg takedown but Saari sprawls well. He's pushed Aittosumu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aittosumu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Aittosumu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Saari is trying to defend but Aittosumu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aittosumu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aittosumu looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Saari knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aittosumu on the ground.
Aittosumu looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aittosumu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saari keeps working.

Aittosumu is looking for a kimura but Saari is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Aittosumu to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Saari dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aittosumu wants to clinch.
Saari throws a big shot that misses.
Aittosumu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saari leaves Aittosumu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aittosumu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henry Saari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aittosumu moves out of range of the strikes.
Aittosumu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saari sprawls well. Saari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aittosumu gets slowly back to his feet.
Henry Saari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Aittosumu.
Aittosumu shoots in but Saari avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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.
Aittosumu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aittosumu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aittosumu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saari circles away.
Aittosumu fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Saari displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aittosumu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with a looping left.
Aittosumu wants to clinch.
Aittosumu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aittosumu somewhat.

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.
Aittosumu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saari's waist but Saari gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aittosumu off to one side.
The fighters circling - Aittosumu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aittosumu shoots in but no luck this time.
Saari misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Saari dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Saari throws a jab but it's blocked by Aittosumu.
Gary Aittosumu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saari lands with a straight right. Aittosumu didn't see that one coming.

It looks like Gary Aittosumu has been cut.
Aittosumu shoots in for a double leg but Saari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aittosumu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saari.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aittosumu.
Saari jabs Aittosumu right on the nose. Aittosumu blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aittosumu.
Henry Saari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Aittosumu.
Aittosumu is looking to clinch but Saari is avoiding it.
Saari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saari throws a lazy right hand but Aittosumu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Aittosumu tries for a takedown but Saari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gary Aittosumu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Nice uppercut there from Saari.
Saari is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Aittosumu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aittosumu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saari missing with a left hand there. Aittosumu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aittosumu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saari is fending him off so far but Aittosumu persists. Nope, Saari circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aittosumu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saari.
Saari misses the jab.
Aittosumu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saari sprawls well. Saari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aittosumu gets slowly back to his feet.
Aittosumu moves away from the strike by Saari.

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.
Aittosumu doesn't manage to clinch there - Saari circles away.
Aittosumu throws a quick inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Aittosumu misses its intended target.
Aittosumu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aittosumu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aittosumu moves away from the strike by Saari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Saari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saari, 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 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Saari!