PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Sarsola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jedi Mind Tricks - Death March. Sarsola has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. BJ Belfort is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sarsola
vs
Belfort

180 cm
20
197 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
201 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Sarsola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, BJ Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sarsola tries to keep at a distance but Belfort has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sarsola is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Belfort lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Belfort fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Belfort has Sarsola pressed against the cage.

Belfort turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Belfort decides to stand back up. Belfort steps back and let's Sarsola get back to his feet.
Sarsola is breathing heavily.

Sarsola gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Belfort to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Belfort decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sarsola, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort doesn't manage to clinch there - Sarsola circles away.
Sarsola throws a body punch but Belfort moves out of range.

Belfort throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sarsola was covering up waiting for the punch and Belfort finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sarsola is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Sarsola keeps moving.
Belfort with a nice head shot there.
Belfort tries to free his leg and advance position but Sarsola is retaining full guard.
Belfort tries to stand but Sarsola is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but instead Sarsola has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Sarsola wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Belfort can do anything to dispel that myth.
Belfort tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Belfort pulls Sarsola in close to prevent any damage.
Sarsola content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Belfort pushes Sarsola off and gets back to his feet.
Sarsola stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sarsola wants it to stay on the feet.

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.
Sarsola misses with a takedown

and Belfort counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sarsola's guard now.
Belfort forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Belfort trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Belfort looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sarsola is squirming around, avoiding Belfort's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Belfort 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.

Sarsola with a poor takedown
and Belfort counters with a right hand to the body.

Belfort feints and as Sarsola raises his hands in defense, Belfort changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belfort wants to get up but he can't break Sarsola's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Belfort throws a big right hand that misses.
Sarsola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Belfort stands up and waves to Sarsola to follow him.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Sarsola is avoiding it.

Belfort closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sarsola did well to prevent Belfort getting side control.
Belfort seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Belfort decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort scores a takedown into full mount!
Belfort trying to control but he's not successful this time.
BJ Belfort has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sarsola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Belfort looking to control but Sarsola is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two 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.
Belfort controlling the pace for now.
Sarsola is squirming around, avoiding Belfort's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Belfort looking to control but Sarsola is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Belfort is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, BJ Belfort just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Belfort, as that shot connected.
Belfort throws a body punch but Sarsola moves out of range.
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Belfort forces Sarsola back against the cage and clinches.
Belfort leaning against his opponent.
Sarsola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Belfort lands a hook that snaps the head of Sarsola backwards.
Belfort scores with a hook to the body.
Belfort scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Belfort has clasped his hands together around Sarsola's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Belfort decides to stand back up. Belfort steps back and let's Sarsola get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Belfort wants to clinch up but Sarsola keeps it at a distance.

Belfort gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Belfort has Sarsola pushed against the cage.
Belfort tries to score a body lock takedown but Sarsola shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Belfort goes for a takedown attempt but Sarsola pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sarsola fails with the takedown

and Belfort counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sarsola's guard now.

Belfort stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Belfort scores a takedown into full mount!
Belfort really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sarsola. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Belfort controlling from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sarsola slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarsola trying to control but Belfort postures up.
Belfort prevents Sarsola from improving his position.

Belfort decides to stand and escape the position.

Belfort fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sarsola sprawls well initially but Belfort persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
BJ Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort escapes and gets back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belfort.
Leo Sarsola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Belfort.
Belfort takes one on the button.
Belfort cracks Sarsola with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sarsola gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Belfort counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Belfort.
Belfort trying to control but Sarsola is working from the bottom.

Belfort gets to his feet. Sarsola looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sarsola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Belfort shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sarsola manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola working a defensive guard but Belfort passes into half guard.
Belfort is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Belfort prevents Sarsola from improving his position.
Belfort is taking a breather. Sarsola says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sarsola trying to control here.

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.
Belfort tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Leo Sarsola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belfort is keen to just control but Sarsola is a slippery customer.
Belfort tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sarsola controls his leg.
Sarsola is looking to control Belfort's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sarsola avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sarsola throws a hook to the side of Belfort's head but Belfort sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Belfort dips to his left and cracks Sarsola with an uppercut!

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Belfort comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Belfort has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BJ Belfort!