PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between optimus Prime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saari is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: MACABRE - Serial Killer. 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.

Prime
vs
Saari

200 cm
27
260 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

195 cm
25
280 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, optimus Prime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henry Saari!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saari throws a right hand that misses

and Prime counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saari won't be happy with that.
Saari wants to get back to his feet but Prime drags him back down.

Prime goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saari rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Prime's guard! Nice work there by Saari!

Saari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Prime is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prime working a defensive guard but Saari manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saari tries to stand but Prime is controlling his head.
Prime sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Prime is trying to get back to full guard.
Prime desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Prime'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 three minutes gone in the round.
Prime wants to control but Saari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Prime is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Saari is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saari throws a poor cross that misses

and Prime decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saari's guard.
Prime prevents Saari from getting back to his feet.
Prime throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Prime is looking to work some ground and pound but Saari has wrist control.
Prime passes Saari's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Prime drops an elbow to the side of Saari's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

optimus Prime dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saari jabs Prime right on the nose. Prime blinks but takes it well.
Prime fails to land the takedown.
Prime doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Saari counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice shot lands for Prime.
Saari misses with an uppercut
and Prime counters with a left to the body.
A left lands for Prime.
Saari defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Prime.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for optimus Prime. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Prime ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Prime connects with a body shot that sends Saari's belly button to the back.
Saari throws an off balance right hand

and Prime counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prime looks to land a strike but Saari avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saari can do anything to dispel that myth.
Prime throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saari works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Prime looking to sit in guard and control but Saari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Saari trying to stand up but can't free himself from Prime's guard.
Prime looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Prime is working hard here to advance position.
Prime working a defensive guard here.

Prime working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Saari has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prime regains full guard. Nicely done.
Prime 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.
optimus Prime overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Prime has his hands on Saari's head, controlling the position.

That's four 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.
Prime wants to sweep but no luck.
Prime is trying to control the position but Saari postures up.
Prime has a closed guard, preventing Saari from standing up.
Saari must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Prime is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

optimus Prime dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saari misses with a hook
and Prime counters with a left to the body.
Prime dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
optimus Prime seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saari misses with a lunging right hand
and Prime counters with a three punch combo that has Saari backing up. Saari nods at Prime to acknowledge the strikes.
Prime lands a jab to Saari's midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Prime misses with an uppercut. Saari saw that one coming.
Prime misses with a two punch combination.
Prime doesn't manage to clinch there - Saari circles away.
Prime throws a hook to the side of Saari's head but Saari sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Prime is looking to wear down Saari with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Saari misses with a right hand
and Prime counters with a nice uppercut.
Saari throws an off balance right hand

and Prime counters with a shoot takedown. Saari fights it but they end up in guard.
Prime throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prime throwing strikes but missing.
Prime working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Prime looking to pass the guard.
Prime in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henry Saari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Prime slips nicely into half guard.
Prime stalling.
Prime not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Saari is not content to let Prime control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prime is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saari doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Prime.
Prime sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saari defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Prime thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Saari to regain full guard.

Saari wriggles free and stands up.
Prime fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saari looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Prime tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Prime shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Saari napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saari takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Prime is looking to take a break and control but Saari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
optimus Prime showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Prime 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... optimus Prime!