PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santeri Norzu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Salo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norzu's entrance music is Cult of Luna - Back To Chapel Town. A fine choice. 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.

Norzu
vs
Salo

185 cm
24
163 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
167 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Santeri Norzu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Salo!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Salo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Norzu counters with an inside leg kick.
Norzu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab from Salo misses.
Norzu takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Salo is looking to chop away at Norzu's legs.
Salo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Norzu.
Esko Salo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salo throws a lazy uppercut
and Norzu counters with a slapping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Norzu.
Salo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Norzu lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Norzu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Norzu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salo darts in trying to clinch
and Norzu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norzu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Norzu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Norzu cracks Salo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norzu looks to land a combination but Salo avoids it well.
Salo tries to clinch up.
Norzu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Salo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Norzu connects with an inside leg kick.
Norzu with a nice cross.
Norzu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Salo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Salo throws a right hand that Norzu ducks under and follows up with a left that Norzu also avoids with ease.
Salo misses with a jab to the body
and Norzu counters with a head kick. That will keep Salo thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Norzu looks to land a left hand but Salo moved out of range nicely.
Norzu tries to bum rush Salo with a series of wild strikes but Salo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Norzu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Salo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Norzu.
Norzu lands a high kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salo takes a swing at Norzu's ribcage but misses.
Norzu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Salo on the side of the head.
Salo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Norzu sprawls well. Norzu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salo gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Salo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Norzu!
Salo looks gassed!
Norzu wants to hold on but Salo pushes him away.
Salo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Salo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Salo throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo tries to push Norzu's head away but Norzu is holding on tight.
Norzu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Salo avoids the attempt from Norzu to control.
Norzu is trying desperately to improve position.
Salo wants to control the pace but Norzu is squirming around nicely.

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.
Norzu is working to get back to half guard.
Norzu is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Norzu tries to lock up and control but Salo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Salo throwing strikes here but Norzu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Salo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Poor strikes thrown by Salo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salo throwing strikes here but Norzu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
A nice elbow there by Salo.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Salo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Norzu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Salo tries to close the distance and clinch but Norzu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salo connects with a leg kick. Norzu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Salo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Norzu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santeri Norzu is winning the standup battle so far.
Norzu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Salo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Norzu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Salo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Norzu.
Salo tries to clinch but Norzu moves out of range.
Salo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Norzu moves away.
Salo slips a jab from Norzu.
A good leg kick by Salo.
Salo ducks under a wild hook from Norzu.
Norzu misses with a body shot.
Salo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Norzu counters with a nice leg kick.
A head kick by Salo misses
and Norzu counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo throws a right hand that misses
and Norzu counters with a body kick.
Salo misses with a jab to the body
and Salo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salo throws a big shot that misses.
Salo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Norzu is out of range.
Salo misses with a wild body shot.
Norzu leaves Salo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Norzu lands a head kick!
Norzu pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salo is out of range and Norzu settles back down.
Salo misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Norzu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Salo fails to land with a series of punches.
Salo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Salo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Norzu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salo somewhat.
Norzu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norzu clobbers Salo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fighters circling - Salo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Salo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Salo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Norzu has time to react.
Norzu throws a low kick but Salo avoids it.
Salo misses with a hook to the body
and Norzu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Norzu throws a series of strikes that have Salo backpedaling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Norzu misses with a hook. Salo ducked under it nicely.
Norzu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Norzu.
Norzu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Salo is breathing heavily.
Norzu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salo. That did some damage!
Norzu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Norzu throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norzu feints a jab promting Salo to slip. Norzu then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Salo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Norzu throws a head kick that misses.
Salo misses with a body shot.
Norzu scores with a shot to the body.
Salo throws a right hand that misses
and Norzu counters with a solid body kick.
Salo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Norzu feints and then cracks Salo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salo down.
Good leg kick by Norzu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Salo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab lands there for Norzu.
Norzu tries to land a leg kick but Salo saw it coming and moves away.
Salo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Norzu counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Norzu tests Salo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Norzu lands with a cross.
Norzu throws a series of punches but Salo avoids them all with ease.
Norzu lands with a kick to the temple. Salo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Norzu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Norzu is looking to slow Salo down with leg kicks.
Norzu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Salo.
Norzu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Norzu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Salo checks a leg kick.
Norzu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice straight punches there by Norzu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Norzu.
Salo throws a right hand that misses
letting Norzu counter with a right hand.
Salo misses with a few strikes there.
Salo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Norzu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Norzu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salo misses with a right hand
and Norzu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Salo's knee momentarily.
Norzu throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Norzu scores with a decent looking hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santeri Norzu dominated that second round.
That's time! Norzu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Salo throws an off balance right hand
and Norzu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Norzu throws a series of punches but Salo moves out of range.
Salo misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Good exchange - Salo coming out on top.
Salo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Salo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salo motions for Norzu to come forward. Salo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Norzu slaps away a takedown attempt from Salo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Norzu scores with a head kick. Salo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Norzu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Norzu tests Salo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Salo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A low kick from Salo misses
and Norzu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A low kick from Salo misses
and Norzu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salo shoots in for a double leg but Norzu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo misses with a right hand
and Norzu finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Salo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Norzu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Salo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Norzu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Salo's sensitive parts.
Norzu looks to score with a jab to the body but Salo is just out of range.
Norzu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Norzu scores with a jab.
Salo misses with a body shot
and Norzu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Salo closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Norzu counter with a right hand.
Salo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Norzu lands with a slapping head kick.
Norzu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Salo momentarily.
Norzu connects with an inside leg kick.
Norzu throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norzu lands a jab-cross combination.

Salo is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Salo is still on wobbly legs! Can Norzu finish him?
Norzu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salo. That did some damage!
Salo seems to have recovered his senses.
Norzu connects with a right hand. Salo shakes it off.
Jab by Norzu.
Norzu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salo can do to turn this around?
Norzu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Salo's calf.
Norzu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Norzu lands a leg kick that knocks Salo off balance momentarily.
Norzu throws a head kick that misses.
Norzu tries a head kick but it misses.
Salo throws a sloppy body shot
and Norzu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Norzu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Salo's sensitive parts.
Norzu cracks the inside of Salo's front leg.
Norzu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Norzu throws a nice looking combination but Salo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Norzu does no damage.
Norzu lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Norzu with a hook.
Norzu lands with an uppercut that bounces Salo off the cage and back into rage.
Some bone on bone action there as Norzu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Norzu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Norzu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Salo will feel that in the morning.
Norzu lands with a hook. Salo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Norzu lands a slapping body shot.
Esko Salo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norzu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Norzu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Norzu lands a head shot.
Norzu connects with a leg kick. Salo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Salo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Norzu circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norzu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Salo backs up against the cage.
Salo walks into a stiff left hand from Norzu.
Norzu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Norzu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Norzu is looking to chop away at Salo's legs.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Norzu. Salo shrugs it off though.
Santeri Norzu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salo throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Norzu to counter with a crisp jab.
Norzu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Norzu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Salo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Salo darts in trying to clinch
and Norzu counters with a stiff right hand.
Salo misses with a lunging right hand
and Norzu counters with an outside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salo tries to clinch up
and Norzu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santeri Norzu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Norzu, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santeri Norzu!