PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Sarsola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarsola has chosen Mono - 16.12 as his entrance music. Alexander Maynard is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Maynard
vs
Sarsola

188 cm
24
197 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
197 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Sarsola!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maynard throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Sarsola counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sarsola missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maynard tries to roll over but Sarsola keeps him under control.
Sarsola trying to control from half guard but Maynard is working away.
Sarsola not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sarsola is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maynard is bucking up trying to escape but Sarsola cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maynard working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarsola throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Maynard is working to get back to half guard.
Sarsola takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sarsola has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Maynard's face.
Sarsola working the ground and pound effectively.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maynard is trying to stand.
Sarsola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sarsola postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Maynard looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sarsola working the ground and pound effectively.
Sarsola trying to control but Maynard is having none of it.
Maynard is looking to improve his position but Sarsola isn't that keen on the idea.
Sarsola landing strikes, looking to finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sarsola unloading with bombs!
Sarsola throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Maynard because Sarsola loaded up on that one.
Sarsola unloads with some shots from mount but Maynard bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sarsola wants to finish this one by submission but Maynard is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sarsola.
Sarsola unloading with bombs!
Sarsola throws a sloppy strike and Maynard uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Maynard has ended up in Sarsola's guard.
Sarsola wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sarsola keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to work some ground and pound but Sarsola has wrist control.
Maynard preventing the sweep.
Sarsola trying to keep a closed guard but Maynard is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Maynard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maynard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Sarsola dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sarsola throws a body punch but Maynard moves out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sarsola misses with a right hand
and Maynard counters with a good, hard body kick but Sarsola shrugs it off.
Maynard misses with a wild body shot.
Sarsola takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Maynard misses with a hook
and Sarsola counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maynard thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard tries to work over Sarsola's front leg with a kick but Sarsola checks it.
The crowd cheers as Maynard lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sarsola doesn't seem phased though.
Maynard misses with a double jab
and Sarsola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maynard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Maynard.
Alexander Maynard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maynard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sarsola jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Maynard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maynard works Sarsola's body with a nice hook.
Alexander Maynard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maynard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sarsola throws out the jab.
Maynard throws a leg kick
and Sarsola counters with a nice uppercut.
Maynard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sarsola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sarsola throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maynard counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard lands with a kick to the temple. Sarsola shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A lazy left from Sarsola finds it's target.
Maynard connects with a body shot.
Maynard throws out a leg kick but Sarsola moves out of range and Maynard only half commits.
Sarsola shoots in for a takedown but Maynard shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Maynard 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!

Maynard throws a poor cross that misses
and Sarsola counters with a left to the body.
Maynard throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Sarsola misses with a right hand
and Maynard counters with a left to the body.
Sarsola misses with a left hand
and Maynard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maynard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sarsola manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maynard throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sarsola bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maynard's head.
Maynard throws a predictable looking body shot

and Sarsola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maynard won't be happy with that.
Sarsola is putting a hurting on Maynard here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sarsola wants to control but Maynard is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola throwing strikes but Maynard manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Sarsola is looking to regain half guard here but Maynard keeps moving and retains side control.
Maynard creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sarsola sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Maynard is looking to take a break and control but Sarsola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sarsola tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to take a break and control but Sarsola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sarsola regains half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
It looks like Maynard is going to stand back up.

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.
Maynard slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Maynard wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A leg kick checked by Sarsola.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Sarsola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sarsola has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 27:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Sarsola!