PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pauli Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom DomDom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom DomDom will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sankari
vs
DomDom

170 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pauli Sankari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom DomDom!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DomDom plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Pauli Sankari has been cut.
Tom DomDom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DomDom swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A bone on bone clash there as DomDom blocks the leg kick.
Sankari walks forward, straight into a front kick from DomDom.
DomDom works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
DomDom tries to land a front kick but Sankari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
DomDom tries for a takedown but Sankari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
DomDom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
DomDom looks to land a combination. Sankari sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
DomDom throws a leg kick

and Sankari counters with a shoot takedown. DomDom fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sankari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
DomDom wants to stand up but Sankari is controlling him.
DomDom is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sankari might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sankari throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DomDom is trying to keep Sankari in close.
Sankari won't allow DomDom to get back to his feet.
DomDom looks gassed!
Sankari looking to pass the guard.
DomDom wants to sweep here but Sankari controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Sankari drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sankari tries for a kimura but DomDom is defending well.
DomDom is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Sankari has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Sankari working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
DomDom can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DomDom is being controlled here.
Sankari tries to move into full mount but can't pass DomDom's legs.
DomDom is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Sankari has just dragged him back down to the mat.
DomDom struggling a bit here.

Sankari is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. DomDom knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
DomDom tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sankari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Sankari working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You can see the frustration on DomDom's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sankari could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
DomDom is looking to regain half guard here but Sankari keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DomDom can't do much from the bottom here.
DomDom prevents Sankari from improving position.
DomDom pushes Sankari away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sankari gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
DomDom is trying to control Sankari's posture but Sankari avoids it.
DomDom wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick and DomDom moves out of range easily.
Sankari misses with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by DomDom.
DomDom throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DomDom misses with a head kick.
DomDom throws a right and a left that both miss.
DomDom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
DomDom tries to clinch
and Sankari counters with a good low kick that DomDom was not able to check.

Sankari closes the distance and clinches.
DomDom has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sankari avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sankari ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sankari no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sankari is on top in guard.
DomDom trying to strike off his back.
Sankari wants to control from the top but DomDom keeps moving.
Sankari pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. DomDom is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sankari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sankari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sankari slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Sankari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pauli Sankari's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sankari loads up on a big right hand but DomDom slips the punch.
A leg kick checked by DomDom.
DomDom throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A right-left combo lands from DomDom.
DomDom throws an off balance right hand

and Sankari counters with a single leg into guard. DomDom didn't expect that.

Sankari is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sankari slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
DomDom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sankari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
DomDom tries to bench press Sankari off him but Sankari keeps the position.

Sankari is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, DomDom has escaped the position, nice work there.
DomDom wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
DomDom is breathing heavily.

Sankari looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sankari in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... DomDom is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pauli Sankari!