PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Sarsola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed al Hadj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sarsola comes to the cage accompanied by Mono - 16.12. al Hadj is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Lebanon. Mohamed al Hadj will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sarsola
vs
al Hadj

180 cm
26
197 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

191 cm
25
200 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

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 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Sarsola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed al Hadj!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarsola chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before al Hadj can pounce on him.
al Hadj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sarsola lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
al Hadj lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
al Hadj swings and misses with a hook to the body.
al Hadj tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sarsola thuds his right hand into al Hadj's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Mohamed al Hadj has been cut.
Sarsola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from al Hadj.
Sarsola tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Sarsola misses.
al Hadj throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sarsola's head.
Sarsola moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarsola shoots in for a takedown but al Hadj shows good takedown defense.
al Hadj fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sarsola manages to avoid it.
al Hadj throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sarsola throws a low kick but al Hadj moves out of range easily.

Sarsola shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sarsola with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sarsola.
Sarsola working al Hadj over with strikes.
al Hadj is trying to control but can't.
Sarsola sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. al Hadj defending well though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
al Hadj 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sarsola wants to work for an arm triangle but al Hadj is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sarsola throwing shots but al Hadj is blocking nicely.

Sarsola is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sarsola wants to pass to mount but al Hadj is defending the position.
Sarsola throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sarsola is thwarting al Hadj's attempts to control the position.

Sarsola is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so al Hadj is just riding it out for now. Sarsola eventually gives up the hold.
Sarsola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. al Hadj defending well though.
Sarsola wants to lay and pray for a moment but al Hadj keeps working.
Sarsola missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sarsola is looking to stall here but al Hadj recovers full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sarsola trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Sarsola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mohamed al Hadj's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

al Hadj plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A slow jab from Sarsola misses its intended target.
al Hadj buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sarsola swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting al Hadj counter with a right hand.
Sarsola throws a head kick that misses
and al Hadj counters with an inside leg kick.
al Hadj takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sarsola misses with an uppercut. al Hadj saw that one coming.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
al Hadj tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
al Hadj landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
al Hadj using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sarsola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Sarsola manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
al Hadj is looking to work some ground and pound but Sarsola has wrist control.
al Hadj must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that al Hadj has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Mohamed al Hadj has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
al Hadj checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
al Hadj misses with a few strikes there.
al Hadj misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sarsola moves into the clinch.
al Hadj is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
al Hadj lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
al Hadj trying to land knees to the body.
Sarsola taking a breather.
al Hadj lands an elbow inside.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sarsola lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down al Hadj.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sarsola lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sarsola not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sarsola seems to be working for a kimura but al Hadj defends the submission attempt.
al Hadj is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sarsola jumps into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Sarsola.
al Hadj stops Sarsola from passing to mount.
Sarsola looking to control but instead al Hadj has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Sarsola slips a nice elbow through al Hadj's hands, connecting with al Hadj's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj makes his way to full guard. A much better position for al Hadj.
Sarsola tries to free his leg and advance position but al Hadj is retaining full guard.
Sarsola is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
al Hadj has momentary wrist control but Sarsola slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Sarsola dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mohamed al Hadj's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sarsola fails with the takedown.
Sarsola misses with a looping right.
al Hadj throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sarsola.
Sarsola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with al Hadj but al Hadj pushes him off and we're back to square one.
al Hadj throws out a leg kick but Sarsola moves out of range and al Hadj only half commits.
Sarsola closes the distance and clinches up with al Hadj, looking for a takedown. Sarsola pushes al Hadj against the cage but al Hadj circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Sarsola. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sarsola bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sarsola fails to land a wild elbow strike.
al Hadj dodges the ground and pound from Sarsola.
al Hadj is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
al Hadj is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarsola throwing shots but al Hadj is blocking nicely.
Sarsola thows a huge punch but al Hadj dodges it nicely.
al Hadj is looking to escape.
al Hadj gets full guard.
al Hadj is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sarsola trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola pushes down on al Hadj's leg and manages to get into half guard.
al Hadj slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sarsola trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sarsola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mohamed al Hadj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sarsola is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. al Hadj knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
al Hadj is not content to let Sarsola control the position.
al Hadj tries to improve position but can't.
Leo Sarsola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sarsola working the ground and pound.
Sarsola is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
al Hadj dodges the ground and pound from Sarsola.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sarsola controlling from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Sarsola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sarsola 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Sarsola!
Leo Sarsola very nearly forgot to thank Perkele! amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.