PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Janne Koivu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taito Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koivu
vs
Saarinen

202 cm
20
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Koivu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taito Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saarinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Koivu fails with a takedown attempt.

Saarinen has Koivu up against the cage in a clinch.
Saarinen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Koivu is defending well.
Koivu goes for a takedown attempt but Saarinen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janne Koivu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saarinen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saarinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koivu defends it nicely.
Koivu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saarinen.
Saarinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice shot lands for Koivu.

It looks like Taito Saarinen has been cut.
Saarinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Koivu.
Koivu dives in and grabs Saarinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saarinen pushes down on Koivu's head and hops out.
Koivu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saarinen but Saarinen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saarinen is defended easily by Koivu.
Koivu blocks a head kick by Saarinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen tries to clinch there but Koivu circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Koivu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koivu.
Saarinen misses with a body kick.
Saarinen fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Koivu with that takedown attempt.
Koivu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saarinen pinned against the cage. Saarinen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Saarinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Koivu which made him look bad.
Saarinen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koivu closes the distance and clinches up with Saarinen, looking for a takedown. Koivu pushes Saarinen against the cage but Saarinen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown but Saarinen shows good takedown defense.
Koivu is breathing heavily.
Saarinen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Koivu tries to avoid it but Saarinen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Koivu to the ground. Koivu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saarinen as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saarinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koivu.
Saarinen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koivu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saarinen fails with the takedown.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown but Saarinen shows good takedown defense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saarinen fails to land the takedown.
Saarinen wants to clinch

and Koivu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janne Koivu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taito Saarinen'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.

Koivu is looking to clinch but Saarinen is avoiding it.
Saarinen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Koivu is able to avoid easily.
Koivu fails to land with a series of punches.
Saarinen doesn't manage to clinch there - Koivu circles away.
Koivu wants to clinch up but Saarinen keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Koivu.
Saarinen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Koivu avoids it really well and circles away.
Koivu looks for a takedown but Saarinen sprawls well.
No luck for Saarinen with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Saarinen.
Koivu shoots in and drives through. Saarinen sprawls well.
Saarinen tries to clinch up but Koivu circles away and keeps his distance.
Saarinen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janne Koivu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saarinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Koivu looks to land a combination but Saarinen avoids it well.
Koivu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saarinen tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Saarinen misses.
Saarinen avoids the head kick by Koivu.
Saarinen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Koivu pinned against the cage. Koivu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Koivu shoots for a double leg takedown but Saarinen sprawls well. He's pushed Koivu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Koivu gets a clinch.
Koivu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Saarinen.
Saarinen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saarinen blocks it with crossed arms.
Koivu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Saarinen is defending well.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Koivu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saarinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saarinen wants it to stay on the feet.
Saarinen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Koivu.
Saarinen shoots in but Koivu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Janne Koivu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saarinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Saarinen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koivu sprawls well. Koivu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saarinen gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Koivu with that takedown attempt.
Saarinen doesn't manage to clinch there - Koivu circles away.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown but Saarinen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Saarinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Taito Saarinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Taito Saarinen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saarinen moves in looking to clinch but Koivu pushes him off.
Saarinen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koivu sprawls well. Koivu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saarinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Saarinen shoots for a takedown but Koivu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Saarinen pushes Koivu up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Koivu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saarinen misses with a hook from the clinch.

Koivu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koivu tries to bum rush Saarinen with a series of wild strikes but Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saarinen but Saarinen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Saarinen. No joy for Koivu on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koivu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saarinen.
Saarinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saarinen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Koivu avoids it really well and circles away.
Janne Koivu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taito Saarinen.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown but Saarinen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Saarinen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koivu sprawls well. Koivu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saarinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Saarinen throws a nice looking combination but Koivu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saarinen.
Koivu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koivu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saarinen tries to avoid it but Koivu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saarinen to the ground. Saarinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Koivu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Saarinen tries a low kick but Koivu avoids it.
Saarinen shoots for a double leg takedown but Koivu sprawls well. He's pushed Saarinen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Janne Koivu is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koivu.
Saarinen tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saarinen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Koivu somewhat.
Saarinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koivu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saarinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Saarinen takes the fight into the clinch.
Saarinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koivu has Saarinen pressed against the cage, preventing Saarinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saarinen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koivu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koivu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Koivu wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Koivu. No joy for Saarinen on that attempt.
Koivu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koivu shoots in looking for a takedown but Saarinen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Koivu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saarinen closes the distance and clinches up with Koivu, looking for a takedown. Saarinen pushes Koivu against the cage but Koivu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Koivu shoots for a takedown but Saarinen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saarinen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck for Koivu with that takedown attempt.
Saarinen shoots for a double leg takedown but Koivu sprawls well. He's pushed Saarinen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Taito Saarinen.
I think Saarinen 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Taito Saarinen!