PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Janne Puikko (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. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Puikko
vs
Sarsola

198 cm
23
196 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
197 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Rebel Pride Clothing. Everything in STOCK $5

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, Janne Puikko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Sarsola!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puikko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sarsola tries to avoid it but Puikko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sarsola to the ground. Sarsola escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Puikko.
Sarsola cracks Puikko with a good jab.
Sarsola throws a big shot that misses.
Puikko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sarsola.
Sarsola checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jab by Sarsola.
Puikko jabs Sarsola to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Sarsola tries to keep at a distance but Puikko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sarsola avoiding damage as Puikko throws knees to the body.
Sarsola is trying to stall.
Sarsola lands with a short shot to the head.
Sarsola prevents a body shot from Puikko.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Puikko wants to stall.
Sarsola avoiding damage as Puikko throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Puikko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sarsola's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puikko wants to get back to striking at distance but Sarsola won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Sarsola fails to land.
Puikko goes for a takedown attempt but Sarsola pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Puikko just misses with a punch to the body.
Sarsola looks to throw the jab but Puikko is out of range.
Sarsola throws a hook but Puikko avoids it easily.
Sarsola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Puikko.
Sarsola throws a poor cross that misses
and Puikko counters with a straight right hand.
Sarsola throws a low kick but Puikko avoids it.
Puikko misses with a low kick as Sarsola jumps back.
Sarsola throws a lazy right hand but Puikko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sarsola. Puikko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sarsola feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Puikko's calf.
Sarsola looks to clinch
and Puikko counters with a nice uppercut.
Puikko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sarsola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola throws a right hand that misses
and Puikko counters with a straight right hand.
Sarsola fails to land the takedown.
Sarsola keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sarsola tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Puikko is able to avoid easily.
Sarsola 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sarsola throws out a loose jab but Puikko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Puikko ducks right into an uppercut from Sarsola.
Puikko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sarsola tries for a takedown but Puikko circles away easily
and Puikko counters with a good low kick that Sarsola was not able to check.
Puikko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sarsola.

Sarsola closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Puikko tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sarsola is staying tight to Puikko's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Puikko is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sarsola is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Sarsola trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sarsola punching from mount but Puikko doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Sarsola jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Puikko manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Sarsola postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Puikko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Puikko is trying to control Sarsola's posture but Sarsola avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Puikko is looking to regain half guard here but Sarsola keeps moving and retains side control.
Sarsola looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Puikko is avoiding damage well.
Sarsola trying to control the action but Puikko is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puikko is looking to regain half guard here but Sarsola keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Sarsola dominated that round.
That's time! Puikko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sarsola shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Puikko wants to hold on but Sarsola pushes him away.
Sarsola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sarsola working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Puikko is trying desperately to improve position.
Sarsola scoring with strikes but Puikko is staying in there.
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!
Sarsola controlling his opponent.
Sarsola working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sarsola trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Puikko in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puikko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Puikko is in a horrible position here. Sarsola smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sarsola with good strikes from the mount here!

Puikko is rocked!

Sarsola with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sarsola raining down shots from the mount!
Oh Puikko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sarsola can't control as he wanted to and Puikko manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Puikko seems to have got his legs back now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sarsola lands a nice short elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puikko trying to hold on to Sarsola's head to control him but Sarsola postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Puikko is defending against the submission attempts here by Sarsola.
Sarsola thows a huge punch but Puikko dodges it nicely.
Puikko is staying active underneath Sarsola, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sarsola not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Puikko wants to control but Sarsola is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sarsola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sarsola missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Puikko taking some punishment here, with Sarsola in his half guard.
Sarsola scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Puikko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sarsola on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola trying to control from half guard but Puikko is working away.
Sarsola throwing shots but Puikko is blocking nicely.
Puikko is trying to get back to full guard.
Sarsola thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Puikko's head.
Puikko keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Puikko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sarsola is looking for a kimura here.
Sarsola trying to mount his opponent but Puikko defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puikko trying to control from the bottom.
Puikko is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Sarsola is keen to just control but Puikko is a slippery customer.
Sarsola might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Puikko kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Leo Sarsola.

Sarsola fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Puikko sprawls well initially but Sarsola persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Sarsola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sarsola thuds a left hand into Puikko's body.
Sarsola tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Puikko swivels and escapes.
Sarsola lands an overhand right.
Puikko fakes the leg kick and cracks Sarsola in the body.
Puikko misses with an uppercut. Sarsola saw that one coming.
Sarsola jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sarsola shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puikko as he avoids it easily.
Sarsola scores with the left hand. Puikko knows he should have avoided that one.
Sarsola on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Leo Sarsola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sarsola throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sarsola closes this distance looking for a takedown but Puikko circles away.
Janne Puikko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Sarsola.
Puikko throws a right and a left that Sarsola avoids nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Puikko tries a low kick but Sarsola avoids it.

Sarsola feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sarsola stopping the sweep attempt from Puikko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puikko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sarsola controls the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Puikko 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.
Janne Puikko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leo Sarsola hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Puikko lands with a slapping head kick.
Sarsola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Puikko misses with an uppercut. Sarsola saw that one coming.
Sarsola chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sarsola throws out a loose jab but Puikko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Puikko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sarsola.
Sarsola walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sarsola throws a hook but Puikko avoids it easily.
Sarsola will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sarsola scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Puikko moves out of range of the leg kick from Sarsola.
Sarsola shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puikko as he avoids it easily.
Puikko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Puikko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puikko is looking to clinch.
Puikko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sarsola is able to avoid easily.
An inside leg kick from Puikko misses.
Leo Sarsola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Puikko throws a body punch but Sarsola moves out of range.
Sarsola throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sarsola throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sarsola connects with a body shot.
Sarsola lands an overhand right.
Horrible takedown by Puikko or perhaps it was just good defense by Sarsola which made him look bad.
Sarsola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sarsola just misses with a punch to the body.
Puikko lands with a cross.
A good leg kick by Sarsola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puikko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puikko blocks a leg kick.
Sarsola swings away with a body shot that misses
and Puikko makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Puikko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leo Sarsola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Puikko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sarsola is able to avoid easily.
Sarsola lands a nice leg kick that just misses Puikko's sensitive parts.
Sarsola lands a nice looking kick to the body. Puikko takes a step back to recover.
Sarsola throws a quick inside leg kick.
A shot to the body from Sarsola misses
and Puikko counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sarsola misses the shot to the body.
Puikko looks to land a right hand but Sarsola moved out of range.

Sarsola shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Leo Sarsola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Puikko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Sarsola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sarsola winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Sarsola!
Leo Sarsola made sure to mention his sponsor, Perkele! in his post fight interview.