PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Peter Wiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Eric Saari (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.

Wiel
vs
Eric Saari

187 cm
22
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Peter Wiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Eric Saari!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saari misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wiel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saari's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Wiel connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Saari scrambles back to his feet.
Saari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wiel throws a shot from downtown. Saari moves away and avoids it.
Saari tries to clinch up.

Saari tries to sprawl but Wiel drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Saari slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Wiel postures up.
Saari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wiel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Saari trying to keep a closed guard but Wiel is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saari is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Wiel controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Peter Wiel just wasn't active enough.

Wiel closes the distance and pushes Saari back into the cage.
Saari can't get the takedown.

Wiel jumps guard.
Wiel working a defensive guard here.
Saari trying to stand up but can't free himself from Wiel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wiel working for a triangle but Saari defends it easily.
Saari trying to control but Wiel is working from the bottom.
Saari is looking to stand up but Wiel won't let him.

Saari 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.
Saari wants to stand but Wiel is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiel has his hands on Saari's head, controlling the position.
Wiel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saari is one step ahead there.
Saari trying to control but Wiel is working from the bottom.
Wiel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wiel pushes Saari off and scrambles back to his feet.
Saari misses with a takedown attempt - Wiel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Peter Wiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekka Eric Saari.
Saari looks gassed!

Wiel clinches up against the cage.

Wiel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saari looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wiel is fending him off so far but Saari persists. Nope, Wiel circles away and we're back to standing.

Saari gets caught napping as Wiel dives in and scores a takedown. Saari manages to retain guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wiel controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wiel scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Wiel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Saari is trying to control the position but Wiel postures up.

Saari is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wiel defends well.
Wiel wants to stand but Saari has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wiel controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiel wants to pass the guard but Saari is keeping the position.
Saari trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Wiel trying to control but Saari is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Peter Wiel wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Saari or perhaps it was just good defense by Wiel which made him look bad.
Saari is breathing heavily.

Wiel shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiel is taking a breather. Saari says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Wiel decides to stand and escape the position.

Wiel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Saari's guard.

Wiel gets to his feet - Saari follows without any prompting.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch but Wiel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Wiel clinches.
Wiel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saari backwards.

Wiel manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiel avoids the head kick by Saari.
Saari closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wiel circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wiel.
Wiel controls the position.
Peter Wiel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wiel seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Saari for as long as he can get away with.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Peter Wiel.
Saari shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wiel defends it nicely.
Peter Wiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekka Eric Saari.

Wiel clinches up with Saari and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wiel breaks from the clinch.
A jab lands there for Wiel.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saari shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Wiel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Saari!
Wiel with good strikes from the mount here!
Wiel controlling his opponent.
Saari tries to reverse the position but Wiel maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Wiel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wiel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saari's half guard.
Wiel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wiel is thwarting Saari's attempts to control the position.
Wiel thows a huge punch but Saari dodges it nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Wiel in particular looking to stall.
Wiel wants to get back to his feet.
Wiel is keen to just control but Saari is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saari manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Wiel gets to his feet. Saari looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wiel avoids a kick to the body.

Wiel manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Saari on his heels. He'll look to pass Saari's guard now, I'm sure.
Saari is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Wiel tries to free his leg and advance position but Saari is retaining full guard.
Wiel trying to control but Saari is working from the bottom.
Saari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wiel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saari can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari wants to stand but Wiel is controlling the position.
Wiel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Peter Wiel.

Saari gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wiel to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wiel stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Wiel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Saari manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saari keeping full guard, as Wiel tries to pass.
Saari 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.

Saari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari keeping full guard, as Wiel tries to pass.
Wiel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Wiel prevents Saari from getting back to his feet.
Pekka Eric Saari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Peter Wiel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wiel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wiel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Wiel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wiel 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Wiel!