PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saint Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Saalistaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sami Saalistaja will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bernard
vs
Saalistaja

170 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Saint Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sami Saalistaja!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernard throws a nice looking combination but Saalistaja bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Saalistaja doesn't manage to clinch there - Bernard circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bernard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saalistaja showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bernard.
Bernard throws a series of punches but Saalistaja moves out of range.
Bernard stuffs the takedown attempt from Saalistaja. Saalistaja gets slowly back to his feet.
Bernard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Saalistaja counters with a big head kick but Bernard shrugs it off.
Saalistaja tries to clinch but Bernard is having none of it.
Saalistaja tries to close the distance and clinch but Bernard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bernard scores with a one two! Saalistaja had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Sami Saalistaja has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bernard counters with a straight right hand.
Bernard misses with a double jab.
Saalistaja avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bernard misses with a looping right.
Bernard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bernard wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saalistaja wants to clinch up but Bernard keeps it at a distance.
Bernard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saalistaja.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bernard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saalistaja.
Saalistaja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saalistaja has his takedown stuffed
enabling Bernard to counter with a crisp jab.
Saint Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Saalistaja.
Saalistaja looks winded!
Bernard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bernard scores with a punch to the head.
Bernard misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Bernard. Those never looked like landing.
Saint Bernard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Saalistaja with that takedown attempt.
Bernard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saalistaja dodges the punch combination from Bernard.
Bernard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard lunges at Saalistaja with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Saalistaja's hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saalistaja tries to clinch but Bernard moves out of range.
Saalistaja ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saalistaja throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bernard's head.
Saalistaja tries to clinch but Bernard moves away
and Bernard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saalistaja thinking.
Bernard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Bernard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Saalistaja wants to get back to his feet.
Saalistaja regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bernard.
Bernard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saalistaja escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bernard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bernard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bernard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bernard wants to pass the guard but Saalistaja is keeping the position.
Bernard throws an elbow that misses. Saalistaja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bernard's guard. Nice move by Saalistaja!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saalistaja preventing the sweep.
Bernard wants to control but Saalistaja passes easily into half guard.
Bernard scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Saalistaja manages to mount him!
Saalistaja wants to control the pace but Bernard is squirming around nicely.
Bernard is trying to escape the mount.
Saalistaja looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bernard is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bernard is looking to get to half guard.
Bernard in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Bernard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sami Saalistaja's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bernard misses with a looping right.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saalistaja with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Saalistaja tries to clinch but Bernard is having none of it.
Saalistaja shoots in looking for a takedown but Bernard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saalistaja's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saint Bernard is winning the standup battle so far.
Bernard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saalistaja tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bernard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Some wild striking there from Bernard.
Saalistaja fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bernard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Saalistaja is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bernard is trying to control. Saalistaja wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saalistaja with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bernard slips a nice elbow through Saalistaja's hands, connecting with Saalistaja's forehead.
Bernard misses with a head shot. Saalistaja uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bernard won't allow Saalistaja to get back to his feet.
Bernard trying to control but Saalistaja is working from the bottom.
Bernard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bernard cracks Saalistaja with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard stays in close to Saalistaja's body and controls the position.
Bernard throws an elbow that misses. Saalistaja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bernard's guard. Nice move by Saalistaja!

Bernard is working an open guard so Saalistaja takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A combination from Bernard does no damage.
Bernard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bernard lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Saalistaja backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bernard swats away the attempt to clinch by Saalistaja.
Saalistaja tries to clinch up but Bernard circles away and keeps his distance.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bernard looks to land a combination. Saalistaja sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard lands a two punch combo.
No joy there for Bernard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saalistaja tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bernard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bernard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bernard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saalistaja fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saalistaja takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bernard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Saalistaja fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saalistaja lands a nice looking body kick.
Bernard lands with a straight right. Saalistaja didn't see that one coming.
Bernard misses with a takedown attempt - Saalistaja sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saalistaja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bernard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saalistaja manages to avoid it.
Saalistaja throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bernard's waist but Bernard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saalistaja off to one side.
Saint Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Saalistaja.
A punch combination from Bernard misses.
Saalistaja tries to clinch up but Bernard circles away and keeps his distance.
Bernard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saalistaja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bernard is fending him off so far but Saalistaja persists. Nope, Bernard circles away and we're back to standing.
Saalistaja tries to clinch but Bernard moves out of range.
Bernard fails to land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bernard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Saint Bernard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Saalistaja scores a takedown into full mount!
Bernard working to try and regain half guard.
Saalistaja trying to control but Bernard is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Bernard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sami Saalistaja'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!

Bernard throws a one two combo.
Saalistaja wants to clinch.
A jab from Bernard finds it's way through Saalistaja's defenses.
Bernard misses with a few strikes there.
Saalistaja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bernard pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Saalistaja back to the cage. Bernard follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Saalistaja is looking to clinch but Bernard is avoiding it.
Bernard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saalistaja scores with a head kick. Bernard tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Saalistaja ducks right into an uppercut from Bernard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A punch combination from Bernard misses.
Bernard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard misses with a few strikes there.
Saalistaja is looking to clinch but Bernard is avoiding it.
Saalistaja showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bernard.
Saalistaja scoring well with a low kick there.

Saalistaja looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Saalistaja controlling the action here.
Saalistaja thows a huge punch but Bernard dodges it nicely.
Saalistaja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bernard tries to roll over but Saalistaja keeps him under control.
Bernard is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Saalistaja jumps into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saalistaja lands an elbow.
Bernard is looking for a sweep.
Bernard looks to move to half guard but instead Saalistaja has passed into mount! Damn!
Bernard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bernard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saalistaja on the ground.
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!
Bernard wants to control but Saalistaja is having none of it.
Bernard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saalistaja in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bernard tries to hold on but Saalistaja postures up.

Saalistaja jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bernard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bernard tries to buck Saalistaja off but Saalistaja is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saalistaja scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bernard manages to work his way to half guard, despite Saalistaja's best efforts.
Bernard wants to improve his position but Saalistaja is controlling well.
Saalistaja thows a huge punch but Bernard dodges it nicely.
Bernard taking some punishment here, with Saalistaja in his half guard.
Saalistaja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saalistaja is trying to control the action in half guard but Bernard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saalistaja prevents Bernard from standing back up.
Bernard trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Bernard is looking for a sweep. Saalistaja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bernard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bernard tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saalistaja thows a huge punch but Bernard dodges it nicely.
Bernard wants to improve his position but Saalistaja is controlling well.
Bernard punching from the bottom.
Saalistaja lands strikes from half guard.
Saalistaja is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saalistaja prevents Bernard from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bernard wants to get back to his feet.
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!
Bernard is looking to get back to full guard here but Saalistaja has managed to pass to side control instead.
Sami Saalistaja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saint Bernard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Saalistaja is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Bernard looks calm but he's in trouble here. Saalistaja gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Bernard is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Saalistaja lets go of the hold and Bernard can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sami Saalistaja!