PBP Commentary

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

Stevens
vs
Saukko

183 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 Tokyo, Tazz Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anu Saukko!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Stevens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Stevens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saukko is desperately trying to improve his position but Stevens has a good base and remains in mount.
Saukko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saukko working to try and regain half guard.
Stevens looking to control and managing it successfully.
Saukko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stevens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Saukko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stevens wants to take Saukko's back but he can't do it this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens is working hard here to advance position.
Saukko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukko looks gassed!
Saukko tries to lock up and control but Stevens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saukko is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stevens controlling from mount.
Saukko is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stevens controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tazz Stevens dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stevens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saukko is looking to regain half guard here but Stevens keeps moving and retains side control.
Saukko gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens controlling the action here.
Saukko won't allow Stevens to pass to mount.
Saukko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saukko misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Stevens controlling the pace.
Saukko wants to improve his position but Stevens is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saukko is breathing heavily.

Saukko with the active half guard here but Stevens passes nicely into side control.
Saukko tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Saukko is looking for a sweep.
Saukko being controlled for a moment.
Saukko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stevens happy to just control the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saukko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tazz Stevens 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. This is the final round!

Stevens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stevens showed some decent athleticism there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saukko wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stevens will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saukko wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Stevens is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Saukko is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Stevens pulls his head out easily.
Saukko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevens looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Tazz Stevens just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Stevens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stevens showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Saukko wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukko missing with punches from the bottom.
Stevens performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Saukko actively working from the bottom here.
Stevens controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Saukko is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Stevens pulls his head out easily.
Saukko is in trouble now - Stevens has advanced to mount!
Stevens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Anu Saukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saukko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tazz Stevens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stevens 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tazz Stevens!