PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pentti Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Almeida has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Almeida
vs
Saarinen

191 cm
27
195 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
20
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Fight Night Nutrition

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pentti Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida slips under a jab from Saarinen.

Saarinen clinches with his opponent.
Saarinen stalling the fight.
With the fighters up against the cage, Saarinen throws an elbow but misses.

Saarinen jumps guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Saarinen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Almeida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Almeida gets to his feet - Saarinen follows without any prompting.

Almeida gets tackled into the cage by Saarinen. Saarinen maintains the clinch.
Saarinen can't get the takedown.
Almeida blocks an elbow strike.
Saarinen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Almeida has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Saarinen after a bit of a struggle.

Saarinen jumps into guard, dragging Almeida to the mat.
Almeida postures up in Saarinen's guard and throws a big left but Saarinen blocks it.

Saarinen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Almeida defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Almeida trying to control but Saarinen is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saarinen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Almeida's guard.
Almeida will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saarinen looking to pass the guard.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Saarinen from controlling successfully.

Saarinen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Almeida dives on top into guard.

Saarinen looking for a guillotine here but Almeida defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Saarinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Almeida works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen is pressing down on Almeida's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Saarinen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Almeida passes into side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saarinen tries to bench press Almeida off him but Almeida keeps the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saarinen is still trying to improve position.

Almeida tries for a kimura but Saarinen is defending well.
Saarinen gets back to half guard.

Almeida seems to be working for a kimura but Saarinen defends the submission attempt.
Saarinen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Almeida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saarinen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Almeida is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Saarinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Almeida pulls his head out easily.
Almeida moves nicely into side control.
Saarinen can't do much from the bottom here.
Saarinen tries to bench press Almeida off him but Almeida keeps the position.
Almeida happy to just control the position for now.

Almeida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Almeida tries to get to full guard but Saarinen has control of the leg.
Saarinen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Almeida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Saarinen is trying to work for a kimura but Almeida is defending well.

Saarinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Almeida sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Saarinen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Saarinen dominated that 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.

Saarinen throws a hook to the side of Almeida's head but Almeida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saarinen throws a lazy head kick
and Almeida counters with a two punch combo.
Nice defenses there by Almeida.

Saarinen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saarinen lands in his opponent's guard.
Almeida is looking to stand up but Saarinen isn't so interested in that idea.
Saarinen controlling from the top position.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Saarinen from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almeida has his foot on Saarinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saarinen works his way back into a safe position though.

Almeida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saarinen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saarinen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Almeida is trying to keep Saarinen in close.
Saarinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Almeida has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Saarinen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Saarinen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Saarinen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Almeida trying to control but Saarinen is working from the bottom.
Almeida controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saarinen looking for a guillotine here but Almeida defends easily.
Almeida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saarinen is keeping the position for now.

Saarinen has his foot on Almeida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Almeida works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saarinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Saarinen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Almeida is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saarinen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Almeida escapes and throws Saarinen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Saarinen is breathing heavily.
Saarinen is being controlled here.
Almeida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saarinen keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Saarinen, who protects the arm well.
Almeida gets to mount! Saarinen was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Almeida has hold of Saarinen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Saarinen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Saarinen wants to hold on but Almeida pushes him away.
Saarinen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saarinen tries to improve his position but instead Almeida has taken his back!
Saarinen tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Almeida is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Saarinen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida avoiding Saarinen 's attempts to control his hands.
I really don't envy Saarinen right now.

Almeida is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Saarinen has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Almeida lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Almeida working for the choke.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almeida keeps control of the position as Saarinen tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Almeida dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Almeida closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Saarinen looking for submissions off his back.

Saarinen actively working from the bottom here.
Saarinen tries to get to full guard but Almeida has control of the leg.
Almeida takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Saarinen won't allow Almeida to pass to mount.
Saarinen is looking to improve his position.
Rafael Almeida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Saarinen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Saarinen is not content to let Almeida control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida is pressing down on Saarinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saarinen is holding on for now.

Saarinen actively working from the bottom here.
Saarinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Almeida is working for a kimura but Saarinen is defending it quite comfortably.

Saarinen looking for submissions off his back.
Saarinen trying to control from the bottom.

Almeida seems to be working for a kimura but Saarinen defends the submission attempt.
It looks like Almeida is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saarinen looking for submissions off his back.
Saarinen is looking to improve his position.
Almeida wants to take a breather but Saarinen is having none of it.
Almeida is really struggling to control Saarinen but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Saarinen actively working from the bottom here.

Saarinen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida working the head and body with strikes.
Almeida is looking to take a break and control but Saarinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Almeida is looking for a kimura but Saarinen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Almeida to get the leverage.

Saarinen looking for subs from the bottom but Almeida mounts him!
Almeida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Saarinen tries to hold on but Almeida postures up.

Almeida is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Saarinen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Saarinen shrugs it off.
Saarinen can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Saarinen wants to control but Almeida is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saarinen is staying active underneath Almeida, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Saarinen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Almeida is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Almeida is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Saarinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Almeida pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Almeida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Almeida has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Almeida!