PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dante Ascanio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ascanio comes to the cage accompanied by Otis Taylor / Ten Million Slaves. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ascanio
vs
Saari

185 cm
20
181 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
177 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Meet the Future

Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Ascanio!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Saari!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saari tries to clinch but Ascanio is having none of it.
Ascanio has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Putka in the buildup to the fight.
Saari throws a series of punches but Ascanio avoids them all with ease.
Ascanio takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses.
Ascanio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saari misses with a wild body shot.
Saari takes a swing at Ascanio's ribcage but misses.
Ascanio lands a jab to the head.
Saari checks the leg kick.
Saari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Saari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ascanio moves away.
Saari avoids the body shot from Ascanio.
Saari throws the left hand but Ascanio avoids the punch easily.
Ascanio lands a nice shot to the body.
Ascanio throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ascanio throws a jab when Saari was well out of range.
Saari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ascanio.
Sami Saari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ascanio is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saari doesn't manage to clinch there - Ascanio circles away.
Ascanio takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saari lands with a shot to the body.
Ascanio connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Saari momentarily.

Saari moves into the clinch successfully.
Saari will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ascanio up against the cage.
Ascanio has had enough of the clinch but Saari keeps him there for the moment.
A hook to the body from Saari.
Ascanio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saari told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Come on Saari - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ascanio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saari takes a shot to the head.
Ascanio prevents a body shot from Saari.

Saari manages to break the clinch.
Ascanio fails to land with a series of punches.
Saari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ascanio is looking to wear down Saari with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ascanio thuds a left hand into Saari's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saari closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Dante Ascanio has been cut.
Ascanio lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Saari throws a nice looking combination but Ascanio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ascanio does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ascanio is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ascanio is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ascanio throws a shot from downtown. Saari moves away and avoids it.
Ascanio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ascanio looks to score with a jab to the body but Saari is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ascanio tries to land a leg kick but Saari saw it coming and moves away.
Ascanio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saari manages to avoid it.
Saari looks to score with a jab to the body but Ascanio is just out of range.
Ascanio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saari.
Saari with a hook.
Saari thows a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Saari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ascanio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ascanio swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ascanio manages to avoid it.
Saari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ascanio.
Ascanio throws a jab but it's blocked by Saari.
Saari blocks a jab.
Ascanio misses with a wild body shot.
A punch combination from Ascanio misses.
Saari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ascanio manages to avoid it.
Ascanio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saari.
Ascanio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saari.
Ascanio swats away the attempt to clinch by Saari.
No joy there for Saari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saari scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ascanio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saari circles away quickly and effectively.
Saari ducks right into an uppercut from Ascanio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari slips under a jab.
Ascanio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saari.
Saari misses with a straight right.
Ascanio misses with a wild body shot.
Ascanio punishes Saari's body with a nice straight punch.
Saari tries to clinch there but Ascanio circles away.
Saari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ascanio circles away quickly and effectively.
Ascanio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saari throws a looping overhand right but Ascanio ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saari goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ascanio throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Saari on the side of the head.
Saari takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ascanio avoids the body shot from Saari.
Saari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ascanio lands a nice looking body shot.
A combination from Saari does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Saari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dante Ascanio's cut.
That's time! Ascanio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saari lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A punch combination from Ascanio misses.
Saari misses with a body shot.
Saari takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saari misses with a looping left.
Saari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saari ducks under a wild hook from Ascanio.
Saari takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ascanio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saari.
Saari thuds a left hand into Ascanio's body.
Ascanio thuds his right hand into Saari's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ascanio keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Saari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ascanio.
Ascanio takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saari tries to clinch up.
Ascanio just misses with a punch to the body.
Ascanio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saari uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ascanio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ascanio thuds a left hand into Saari's body.
Ascanio scores with a jab to the body.
Ascanio takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ascanio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ascanio misses with a body shot.
Saari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saari throws a good cross that connects.
Saari tries to clinch but Ascanio moves out of range.
Saari misses the shot to the body.
Ascanio with a hook.
Ascanio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saari ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Saari misses with a double jab.
Saari scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ascanio misses with a low kick.
Ascanio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ascanio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saari manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Ascanio.
Saari slips a jab from Ascanio.
Ascanio just misses with a punch to the body.
Saari on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ascanio slips a straight right by Saari.
Ascanio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ascanio has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Saari lands an overhand right.
Saari checks a low kick from Ascanio.
Saari lands a right hook to the body.
A jab from Ascanio misses.
Ascanio misses with a series of wild punches.
Saari has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ascanio finds it's way round the side to connect with Saari's head.
Saari looks to land a left hand but Ascanio moved out of range nicely.
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ascanio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ascanio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ascanio blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ascanio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saari tries to clinch but Ascanio is having none of it.
Saari wants to clinch.
Saari is looking to clinch.
Saari misses with a wild body shot.
Saari misses with a series of wild punches.
Ascanio is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saari.
Saari misses with a hook.
Ascanio fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Saari checks it well.
Nice body punch from Saari.
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ascanio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saari thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ascanio connects with a good right hand that stumbles Saari. Saari circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice straight punches there by Saari. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Saari.

Dante Ascanio's cut is getting worse.
Ascanio takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses.
Saari thows a body shot but no joy.
Saari throws a right hand that misses
and Ascanio counters with a slapping leg kick.
Saari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ascanio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ascanio connects with a single shot there.

Saari moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saari stalling in the clinch but Ascanio improves position.
A nice left hand lands by Ascanio.
Ascanio blocks a body shot from Saari.
Ascanio misses with a body punch.
Ascanio is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A left hand lands to the body for Saari.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ascanio tries to throw a body punch but Saari avoids it by throwing Ascanio back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Saari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dante Ascanio's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ascanio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ascanio.
Saari misses with a straight left.
Sami Saari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ascanio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ascanio. Saari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saari throws a jab but it's blocked by Ascanio.
Ascanio lands with a good body shot.
Ascanio needs to keep his hands up - Saari had a free shot at his head there.
Good leg kick by Ascanio there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ascanio cracks Saari with a good jab.
Saari tries to clinch but Ascanio moves out of range.
Saari feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ascanios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ascanio misses with a hook to the body

and Saari counters by moving into the clinch.
Ascanio is trying to maintain a safe position but Saari gets an underhook and turns Ascanio into the cage.
Ascanio misses with a body punch.
Saari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saari misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ascanio's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saari manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ascanio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ascanio misses with a body punch.
A short right from Ascanio.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ascanio's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saari misses with the head strike.
Ascanio blocks an uppercut.
Saari is struggling to control the position.
Saari tries to work over Ascanio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ascanio lands a body shot in the clinch.

Ascanio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saari is looking to clinch.
Saari darts in trying to clinch
and Ascanio counters with a nice body shot.
Ascanio walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Saari checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A slow jab from Saari misses its intended target.
Saari wants to clinch up but Ascanio keeps it at a distance.
Saari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ascanio.
Saari tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ascanio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saari misses with a hook. Ascanio ducked under it nicely.
Saari avoids the body shot from Ascanio.
Ascanio misses the shot to the body.
Saari avoids the body shot from Ascanio.
Saari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari looks to score with a jab to the body but Ascanio is just out of range.
Saari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ascanio slips a jab and a cross from Saari.

Saari clinches up with Ascanio and pushes him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ascanio as Saari tries to tie him up.
Ascanio prevents a body shot from Saari.
Saari working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ascanio lands with a short shot to the head.
A short body shot lands from Saari as the two fighters clinch.
Ascanio misses with a punch to the body.
Ascanio tries to throw a body punch but Saari avoids it by throwing Ascanio back against the cage.
Saari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Ascanio.

Ascanio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ascanio takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saari moves out of range as Ascanio strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ascanio looks to score with a jab to the body but Saari is just out of range.
Ascanio with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Saari looks to score with a jab to the body but Ascanio is just out of range.
Saari wants to clinch.
Saari bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ascanio misses the shot to the body.
Saari lands a right hook to the body.
Saari avoids the body shot from Ascanio.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saari checks a leg kick.
Ascanio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ascanio on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Saari scores with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Saari really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dante Ascanio'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.

Saari fails to land with a series of punches.
Ascanio swings for the body but Saari moves out of range.
Ascanio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saari manages to avoid it.
Ascanio lands a nice shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ascanio. Saari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ascanio looks to land a left hand but Saari moved out of range nicely.
Saari cracks a nice hook into Ascanio's ribs.
Ascanio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saari.
Ascanio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saari.
Saari takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ascanio is looking to chop away at Saari's legs.
Ascanio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saari.
Saari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ascanio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saari ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ascanio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saari fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ascanio digs a good hook to Saari's body.
Ascanio tries to work over Saari's front leg with a kick but Saari checks it.
Saari digs a good hook to Ascanio's body.
Sloppy strikes from Saari. Those never looked like landing.
Saari moves out of range as Ascanio throws a body kick.
Saari wants to clinch.
Saari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Saari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Saari closes the distance and clinches.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Ascanio.
Ascanio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ascanio working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with a body punch.
Ascanio misses with some punches.

Saari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good work by Saari as he checks the leg kick.
Saari works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ascanio takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Saari misses with the combination.
Ascanio throws a series of punches but Saari avoids them all with ease.
Saari just misses with a punch to the body.
Ascanio misses with a low kick as Saari jumps back.
Saari throws out a loose jab but Ascanio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ascanio fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ascanio throws a body punch but Saari moves out of range.
Ascanio throws a low kick but Saari moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ascanio swings for the body but Saari moves out of range.
Ascanio scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ascanio. Saari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ascanio moves away.
Saari swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ascanio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saari lands a nice hook to Ascanio's body. Ascanio takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Saari falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ascanio makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ascanio throws a hook but Saari blocks it.
Ascanio looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ascanio misses with a wild body shot.
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ascanio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ascanio cracks Saari with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ascanio lands a nice shot to the body.
Ascanio lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saari is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ascanio.
Saari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ascanio moves away.
Saari tries to clinch there but Ascanio circles away.
Saari fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ascanio on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ascanio misses the shot to the body.
Saari misses with the combination.
Ascanio takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses.
Ascanio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saari.
Nice body punch from Saari.
Ascanio scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ascanio lands a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saari throws a lazy right hand but Ascanio sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Sami Saari will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dante Ascanio's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Saari swings widly with a right hand
and Ascanio counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Saari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ascanio scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ascanio connects with a body shot that sends Saari's belly button to the back.
Ascanio misses the shot to the body.
Saari misses with an uppercut.
Ascanio throws out a loose jab but Saari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ascanio tests Saari's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ascanio clobbers Saari with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ascanio loads up on a big right hand but Saari slips the punch.
Ascanio cracks the inside of Saari's front leg.
Ascanio takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ascanio paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ascanio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Saari counter with a right hand.
Saari throws a right hand that misses
and Ascanio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ascanio swats away the attempt to clinch by Saari.
Saari throws a shot from downtown. Ascanio moves away and avoids it.
Saari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ascanio looks to score with a jab to the body but Saari is just out of range.
Saari misses with a straight right.
Saari has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jab, jab by Saari - just one landing.
Saari tries to clinch there but Ascanio circles away.
Saari swinging wildly here.

Saari clinches.
A short left from Saari.
Ascanio tries to break the clinch but Saari is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ascanio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saari blocks a body shot from Ascanio.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ascanio tries to work over Saari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ascanio misses with some punches.
Saari stalling in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saari misses with some punches.
Saari working aggressively here.
Ascanio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ascanio has a couple of punches blocked by Saari.
Saari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ascanio throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saaris head.
A body shot lands from Ascanio.
Ascanio throws a head punch that misses.
Ascanio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ascanio working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Saari.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ascanio goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saari working aggressively here.
Saari throws a punch but it's blocked by Ascanio.
Saari makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ascanio's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saari swings wildly with an uppercut but Ascanio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saari blocks a body shot from Ascanio.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Saari makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari blocks a body shot from Ascanio.
Ascanio presses Saari against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ascanio swings wildly with an uppercut but Saari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ascanio takes a shot to the head.
Dante Ascanio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ascanio scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saari lands with a right to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ascanio fails to land.
Saari blocks a body shot from Ascanio.
Saari blocks a body shot from Ascanio.
Good body shot from Saari.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ascanio doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Saari breaks the clinch.
Saari fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ascanio on the side of the head.
Saari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ascanio.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Saari, as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Saari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saari has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 45:50
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Saari! Sami Saari retains his welterweight title!
In defeat, Dante Ascanio stepped up to the mic, saying 'During my career I have had to fight through a murderers' row of ground fighters so I developed a top notch defensive ground game. Now they threw this one trick pony with perfect style against me and I was defeated. I will dedicate my life to kicking this chump's ass one day.'.