PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sakari Saatana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leopold Raskalnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakari Saatana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saatana
vs
Raskalnikov

182 cm
23
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

recos laboratory

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sakari Saatana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leopold Raskalnikov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saatana swats away the attempt to clinch by Raskalnikov.
Raskalnikov drops his hands momentarily and Saatana takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Raskalnikov misses with a head kick.
Raskalnikov throws a head kick that misses.
Raskalnikov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saatana connects with a single shot there.
Saatana avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saatana rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raskalnikov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saatana thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice jab there from Saatana.

Raskalnikov is rocked!
Donk. Raskalnikov catches Saatana right on the button with a cross.

Saatana looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saatana working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Raskalnikov wants to get back to his feet but Saatana is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saatana wants to pass the guard but Raskalnikov is keeping the position.
Saatana postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saatana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saatana trying to move into half guard but instead Raskalnikov has managed to sweep!
Raskalnikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Saatana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raskalnikov slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Saatana.
Saatana is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Raskalnikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Raskalnikov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saatana swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice defenses there by Raskalnikov.

Raskalnikov moves into the clinch successfully.
Raskalnikov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov lands an elbow inside that Saatana shrugs off.
Raskalnikov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Saatana can't break the clinch.
Raskalnikov landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Raskalnikov.
Saatana is breathing heavily.
Raskalnikov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saatana's face.
Raskalnikov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Raskalnikov wants to stall.
Raskalnikov looking to throw knees to the head but Saatana is blocking nicely.
Raskalnikov keeps control of Saatana as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raskalnikov lands a nice elbow.
Raskalnikov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saatana's face.
Saatana is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Raskalnikov is keeping busy.
Raskalnikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Raskalnikov misses with a knee strike.
Raskalnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Raskalnikov lands an elbow just above Saatana 's eye.
Raskalnikov prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saatana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Raskalnikov lands an elbow inside.
Raskalnikov lands an elbow inside that Saatana shrugs off.
Raskalnikov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Raskalnikov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Saatana on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Raskalnikov landing knees to the head.
Raskalnikov keeps control of Saatana as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raskalnikov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saatana's defenses.
Saatana is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Saatana wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raskalnikov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice body punch from Saatana - that landed with a thud.
Raskalnikov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Raskalnikov tries to stall but Saatana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Raskalnikov misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raskalnikov lands an elbow inside that Saatana shrugs off.
Saatana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Saatana on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Raskalnikov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saatana stalling the fight.
Raskalnikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saatana has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saatana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Raskalnikov lands a nice knee to the body.
Raskalnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Raskalnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Saatana pulls Raskalnikov into guard.
Saatana throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Saatana will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saatana will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Saatana manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Raskalnikov manages to get himself to full guard.
Raskalnikov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Saatana!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sakari Saatana will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Raskalnikov walks into a straight right hand from Saatana.
Raskalnikov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Saatana counters with a straight right hand.
Saatana takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Raskalnikov wants to clinch.
Raskalnikov walks into a straight right hand from Saatana.
Saatana misses with a straight right.
Raskalnikov dodges the punch combination from Saatana.
Saatana is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Saatana scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Raskalnikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Saatana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saatana misses with a few strikes there.
Raskalnikov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saatana swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saatana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sakari Saatana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raskalnikov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raskalnikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Raskalnikov tries to clinch but Saatana moves out of range.
Raskalnikov tries to clinch up but Saatana circles away and keeps his distance.
Raskalnikov closes the distance but Saatana moves to the side
and Saatana counters with a nice body shot.
Raskalnikov misses with a head kick.
Saatana jabs Raskalnikov right on the nose. Raskalnikov blinks but takes it well.
Leopold Raskalnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Saatana closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Raskalnikov tries to improve position but can't.
Saatana cracks Raskalnikov with a big right hand but Raskalnikov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Saatana is working Raskalnikov over with some ground and pound from side control.
Raskalnikov tries to improve position but can't.

Saatana wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Raskalnikov, who protects the arm well.
Raskalnikov tries to escape but Saatana is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov can't do much from the bottom here.
Saatana working the head with strikes.
Saatana cracks Raskalnikov with a big right hand but Raskalnikov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Raskalnikov taking a bit of punishment here - Saatana scoring with strikes.
Saatana in side control, throwing shots but Raskalnikov defends.
Saatana is working Raskalnikov over with some ground and pound from side control.
Raskalnikov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Saatana's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov looks like he's trying to stand up.

Saatana 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.
Raskalnikov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saatana.
Saatana is thwarting Raskalnikov's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Saatana throws a strike but Raskalnikov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Saatana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saatana postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Raskalnikov is pulling down on Saatana's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saatana advances position into side control!
Saatana in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Raskalnikov wants to control but Saatana postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakari Saatana dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Raskalnikov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Saatana counters with a nice uppercut.
Raskalnikov closes the distance but Saatana moves to the side
and Saatana counters with a two punch combo.
Raskalnikov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saatana scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Raskalnikov tries to clinch
and Saatana counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Raskalnikov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saatana, pushing him back against the cage.
Raskalnikov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saatana lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Saatana blocks the elbow strike.
Raskalnikov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saatana is keeping busy.
Saatana on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Raskalnikov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Raskalnikov tries to land a knee to the head but Saatana blocks with his arms.
Raskalnikov tries to land a knee to the head but Saatana blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right handed body shot lands from Saatana.
Saatana can't break the clinch.
Saatana is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Raskalnikov is keeping busy.
A knee to the head by Raskalnikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saatana tries to break the clinch but Raskalnikov is controlling the position.
Saatana fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Saatana avoiding damage as Raskalnikov throws knees to the body.
Saatana wants to break free but Raskalnikov has control.
Raskalnikov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saatana is keeping busy.
Saatana looking to stall.
Saatana dodges an elbow strike from Raskalnikov.
Raskalnikov misses with an elbow strike.
Raskalnikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saatana is trying to maintain a safe position but Raskalnikov gets an underhook and turns Saatana into the cage.
Good body shot from Saatana.
Raskalnikov keeps control of Saatana as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saatana tries to stall but Raskalnikov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Raskalnikov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Raskalnikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Raskalnikov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Saatana.
Saatana wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raskalnikov has him pressed against the cage.

That's two 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.

Saatana manages to break the clinch.
Saatana throws a jab when Raskalnikov was well out of range.
Saatana misses with the combination.
Raskalnikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saatana scores with a one two! Raskalnikov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Saatana misses with a hook. Raskalnikov ducked under it nicely.
Saatana is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A good leg kick by Raskalnikov.
Saatana keeps the fight on the outside.
Saatana scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Raskalnikov throws a head kick but Saatana moves out of range.

Raskalnikov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saatana has Raskalnikov pressed against the cage.
Saatana is trying to break free.
Raskalnikov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Saatana is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Raskalnikov.
Raskalnikov lands an elbow that stopped Saatana in his tracks for a moment.
Saatana tries to pull guard but Raskalnikov holds him up against the cage and eventually Saatana drops back down to his feet.
Raskalnikov slows down the pace here.
Saatana is trying to break free.
Raskalnikov lands a knee to the head.

Saatana decides to pull guard.

Saatana is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Saatana keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Raskalnikov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Saatana lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Raskalnikov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raskalnikov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Saatana.
Leopold Raskalnikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saatana thowing shots but they're missing.
Raskalnikov tries to hold on but Saatana postures up.
Raskalnikov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sakari Saatana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saatana, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sakari Saatana!