PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sami Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorde Runkputte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jorde Runkputte enters the cage!

Saari
vs
Runkputte

170 cm
23
177 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

177 cm
23
170 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

No Contest Clothing

North
Perkele!

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Saari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorde Runkputte!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saari uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Runkputte.
Saari has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Runkputte fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saari, pushing him back against the cage.
Runkputte working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Saari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Runkputte backwards.
Saari scores with a shoulder strike.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Runkputte.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Runkputte lands a body punch.
Runkputte tries to throw a body punch but Saari avoids it by throwing Runkputte back against the cage.
Runkputte tries to throw a body punch but Saari avoids it by throwing Runkputte back against the cage.
Runkputte tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saari's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Runkputte.
Runkputte is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Runkputte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Saari scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Saari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Runkputte works Saari's body with a nice hook.

Saari clinches up against the cage.
Saari working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saari lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Runkputte scores with a nice short uppercut.
Runkputte blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Runkputte lands a body punch in the clinch.
Saari trying to control the position but instead, Runkputte has worked for underhooks and has pushed Saari into the cage.
Runkputte leaning against his opponent.
Runkputte tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saari's elbow.
Saari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Runkputte working aggressively here.
Runkputte lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Runkputte creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Runkputte.
Runkputte swings wildly with an uppercut but Saari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saari struggles to land a body shot inside as Runkputte controls his hands.
Saari gets underhooks to prevent Runkputte's takedown attempt.
Saari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Saari.
Saari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Runkputte prevents a body shot from Saari.
Runkputte throws a punch but it's blocked by Saari.
Runkputte misses with the head strike.

Runkputte has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Saari regains guard immediately.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Saari is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Runkputte won't allow Saari to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Runkputte throwing strikes but missing.
Runkputte throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saari works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saari keeping moving, preventing Runkputte from controlling successfully.
Runkputte in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saari seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Runkputte looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Runkputte slips a jab and a cross from Saari.
Saari digs a good hook to Runkputte's body.
Sami Saari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Runkputte is looking to clinch.
A slow jab from Runkputte misses its intended target.
Saari throws the left hand but Runkputte avoids the punch easily.
Saari throws a series of strikes that have Runkputte backpedaling.
Saari misses with an uppercut. Runkputte saw that one coming.
The crowd cheers as Saari lands an impressive looking overhand right. Runkputte doesn't seem phased though.
Runkputte defending well as Saari loads up on a big left hand.
Runkputte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saari lands a glancing blow to the side of Runkputte's head.
Saari fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with an uppercut
and Runkputte connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Saari drops Runkputte with a beautiful combination! Runkputte stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Saari is looking for the KO!

Runkputte is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Saari.
Runkputte is still on wobbly legs! Can Saari finish him?
Runkputte misses with a right hand
and Saari counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Runkputte missing with a left hand there. Saari was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Saari misses with a straight left.

Saari closes the distance and clinches.
Saari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saari.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Saari.
Runkputte seems to have recovered his senses.
Runkputte's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Runkputte pushes Saari back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Runkputte fails to land.
Saari lands a shoulder strike.
Runkputte is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Runkputte tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Runkputte makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Runkputte lands with a short shot to the head.
Runkputte tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saari's elbow.
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 Sami Saari will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Runkputte circles away quickly and effectively.

Saari drops Runkputte with a beautiful combination! Runkputte stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Saari is looking for the KO!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Saari fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Runkputte, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Runkputte lands a nice uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Runkputte has a couple of punches blocked by Saari.
Saari blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Runkputte scores with a shoulder strike.
Runkputte working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Saari working aggressively here.
Runkputte lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Runkputte lands with a light punch inside.
Runkputte can't find room to land a body shot as Saari controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Saari misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runkputte lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Runkputte blocks an uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A body shot lands from Runkputte.
Runkputte scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Runkputte tries to work over Saari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saari misses with the head strike.
Saari wants to break free but Runkputte has control.
Saari throws a punch but it's blocked by Runkputte.
Saari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Saari scores with a shot to the side of Runkputte's head.
Runkputte fails to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short uppercut from Saari.
Saari is trying to maintain a safe position but Runkputte gets an underhook and turns Saari into the cage.
Nice body punch from Saari - that landed with a thud.
Runkputte is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runkputte cracks Saari with a nice body shot.
Saari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Saari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saari throws an off balance right hand

and Runkputte counters with a shoot takedown. Saari fights it but they end up in guard.
Runkputte pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saari is keeping the position for now.
Saari controlling the position.
Saari keeping full guard, as Runkputte tries to pass.
Runkputte postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saari seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Saari is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sami Saari.
Good standup being displayed there by Saari as he connects with a hook.
Saari jabs Runkputte right on the nose. Runkputte blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari drops his hands momentarily and Runkputte takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Saari throws a right and a left that Runkputte avoids nicely.
Runkputte looks to throw the jab but Saari is out of range.
Saari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Runkputte was well out of range. Poor timing from Saari.
Runkputte tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Runkputte somewhat.
A left lands for Saari.
Runkputte dips to his left and cracks Saari with an uppercut!

Saari gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saari lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Runkputte looking to stall.
Saari lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with the head strike.
Runkputte keeps control of Saari as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Runkputte lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jorde Runkputte seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Runkputte backwards.
Runkputte trying to control the position but instead, Saari has worked for underhooks and has pushed Runkputte into the cage.
Runkputte lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saari backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Runkputte lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saari backwards.
Saari looking to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Runkputte.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Runkputte wants to stall.
Saari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sami Saari will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Runkputte throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheers as Saari lands an impressive looking overhand right. Runkputte doesn't seem phased though.
Saari is pawing at Runkputte, trying to feel the distance before throwing out a cross that crashes into Runkputte's nose. Runkputte is badly hurt! Saari pounces, throwing wild strikes as both fighters end up on the ground! Runkputte tries desperately to hold on but Saari is relentless in his assault! As Runkputte receives an ever increasing number of unanswered strikes the referee pulls Saari away and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sami Saari!