PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sakari Sammio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott has chosen Scotty Doesn't Know as his entrance music. Esteban Scott told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sammio
vs
Scott

185 cm
26
194 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sakari Sammio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Esteban Scott!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sammio scores with a hook.
Sammio scores with the left hand. Scott knows he should have avoided that one.
Sammio looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sammio misses with a wild body shot.
Sammio slips under a jab.
Scott shoots in looking for a takedown but Sammio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Scott's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Scott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sammio is looking to slow Scott down with leg kicks.
Sakari Sammio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Scott, right into the meat.
Scott takes a swing at Sammio's ribcage but misses.
Sammio fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sammio lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Scott takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Scott looks to land a body kick but Sammio moved away.
Scott misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice combination there by Scott.
Scott misses with a body shot.
Sammio looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Scott has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Scott.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sammio.
Sammio throws a leg kick which misses Scott's front leg but catches the back leg as Scott tries to avoid it.
Scott checks a leg kick.
Sammio throws a body punch but Scott moves out of range.
Scott takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sammio lands a high kick!
Sammio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Scott uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sammio.
Scott closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sammio circles away.
Scott throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Scott will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sakari Sammio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esteban Scott.
No luck for Scott with that takedown attempt.
Scott on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sammio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Scott.
Sammio swings for the body but Scott moves out of range.
Sammio moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scott throws a head kick but Sammio moves out of range.
Scott throws a leg kick
and Sammio counters with a big head kick but Scott shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Scott blocks a leg kick.
Sammio throws a leg kick that misses.
Sammio throws a leg kick but Scott sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sammio connects with a solid leg kick.
Sammio throws a body punch but Scott moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Sammio misses.
Sammio is looking to wear down Scott with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Scott connects with the punch.
Sammio lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sammio swats away the attempt to clinch by Scott.
Sammio defending well as Scott loads up on a big left hand.
Sammio cracks Scott with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Scott misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sammio throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Scott looks to land a body kick but Sammio moved away.
Sammio throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Scott throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sammio blocks a head kick by Scott.
Sammio keeps the fight on the outside.
Sammio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Scott.
Scott fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sammio has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Scott misses with an uppercut. Sammio saw that one coming.
Scott throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jab by Sammio.
Scott misses with a low kick.
Sammio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Scott connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Scott.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott throws a leg kick but Sammio checks it.
Scott looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Scott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sammio manages to avoid it.
Scott misses with a hook. Sammio ducked under it nicely.
Sammio misses with a low kick.
Sammio misses with a kick to the body.
Sammio looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jab by Sammio.
Sammio throws a body kick that misses.
Sammio throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sammio throws a leg kick but Scott checks it.
Sammio misses with a double jab.
Sammio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Scott lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Scott.
Sammio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakari Sammio dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Scott takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sammio tries to land a front kick but Scott steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sammio lands a really nice looking cross but Scott seems unphased.
Scott lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sammio avoids the head kick by Scott.
Scott blocks a leg kick.
Sammio feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Scott's calf.
Scott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sammio manages to avoid it.
Crunch! Sammio slams his shin into Scott's torso.
Scott checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Scott or perhaps it was just good defense by Sammio, which made it look bad.
Sammio throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sammio wants to slow Scott down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice body kick from Scott.
Sammio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Scott can do to turn this around?
Scott moves out of range of the leg kick from Sammio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammio swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Scott.
Scott uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sammio.
Scott takes a swing at Sammio's ribcage but misses.
Sammio takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sammio connects with a jab.
Scott throws a solid leg kick but Sammio takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Scott.
Scott throws out a loose jab but Sammio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Scott might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Sammio has got the better of the exchanges.
Sammio thumps Scott with a low kick.
Scott pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Scott feints and as Sammio raises his hands in defense, Scott changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sammio has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Scott postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Scott makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sammio holds on and takes a little breather.
Scott loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sammio keeping moving, preventing Scott from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sammio controls Scott momentarily but Scott frees himself.
Scott connects with a couple of short punches.
Scott scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sammio trying to keep a closed guard but Scott is proving a slippery customer.
Scott stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sammio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Scott wants to control from the top but Sammio keeps moving.
Sammio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sammio looking to control.
Sammio keeping moving, preventing Scott from controlling successfully.
Scott throwing strikes from guard but Sammio blocks nicely.
Scott postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Scott postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sammio being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Scott misses with an attempted mid kick.
Scott misses with a body kick.
Scott checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice jab there from Scott.
Scott connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Sammio.
Scott tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Scott is looking to score with low kicks.
Scott has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sammio.
Sammio feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Scott's calf.
Scott on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A good leg kick by Sammio.
Scott connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sammio scores with a spinning back kick!
Scott takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sammio lands a jab to Scott's midsection.
Scott misses with an attempted mid kick.
Scott throws a right and a left that Sammio avoids nicely.
Sakari Sammio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sammio is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sammio stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Scott.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esteban Scott will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sammio lands with an overhand left.
Sammio misses with a body shot.
Sammio lands a lovely overhand right.
Scott keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Scott pushes Sammio away with a front kick.
Sammio takes a swing at Scott's ribcage but misses.
Scott's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sammio throws out a leg kick but Scott moves out of range and Sammio only half commits.
Nice defenses there by Sammio.
Scott scores with a shot to the body.
Scott throws the kick towards the body but Sammio avoids it.
Sakari Sammio is winning the standup battle so far.
Scott checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sammio stuns Scott with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice body kick there by Sammio.
Scott misses with an uppercut.
Sammio chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Scott can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sammio moves away.
Scott lands a nice looking body shot.
Sammio thuds his shin into the meat of Scott's side.
A big left from Scott misses.
Scott takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Scott fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Scott missing with a left hand there. Sammio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sammio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Scott moves away.
A punch combination from Sammio misses.
Sammio motions for Scott to come forward. Sammio throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Scott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sammio moves away.
Scott on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Scott avoids the head kick by Sammio.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sammio dodges the punch combination from Scott.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Scott does no damage.
Scott checks a low kick from Sammio.
Scott has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sammio.
Sammio with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Scott avoids the head kick by Sammio.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Scott throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Scott throws a leg kick but Sammio moved away.
Scott checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sammio scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Good leg kick by Scott there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A head kick misses from Scott.
The fighters circling - Sammio throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sammio misses with a body kick.
Sammio throws a leg kick but Scott moved away.

Scott gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott takes a little break here. Sammio wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Scott looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sammio keeping his opponent close.
Scott misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sammio is looking to regain half guard here but Scott keeps moving and retains side control.
Sammio struggling a bit here.
Scott scoring with punches and elbows.

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.
Sammio is looking for a sweep.
Scott scores with punches from side control.
Scott landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Scott lands a nice forearm strike.

Sammio is rocked!
Scott wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sammio keeps working.
Oh Sammio is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sammio tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Scott's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Scott is trying to get an arm triangle but Sammio is defending well.
Scott tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sammio's legs.
Scott wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sammio keeps working.
Sammio seems to have got his legs back now.
Scott working the ground and pound but Sammio is defending the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Scott comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Scott has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!