PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cus Tomato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cus Tomato will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Savolainen
vs
Tomato

184 cm
25
187 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Valhalla Fight Wear
Abraham\'s Laundry Services

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Savolainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cus Tomato!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savolainen defending well as Tomato loads up on a big left hand.
Tomato on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tomato looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Savolainen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Humboldt Park Elite Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Tomato connects with a good right hand that stumbles Savolainen. Savolainen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

It looks like Jaakko Savolainen has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Savolainen. Tomato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tomato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Savolainen.
Tomato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Savolainen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tomato looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Savolainen has a takedown stuffed.
Tomato connects with a looping right hand.
Savolainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tomato.
Savolainen blocks a head kick by Tomato.
Savolainen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Savolainen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tomato connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Savolainen momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tomato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tomato thuds his right hand into Savolainen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomato throws a nice outside leg kick.
Savolainen lands a nice shot that snaps Tomato's head back.
Tomato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tomato connects with an inside leg kick.
Savolainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tomato.
Tomato takes a swing at Savolainen's ribcage but misses.
Tomato moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tomato scores with a three punch combo!
Cus Tomato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savolainen ducks under a wild hook from Tomato.
Tomato misses with a jab to the body

and Savolainen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tomato won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savolainen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Tomato defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savolainen is looking to take a break and control but Tomato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Savolainen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tomato is trying to get back to half guard.
Savolainen grinds an elbow into Tomato's temple.
Savolainen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Savolainen tries to advance to mount but Tomato denies him.
Savolainen tries to score with some ground and pound. Tomato controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Savolainen landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Savolainen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tomato takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Savolainen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Savolainen lands some shots froms side control.
Tomato parries the strikes from Savolainen easily there. Savolainen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tomato to escape.
Tomato tries to bench press Savolainen off him but Savolainen keeps the position.
Savolainen advances to mount.
Savolainen lands with some strikes.
Savolainen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Savolainen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Savolainen with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tomato?
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!
Tomato blocking the ground and pound.
Savolainen lands a nice shot to the head.
Tomato wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Savolainen.
Tomato is looking to get to half guard.
Savolainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tomato is looking to escape.
Savolainen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Savolainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tomato scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Savolainen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Savolainen pushes Tomato away with a front kick.
That kick from Tomato tenderised Savolainen's leg. Savolainen is trying to keep his angry face on.
A combination from Tomato does no damage.

Savolainen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tomato tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Savolainen is in Tomato's guard.
Savolainen distracts Tomato with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Savolainen throws a big right hand that misses.
Savolainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tomato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tomato bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Savolainen's guard.

Savolainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tomato can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomato stopping the sweep attempt from Savolainen.
Savolainen has Tomato pulled in close to control his posture.

Savolainen working for a triangle but Tomato defends it easily.
Tomato stopping the sweep attempt from Savolainen.
Savolainen keeping moving, preventing Tomato from controlling successfully.
Savolainen controlling the position.
Tomato won't allow Savolainen to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Savolainen trying to keep a closed guard but Tomato is proving a slippery customer.
Tomato tries to free his leg and advance position but Savolainen is retaining full guard.
Jaakko Savolainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tomato is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tomato stopping the sweep attempt from Savolainen.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Savolainen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Savolainen misses with a body shot
and Tomato connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Savolainen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tomato can pounce on him.
Savolainen ducks under a wild hook from Tomato.
Savolainen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tomato. Tomato obviously looking to wear him down.
Savolainen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tomato lands with a straight right. Savolainen didn't see that one coming.
Savolainen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomato missing with a left hand there. Savolainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savolainen slips under a jab.
Tomato misses with a low kick.
Savolainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tomato.
Tomato throws a low kick but Savolainen avoids it.
Savolainen 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.
Savolainen avoids the head kick by Tomato.
Tomato throws a series of punches but Savolainen avoids them all with ease.
Tomato throws a body punch but Savolainen moves out of range.
Tomato looks to land a right hand but Savolainen moved out of range.
Savolainen checks a leg kick nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Savolainen misses the target.
Tomato tries to land a leg kick but Savolainen saw it coming and moves away.
Tomato throws a leg kick that is checked

and Savolainen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tomato can do anything to dispel that myth.
Savolainen trying to control but Tomato is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savolainen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tomato's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tomato is refusing to be controlled, as Savolainen sits in half guard.
Savolainen thows a huge punch but Tomato dodges it nicely.
Savolainen throwing shots but Tomato is blocking nicely.
Tomato trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tomato thumps Savolainen with a low kick.
Tomato scores with a kick to the midsection.
Savolainen misses with the combination.
Savolainen lands a jab to the head.
Savolainen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Savolainen misses the shot to the body.
Savolainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tomato.
Savolainen 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomato throws a solid leg kick but Savolainen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tomato.
A telegraphed right hand from Tomato misses the target.
Tomato connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tomato's corner calls for a 1-2. Tomato obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomato throws a leg kick

so Savolainen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Savolainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tomato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savolainen.
Tomato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tomato keeping moving, preventing Savolainen from controlling successfully.
Savolainen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savolainen postures up in Tomato's guard and throws a big left but Tomato blocks it.
Savolainen postures up in Tomato's guard and throws a big left but Tomato blocks it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Savolainen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tomato has momentary wrist control but Savolainen slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen trying to move into half guard but instead Tomato has managed to sweep!

Savolainen is adopting a defensive guard.
Savolainen keeping moving, preventing Tomato from controlling successfully.
Savolainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Savolainen holds on and takes a little breather.

Savolainen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tomato defends well.
Savolainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen pulls Tomato in close to his closed guard and prevents Tomato from doing any damage or advancing position.
Savolainen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tomato's guard.

Tomato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savolainen.
Savolainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Savolainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Savolainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tomato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Savolainen trying to control but Tomato is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Savolainen takes a swing at Tomato's ribcage but misses.
Savolainen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Savolainen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tomato swings for the body but Savolainen moves out of range.
Cus Tomato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Tomato misses the target.
Cus Tomato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tomato misses with a low kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tomato. That's going to slow Savolainen down.
Tomato lands a high kick!
Tomato jabs Savolainen to the body, keeping him at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Savolainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Savolainen 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Savolainen!
Our winner, Jaakko Savolainen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.