PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aku Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saari's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Saari
vs
Thorn

185 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Perkele!
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aku Saari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Thorn!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Saari clinches up with Thorn and pushes him back against the ropes.
Saari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thorn wants to stall.
Thorn misses with a punch on the inside.
Saari lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Thorn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saari misses with the head strike.
Saari lands an uppercut.
Thorn should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thorn scores with a shot to the side of Saari's head.
Saari tries to work over Thorn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thorn prevents a body shot from Saari.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorn is trying to break the clinch but Saari is controlling him.
Saari lands a hook to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thorn blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saari.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Saari swings wildly with an uppercut but Thorn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thorn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saari is keeping busy.
Saari misses with the head strike.
Thorn is struggling to control the position.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari tries to throw a body punch but Thorn avoids it by throwing Saari back against the ropes.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Thorn.
Thorn blocking some punches.
Thorn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saari is keeping busy.
Saari lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thorn backwards.
Thorn looking to stall.
Saari misses with some punches.
Thorn taking a breather.
Saari misses with a short punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Michael Thorn.

Saari instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
Saari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saari digs a right hand underneath Thorn's ribcage. Thorn let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Saari tries a body shot but Thorn blocks it.
Thorn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Thorn.
Saari misses with some punches.
Saari scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saari lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thorn blocks an uppercut.
Saari throws a head punch that misses.
Saari working aggressively here.
Saari lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saari working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Saari.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Saari creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Saari lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Saari lands with a short shot to the head.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Saari.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thorn is trying to stall.
Saari prevents Thorn from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Saari dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saari avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thorn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thorn darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

It looks like Aku Saari has been cut.
Thorn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thorn can do to turn this around?
Thorn scores with a jab.
Saari slips a jab and a cross from Thorn.

Saari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thorn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thorn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saari keeps control of Thorn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Thorn blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorn blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Saari swings wildly with an uppercut but Thorn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thorn is trying to maintain a safe position but Saari gets an underhook and turns Thorn into the ropes.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Saari.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Thorn has eaten all the pies!
Thorn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saari lands a nice shot to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Saari takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saari lands a right hand.
Saari swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari keeps control of Thorn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Saari lands an uppercut.
Thorn has had enough of the clinch but Saari keeps him there for the moment.
Saari working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Saari.
Saari swings wildly with an uppercut but Thorn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aku Saari has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short uppercut from Thorn.
Thorn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Saari throws a punch but it's blocked by Thorn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saari misses with the head strike.
Thorn tries to stall but Saari uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Thorn tries to circle away but Saari has him pinned against the ropes.
Saari gets through Thorn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Saari as the two fighters clinch.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
Thorn has had enough of the clinch but Saari keeps him there for the moment.
Thorn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saari throws a punch but it's blocked by Thorn.
Thorn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saari lands with a light punch inside.
Saari gets through Thorn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thorn backwards.
Saari throws a head punch that misses.
Saari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thorn stalling in the clinch but Saari improves position.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
Saari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saari working aggressively here.
Thorn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Saari lands with a short shot to the head.
Saari lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short body shot lands from Saari as the two fighters clinch.
Thorn is breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Saari lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thorn backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Saari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aku Saari's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saari closes the distance and pushes Thorn back into the ropes.
Thorn swings wildly with an uppercut but Saari uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
Saari is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Saari working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Saari scores with a hook to the body.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saari lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thorn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saari lands an uppercut.
Saari struggles to land a body shot inside as Thorn controls his hands.
Thorn is trying to maintain a safe position but Saari gets an underhook and turns Thorn into the ropes.
Saari working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Saari scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saari lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Saari scores with a shot to the side of Thorn's head.
Saari lands a right hand.

Thorn is rocked!
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by Thorn.
Thorn is still on wobbly legs! Can Saari finish him?
A body shot lands from Saari.
Saari lands a left hand.
Saari lands a body shot.
Saari lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thorn or not.
Saari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thorn backwards.
Saari pushes Thorn against the ropes. Saari is working some dirty boxing. Saari pushes off with a quick right hook! Thorn goes down! Thorn tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Saari moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aku Saari!
Aku Saari seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.