PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savolainen comes into the arena with Winning blaring out of the sound system. Thomas has chosen Linkin Park - In the End as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Savolainen
vs
Thomas

184 cm
27
179 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

184 cm
31
177 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Underworld Clothing /w 90% Laundry
Modern Wear Apparel $30 sale

GREEN!160
SP Ultimate Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaakko Savolainen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, JJ Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savolainen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
Thomas darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A punch combination from Savolainen misses.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Savolainen.
As Thomas looks to move away, Savolainen throws a big counter combo bu Thomas just gets out of the way.
Savolainen throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Savolainen avoids nicely.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1-2. Thomas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Savolainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Savolainen!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas lands a really nice looking cross but Savolainen seems unphased.
Sloppy strikes from Savolainen. Those never looked like landing.
A shot to the liver by Thomas. Beautiful body shot.
Savolainen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thomas 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen swinging wildly here.
Savolainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Savolainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Savolainen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Savolainen saw that one coming.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Savolainen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thomas scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thomas lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Savolainen.
A quick step to the side and Savolainen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savolainen throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.

Savolainen gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savolainen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thomas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thomas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Savolainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A looping hook to the body misses from Savolainen. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas lands with a good body shot.
Savolainen slips under a jab from Thomas.
Thomas throws a hook but Savolainen blocks it.
A cross from Thomas lands.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Savolainen is out of range.
Thomas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Savolainen slips a straight right by Thomas.
Savolainen lands a really nice looking cross but Thomas seems unphased.
Savolainen defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Savolainen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Savolainen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen slips a jab from Thomas.
Savolainen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Savolainen tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Savolainen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Savolainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Savolainen avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Savolainen throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Savolainen walks into a left hand.
Savolainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Savolainen lands a two punch combo.
Thomas is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Savolainen had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Savolainen tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
It seemed like Thomas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Savolainen feints a jab promting Thomas to slip. Savolainen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thomas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savolainen fails to land with a series of punches.
Thomas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Savolainen tries to move into range but Thomas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Thomas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thomas is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Thomas connects with a right hand. Savolainen shakes it off.
Savolainen tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Savolainen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.

Savolainen has managed to clinch.
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Savolainen backwards.
Savolainen blocking some punches.

Savolainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Savolainen throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Savolainen misses.
Savolainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Savolainen. Those never looked like landing.
Savolainen ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.
Savolainen takes one on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Savolainen avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Thomas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Savolainen misses with a double jab
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Jaakko Savolainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Thomas - just one landing.
Savolainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savolainen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A big left from Thomas misses.
Thomas throws a body shot but no joy.
Savolainen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Savolainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Savolainen punishes Thomas's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savolainen wants to clinch.
Thomas connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen scores with a one two! Thomas had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Savolainen works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.
Savolainen throws a big shot that misses.
Savolainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Thomas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Thomas.
Savolainen throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Savolainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Savolainen blocks a jab.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
Savolainen is looking to wear down Thomas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Savolainen throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas throws out a counter right but Savolainen avoids it with no problem.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Savolainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
JJ Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savolainen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Savolainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thomas is looking for the big counter here.
Savolainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Savolainen throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've been told by Savolainen's head coaches at Roosters Coop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Savolainen misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Savolainen. Those never looked like landing.
Savolainen throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Savolainen is looking to clinch.
Thomas lands a nice hook to Savolainen's body. Savolainen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Savolainen moves to clinch but Thomas breaks away
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
Savolainen throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Savolainen slips a jab from Thomas.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thomas.
Savolainen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thomas digs a good hook to Savolainen's body.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen misses with a body shot.
Savolainen throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.

Savolainen clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
Savolainen takes a shot to the head.
Thomas throws a punch but it's blocked by Savolainen.

Savolainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Savolainen slips a straight right by Thomas.
Savolainen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circle momentarily. Savolainen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Savolainen connects with a body shot.
Savolainen catches Thomas with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Savolainen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Savolainen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Savolainen thinking.
Thomas stuns Savolainen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas misses with a few strikes there.
Jaakko Savolainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savolainen lands with a nice combination. Thomas backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas throws a body shot but no joy.
Savolainen fails to land with a series of punches.
Savolainen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Savolainen moves away and avoids it.
Savolainen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Savolainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas takes a swing at Savolainen's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Savolainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Savolainen.
Thomas lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Jaakko Savolainen has been cut.
Jab by Thomas.
Thomas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Savolainen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thomas 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.
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.

Thomas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Savolainen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Thomas eats them both and turns towards Savolainen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Savolainen looks to land a combination. Thomas sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Savolainen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas throws a body punch but Savolainen moves out of range.
Thomas cracks Savolainen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Savolainen throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Thomas takes a swing at Savolainen's ribcage but misses.
Savolainen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Savolainen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Savolainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Thomas.
Savolainen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Thomas to score with a decent uppercut.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Savolainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Savolainen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas connects with a body shot that sends Savolainen's belly button to the back.
Savolainen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Savolainen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
No joy there for Savolainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savolainen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Thomas to score with a decent uppercut.
A jab from Thomas finds it's way through Savolainen's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Some wild striking there from Savolainen.
Thomas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Savolainen misses with a double jab.
Thomas looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Savolainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Savolainen cracks Thomas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Savolainen lands with a shot to the body.
Thomas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thomas lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A right-left combo lands from Savolainen.
Thomas lands an overhand right.
Thomas scores with a hook.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas scores with a three punch combo!
Savolainen works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.
Savolainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Savolainen looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Savolainen.
Thomas unleashes a big counter combination but Savolainen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Good exchange - Thomas coming out on top.
Thomas lunges at Savolainen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Savolainen's hand.
Savolainen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Savolainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thomas.
Savolainen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thomas on the side of the head.
Savolainen is working the combinations to good effect here.
Thomas cracks Savolainen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Savolainen throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas scores with a jab to the head.
A combination from Savolainen does no damage.
Thomas throws out a counter right but Savolainen avoids it with no problem.
Savolainen misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas tests Savolainen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Savolainen ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Savolainen avoids them all with ease.
Savolainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Savolainen.
Thomas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savolainen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thomas lands a jab to the head.
Thomas scores with a nice right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Savolainen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thomas counters with a nice body shot.
Savolainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Thomas throws out a counter right but Savolainen avoids it with no problem.

Savolainen closes the distance and clinches.
Savolainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but JJ Thomas just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Savolainen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thomas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Savolainen is looking for a counter combo.
Savolainen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Jab by Thomas.
Savolainen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Savolainen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thomas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Savolainen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thomas scrambles back to his feet.
Savolainen swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
A punch combination from Savolainen misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savolainen stalks Thomas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thomas's face. Thomas staggers backwards, shaken.
Savolainen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savolainen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thomas lands a nice hook to Savolainen's body. Savolainen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Savolainen misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Savolainen. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savolainen.
Savolainen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thomas misses with a double jab.
Savolainen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thomas throws a body punch but Savolainen moves out of range.
Savolainen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas lands a jab.
Thomas cracks Savolainen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Savolainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Savolainen.
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!
Savolainen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thomas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Savolainen walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Savolainen throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Savolainen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Savolainen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Thomas lands a glancing blow to the side of Savolainen's head.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Savolainen.
Thomas cracks Savolainen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Savolainen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A combination from Savolainen does no damage.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Savolainen.
Savolainen drops his hands momentarily and Thomas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
No joy there for Savolainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savolainen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Savolainen saw that one coming.
Savolainen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
No joy there for Savolainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savolainen wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.
Savolainen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Savolainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Savolainen wants to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Thomas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Savolainen looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Savolainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Savolainen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Savolainen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Savolainen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Savolainen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thomas connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Savolainen scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas scores with a body shot.
Savolainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Savolainen closes the distance and clinches.

Savolainen breaks from the clinch.
Savolainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Savolainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Savolainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savolainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thomas lands a nice shot that snaps Savolainen's head back.
Savolainen throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but JJ Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Savolainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savolainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Thomas.
A punch combination from Savolainen misses.
Despite the aggression on Thomas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Thomas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thomas moves into range and connects with a jab.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Savolainen avoids nicely.
Thomas connects with a right hand. Savolainen shakes it off.
Savolainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Thomas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Savolainen.
Thomas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thomas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A left and a right from Savolainen both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Thomas - just one landing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Savolainen.
Savolainen blocks an uppercut.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Savolainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Savolainen backwards.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Savolainen backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen blocks an uppercut.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Savolainen blocks an uppercut.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Thomas fails to land.
Thomas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Savolainen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Thomas fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Savolainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
JJ Thomas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Savolainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thomas throws a punch but it's blocked by Savolainen.
Savolainen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Savolainen tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.
Savolainen has had enough of the clinch but Thomas keeps him there for the moment.
Thomas misses with a punch on the inside.
Savolainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Savolainen is trying to break free.
Thomas swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Savolainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Savolainen gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen is trying to push Thomas away but Thomas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Savolainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thomas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Savolainen is trying to push Thomas away but Thomas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Savolainen has had enough of the clinch but Thomas keeps him there for the moment.
Savolainen is trying to force a seperation but Thomas has the dominant position.
Thomas throws a punch but it's blocked by Savolainen.
Thomas throws a head punch that misses.
Thomas misses with a punch on the inside.
Jaakko Savolainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savolainen pushes Thomas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Thomas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thomas misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
JJ Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 45:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Thomas! JJ Thomas retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking JJ Thomas thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.