PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aku Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Saari might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 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
McCall

185 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
212 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Perkele!

Phantom Fightwear(50 $)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aku Saari!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert McCall!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saari tries to clinch up but McCall circles away and keeps his distance.
McCall jabs Saari right on the nose. Saari blinks but takes it well.
An inside leg kick from McCall misses.
Saari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McCall manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCall misses the body punch
and McCall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McCall tries a low kick but Saari avoids it.
Saari is looking to counter the offense by McCall and move into the clinch.
McCall's coach down at Bad Pluto! (18 Elite Coach) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on McCall's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
McCall scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Aku Saari has been cut.
Saari seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
McCall throws a body punch but Saari moves out of range.
Saari doesn't manage to clinch there - McCall circles away.
McCall only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Saari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCall paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McCall misses with a straight left.

Saari forces McCall back against the cage and clinches.
McCall tries to break the clinch but Saari is controlling the position.
McCall tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saari's elbow.
McCall misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from McCall.
McCall is trying to break the clinch but Saari has him pressed against the cage.
McCall swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCall controlling the action here for a moment.
Saari struggles to land a body shot inside as McCall controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Saari.
Saari lands a hook that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
McCall lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McCall trying to control the position but instead, Saari has worked for underhooks and has pushed McCall into the cage.
McCall looking to stall.
McCall is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Saari prevents a body shot from McCall.
McCall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McCall wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saari has him pressed against the cage.
Saari lands a right hand that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Saari lands with a light punch inside.
McCall lands a hook that snaps the head of Saari backwards.
McCall lands a nice uppercut.
McCall trying to control the position but instead, Saari has worked for underhooks and has pushed McCall into the cage.
McCall scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCall wants to get back to striking at distance but Saari won't allow it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Saari as McCall tries to tie him up.
McCall is trying to break the clinch but Saari is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from McCall fails to land.
McCall misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saari lands a left hand.
Saari lands a body shot in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Saari creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Saari tries a body shot but McCall blocks it.
Saari presses McCall against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Saari scores with a shoulder strike.
Saari working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Saari.
McCall takes a shot to the head.
Saari lands with a right to the head.
Saari working aggressively here.
Saari lands a left hand that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Saari lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCall can't find room to land a body shot as Saari controls the action.
Saari lands a left hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCall.
Saari lands a left hand.
McCall misses with the head strike.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
Saari swings wildly with an uppercut but McCall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saari swings wildly with an uppercut but McCall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saari scores with a shot to the side of McCall's head.
McCall wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saari has him pressed against the cage.
McCall throws a head punch that misses.
McCall scores with an uppercut up the middle.
McCall tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Saari's elbow.
Saari lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
A head punch on the inside from McCall fails to land.
McCall wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McCall lands a right hand.
McCall can't break the clinch.
McCall blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall can't find room to land a body shot as Saari controls the action.
Saari has McCall pressed against the cage, preventing McCall from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saari.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saari lands a left hand.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Saari.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.
McCall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Saari.
Saari scores with a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Saari as the two fighters clinch.
Still in the clinch, Saari scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saari lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saari is leaning against McCall and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
A frustrated look appears on McCall's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McCall throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saaris head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Saari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aku Saari's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McCall misses with a body kick.
McCall throws a jab but it's blocked by Saari.

Saari closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McCall blocks a body shot from Saari.
Saari pushes McCall back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McCall throws a head punch that misses.
McCall blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McCall lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.
McCall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McCall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saari throws a punch but it's blocked by McCall.
McCall swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saari can't find room to land a body shot as McCall controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Saari fails to land.
McCall looking to slow down the pace here.
McCall works on Saari's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saari lands with a left to the head.
Aku Saari has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McCall wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saari has a couple of punches blocked by McCall.
McCall throws a head punch that misses.
McCall lands a hook that snaps the head of Saari backwards.
McCall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McCall blocks a body shot from Saari.
Saari throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McCalls head.
Saari misses with a punch on the inside.
McCall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saari makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McCall wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saari has him pressed against the cage.
Saari throws a head punch that misses.
McCall lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McCall is trying to break the clinch but Saari is controlling him.
McCall has had enough of the clinch but Saari keeps him there for the moment.
McCall tries to work over Saari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McCall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCall.
Saari misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCall breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saari fails with an attempt to clinch.
McCall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saari moves in looking to clinch but McCall pushes him off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCall uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Saari has time to react.
Saari avoids the body shot from McCall.
Saari moves out of range of the body kick.
McCall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saari moves away.

Saari rushes McCall and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saari working aggressively here.
McCall lands a hook that snaps the head of Saari backwards.
McCall throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Saari.
McCall wants to get back to striking at distance but Saari won't allow it.
Saari keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCall's efforts to push away.
McCall tries a body shot but Saari blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Saari on the inside.
McCall wants to break the clinch but can't.
McCall blocking some punches.
McCall wants to get back to striking at distance but Saari won't allow it.
McCall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McCall lands a left hand.
Good body shot from Saari.
Saari works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
McCall is breathing heavily.
Saari scores with a shot to the side of McCall's head.
McCall tries to break free but Saari pushes him back against the cage.
Saari digs a right hand underneath McCall's ribcage. McCall let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Saari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Saari.
A shot in the inside from Saari.
A short uppercut from Saari.
Saari working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Saari on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCall can do to turn this around?
Saari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McCall backwards.

McCall is rocked!
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Saari.
McCall tries to work over Saari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Saari drops McCall onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! McCall is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
McCall is still on wobbly legs! Can Saari finish him?
Saari throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McCalls head.
Saari lands a big right hand that drops McCall! The killer instinct kicks in and Saari finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Saari!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aku Saari!
Aku Saari retains his light heavyweight title!
An out of breath Aku Saari thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.