PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Per Saukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eero Potka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Potka is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Neon 2 - Tässä Talossa. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Saukkonen
vs
Potka

189 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Per Saukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Potka!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potka is looking to clinch.
Saukkonen misses with a takedown attempt - Potka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Saukkonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Potka tries to sprawl out of it but Saukkonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Potka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saukkonen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saukkonen shoots in but Potka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Per Saukkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Potka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Potka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Eero Potka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saukkonen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Potka's waist but Potka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saukkonen off to one side.

Potka rushes Saukkonen and presses him up against the cage.

Potka breaks the clinch.
Potka tries to clinch but Saukkonen is having none of it.
Saukkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Potka.
Saukkonen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Danga de danga de dang - Potka scores with a four punch combination!
Saukkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Potka clinches.

Potka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukkonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Potka circles away.
Saukkonen is breathing heavily.
Potka scores with a head kick.
Saukkonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Potka can pounce on him.
Saukkonen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Potka.

Potka has Saukkonen up against the cage in a clinch.

Potka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Potka tries to clinch there but Saukkonen circles away.
A left and a right from Potka both land. Nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Potka wants to clinch up but Saukkonen keeps it at a distance.
Potka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Potka connects with a high kick.

Potka moves into range and clinches up with Saukkonen.

Potka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Potka throws a series of punches but Saukkonen moves out of range.
Potka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saukkonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Potka circles away.
Potka tries to clinch up.
Potka throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potka works over Saukkonen's head and body with a nice combination.
Saukkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Potka.
Potka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Potka misses with a few strikes there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Potka!
Potka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saukkonen keeps the fight on the outside.
Potka throws a head kick but Saukkonen moves out of range.
Potka lands a head kick!
Saukkonen keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Potka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Potka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Potka wants to clinch up but Saukkonen keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potka tries to clinch up.
Potka doesn't manage to clinch there - Saukkonen circles away.
A punch combination from Potka misses.
Saukkonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Potka swivels and escapes.
Potka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saukkonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Potka lands a with a good body shot.
Potka scores with a one two! Saukkonen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Potka tries to clinch but Saukkonen moves out of range.
Potka lands with a slapping head kick.

Saukkonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saukkonen wants to take a breather but Potka manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Saukkonen.
Potka trying to keep a closed guard but Saukkonen is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Saukkonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saukkonen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Potka dominated that round.
That's time! Saukkonen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saukkonen throws a series of strikes that have Potka backpedaling.
Per Saukkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Saukkonen gets a takedown into half guard.
Saukkonen is looking to take a break and control but Potka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saukkonen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Potka wants to try and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saukkonen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Potka has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Potka is squirming around, avoiding Saukkonen's attempts to control the action.
Potka wants to hold on but Saukkonen pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saukkonen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saukkonen with the ground and pound from mount.

Saukkonen working for a submission but Potka is keeping him at bay.
Potka wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen looking to finish with strikes here!

Saukkonen is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Potka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Potka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Potka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Potka takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Saukkonen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Potka pinned against the cage. Potka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Saukkonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potka prevents Saukkonen from moving into mount.

Saukkonen tries for a kimura but Potka is defending well.
Potka wants to get back to his feet but Saukkonen drags him back down.

Saukkonen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Per Saukkonen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Saukkonen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Potka wants to get back to his feet.
Saukkonen works his way into side control.

Saukkonen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Saukkonen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potka is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Saukkonen is controlling him well.
Saukkonen cracks Potka with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Saukkonen misses with the ground and pound.
Saukkonen is working Potka over with some ground and pound from side control.
Saukkonen tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Potka sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Potka trying to control here.
Still in half guard, Saukkonen seems content to control.
Saukkonen working over Potka with some ground and pound. Potka looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Saukkonen decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen misses with the body kick

and Potka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Potka.

Saukkonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Saukkonen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Per Saukkonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Saukkonen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Saukkonen wants to take a breather but Potka is having none of it.
Saukkonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Saukkonen trying to pass the guard but Potka defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen throwing shots but Potka is blocking nicely.
Saukkonen controlling the pace.
Saukkonen trying to control the action but Potka is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Per Saukkonen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saukkonen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Per Saukkonen!