PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lars Kenardly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenardly comes to the cage accompanied by Strokin. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kenardly
vs
Savolainen

180 cm
31
175 lbs
11 - 15 - 0

184 cm
34
182 lbs
25 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 11 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lars Kenardly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaakko Savolainen!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Savolainen looking to score a takedown here. Kenardly is defending well but Savolainen drives through and ends up in Kenardly's guard.
Savolainen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Savolainen has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Samran Muay Thai. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Kenardly wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kenardly being controlled here, momentarily.
Kenardly is trying to control the position but Savolainen postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenardly wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Savolainen is now in half guard.
Kenardly keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kenardly is trying to maintain the position but Savolainen is very close to passing his half guard.
Kenardly wants to improve his position but Savolainen is controlling well.
Kenardly wants to control but Savolainen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kenardly wants to get back to full guard.
Kenardly trying to control from the bottom.
Savolainen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Savolainen working Kenardly over with strikes.
Savolainen sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Savolainen pushes Kenardly up against the cage in a clinch.
Savolainen blocks the elbow strike.
Kenardly lands a right hand that snaps the head of Savolainen backwards.
Kenardly fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kenardly pushes off an throws an elbow but Savolainen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Savolainen avoiding damage.
Kenardly misses with the head strike.
Kenardly misses with the head strike.

Kenardly breaks the clinch.
Kenardly throws a series of punches but Savolainen moves out of range.
Kenardly seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Savolainen avoids the body shot from Kenardly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenardly drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Savolainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kenardly's waist but Kenardly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Savolainen off to one side.

Kenardly gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Savolainen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Savolainen looking to pass the guard.
Savolainen content to stall in guard here.
Kenardly looking to hit a scissor sweep but Savolainen is one step ahead there.

Savolainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Savolainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Savolainen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kenardly manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Savolainen manages to get himself to full guard.

Savolainen is looking for a triangle but Kenardly pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenardly throws an elbow that misses. Savolainen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kenardly's guard. Nice move by Savolainen!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Savolainen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A jab lands there for Kenardly.
Kenardly takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Savolainen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kenardly seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kenardly takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Savolainen pushes Kenardly up against the cage in a clinch.
Savolainen wants a takedown.

Kenardly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kenardly takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jaakko Savolainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenardly with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Savolainen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Savolainen pushes Kenardly up against the cage in a clinch.

Kenardly manages to break the clinch.
Kenardly tries to land a front kick but Savolainen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kenardly misses with the combination.
Savolainen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kenardly.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kenardly gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Savolainen to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Kenardly is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Savolainen presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kenardly wants to break free but Savolainen has control.
Savolainen stalling in the clinch but Kenardly improves position.

Savolainen has Kenardly pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Savolainen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kenardly tumbling to the mat - Savolainen dives into Kenardly's guard.
Kenardly trying to keep a closed guard but Savolainen is proving a slippery customer.
Kenardly knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Savolainen on the ground.
Savolainen trying to control but Kenardly is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenardly wants to stand up but Savolainen is controlling him.
Savolainen advances to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kenardly is trying to control but can't.
Savolainen wants to pass the guard but Kenardly is defending well.
Savolainen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Savolainen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kenardly defending well though.
Savolainen stalling.
Savolainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kenardly trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savolainen seems to be looking for submissions.

Savolainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kenardly tries to get to full guard but Savolainen has control of the leg.
Savolainen stalling.
Savolainen wants to take a breather but Kenardly is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Savolainen trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kenardly tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Savolainen is able to avoid easily.
Kenardly throws a series of punches but Savolainen avoids them all with ease.
Kenardly will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kenardly throws a chopping leg kick but Savolainen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Savolainen throws a looping overhand right but Kenardly ducks down to avoid it.
Savolainen is looking to clinch.
Kenardly lands with an overhand left.
Kenardly scores with a hook.

Savolainen forces Kenardly back against the cage and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Kenardly's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Savolainen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kenardly is trying to keep an underhook but Savolainen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Savolainen wants to pass to mount but Kenardly is defending the position.
Savolainen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Savolainen looking to control but Kenardly is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jaakko Savolainen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kenardly tries to move into range but Savolainen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kenardly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kenardly takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kenardly. Savolainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Savolainen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Savolainen moves out of range of the body kick from Kenardly.
And Savolainen tries to counter it with a takedown but Kenardly pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kenardly. Savolainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kenardly, right into the meat.

Savolainen takes the fight into the clinch.
Savolainen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kenardly as Savolainen tries to tie him up.
Savolainen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kenardly up against the cage.

Kenardly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lars Kenardly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenardly throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kenardly takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kenardly swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Savolainen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Savolainen shoots in but Kenardly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kenardly tried to counter with a leg kick but Savolainen avoided it.
Kenardly lands with an overhand left.
Savolainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Kenardly circles away.
Kenardly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Savolainen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kenardly looks to score with a jab to the body but Savolainen is just out of range.
Savolainen shoots in but no luck this time.

Savolainen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kenardly was covering up waiting for the punch and Savolainen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kenardly is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Savolainen dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Savolainen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Savolainen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kenardly is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Savolainen trying to control the position but Kenardly is working away.
Jaakko Savolainen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savolainen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Savolainen taking a breather here.
Savolainen working away.
Kenardly is trying to improve his position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four 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 tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lars Kenardly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savolainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kenardly keeps working.
Kenardly tries to improve position but can't.
Kenardly gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Savolainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenardly is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Savolainen scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jaakko Savolainen.
I've got Savolainen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Savolainen!
Jaakko Savolainen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.