PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dougal McGuire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahti Saarelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGuire comes to the cage accompanied by My Lovely Horse. Ahti Saarelainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McGuire
vs
Saarelainen

182 cm
27
171 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dougal McGuire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ahti Saarelainen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Saarelainen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Saarelainen.
McGuire lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saarelainen tries for a takedown but McGuire circles away easily
and McGuire connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saarelainen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
McGuire takes one to the chin there.
Saarelainen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Saarelainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGuire was well out of range. Poor timing from Saarelainen.
McGuire fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Saarelainen throws a sloppy body shot
letting McGuire counter with a right hand.
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!
Saarelainen defending well as McGuire loads up on a big left hand.
Saarelainen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Saarelainen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Saarelainen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McGuire is trying to defend but Saarelainen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

McGuire pushes Saarelainen off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Saarelainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Saarelainen swings away with a body shot that misses
and McGuire counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Saarelainen throws a hook but McGuire avoids it easily.
Saarelainen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saarelainen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McGuire counters with a stiff right hand.
A cross from Saarelainen lands.
Saarelainen slips a straight right by McGuire.
Nice sprawl there from McGuire as Saarelainen shoots in.
A quick step to the side and McGuire tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saarelainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McGuire throwing a counter right hand but Saarelainen manages to avoid it.
Ahti Saarelainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McGuire.
A shot to the liver by McGuire. Beautiful body shot.
McGuire throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saarelainen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Saarelainen throws a lazy right hand but McGuire sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McGuire lands a really nice looking cross but Saarelainen seems unphased.
McGuire punishes Saarelainen's body with a nice straight punch.
Saarelainen misses with a looping left.
Saarelainen misses with a right hand
and McGuire counters with a nice uppercut.
Saarelainen throws a jab but it's blocked by McGuire.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Saarelainen.
Dougal McGuire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McGuire misses with a straight right.
Saarelainen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McGuire is fending him off so far but Saarelainen persists. Nope, McGuire circles away and we're back to standing.
An attempted straight right counter from McGuire misses the target.
Dougal McGuire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahti Saarelainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Saarelainen.
McGuire swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Saarelainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGuire moves away.
McGuire swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
McGuire misses the jab.
McGuire throws a leg kick which misses Saarelainen's front leg but catches the back leg as Saarelainen tries to avoid it.
Saarelainen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Saarelainen swings for the body but McGuire moves out of range.

Saarelainen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McGuire manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Saarelainen throwing strikes from guard but McGuire blocks nicely.
McGuire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen throwing strikes but missing.
Saarelainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saarelainen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saarelainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saarelainen advances position into side control!
Saarelainen is looking to take a break and control but McGuire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dougal McGuire will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Saarelainen moves out of range as McGuire strikes.
A little jabbing left from Saarelainen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McGuire digs a good hook to Saarelainen's body.
McGuire uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saarelainen.
Saarelainen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Saarelainen misses with a straight right.
McGuire swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Saarelainen jabs at McGuire's body.
Saarelainen goes for a double leg but McGuire avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as McGuire continues to drive forward.
Saarelainen looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarelainen has his takedown stuffed
and McGuire connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saarelainen throws an off balance right hand
and McGuire counters with a nice uppercut.
Saarelainen misses with a hook. McGuire ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarelainen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saarelainen misses with a hook. McGuire ducked under it nicely.
Saarelainen throws a big shot that misses.
McGuire shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Saarelainen misses the body punch
and McGuire cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McGuire takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A thudding body kick lands there by McGuire!

A momentary lapse in concentration from McGuire enables Saarelainen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McGuire manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
McGuire is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saarelainen is controlling him.
Saarelainen trying to control the position from guard on top but McGuire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGuire utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen trying to control but McGuire is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saarelainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saarelainen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McGuire wants to stand up but Saarelainen is controlling him.
Saarelainen postures up in McGuire's guard and throws a big left but McGuire blocks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saarelainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saarelainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGuire works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saarelainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGuire works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saarelainen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dougal McGuire is winning the standup battle so far.
Saarelainen has his takedown stuffed
and McGuire counters with a stiff right hand.
Dougal McGuire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahti Saarelainen.
A big left from McGuire misses.
Saarelainen jabs McGuire to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Saarelainen.
Saarelainen misses the body punch
and McGuire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McGuire throws a shot from downtown. Saarelainen moves away and avoids it.
Saarelainen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McGuire makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saarelainen.
Saarelainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGuire was well out of range. Poor timing from Saarelainen.
McGuire scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Saarelainen cracks McGuire with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McGuire enables Saarelainen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McGuire manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarelainen scoring with punches to the head and body.
McGuire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saarelainen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McGuire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saarelainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saarelainen throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ahti Saarelainen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Saarelainen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Saarelainen throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Saarelainen dives in and grabs McGuire's left leg, looking for a takedown. McGuire pushes down on Saarelainen's head and hops out.
Saarelainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGuire misses the shot to the body.

McGuire gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Saarelainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGuire is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGuire utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarelainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saarelainen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Saarelainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGuire is keeping the position for now.
McGuire wants to get back to his feet but Saarelainen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Saarelainen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McGuire trying to control the position here.
Saarelainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Saarelainen misses with a hook. McGuire ducked under it nicely.
Saarelainen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McGuire tries to avoid it but Saarelainen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McGuire to the ground. McGuire escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McGuire looks to throw the jab but Saarelainen is out of range.
Saarelainen shoots in for a takedown but McGuire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like McGuire was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Saarelainen.
Dougal McGuire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahti Saarelainen.
Saarelainen throws an off balance right hand
and Saarelainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saarelainen throws a hook to the side of McGuire's head but McGuire sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGuire lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Saarelainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

McGuire makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen just misses with a punch to the body.
Saarelainen slips under a jab from McGuire.
Saarelainen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Saarelainen stuns McGuire with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Saarelainen scores with a hook.
Saarelainen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Saarelainen stuns McGuire with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Saarelainen throws a body punch but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The fighters circle momentarily. Saarelainen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Saarelainen connects with a good right hand that stumbles McGuire. McGuire circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McGuire on the side of the head.
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!
Saarelainen shoots in but no luck this time.
Saarelainen misses with an uppercut
and Saarelainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saarelainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McGuire throws a series of punches but Saarelainen moves out of range.
Saarelainen throws out a counter right but McGuire avoids it with no problem.
McGuire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Saarelainen cracks McGuire with an open hand slap.
McGuire slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Saarelainen.
Saarelainen looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ahti Saarelainen.
I think Saarelainen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Ahti Saarelainen!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Ahti Saarelainen!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Ahti Saarelainen!

Ahti Saarelainen wins by unanimous decision!