PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Saraste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Butcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Butcher is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Won't Back Down. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Saraste
vs
Butcher

175 cm
27
205 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

188 cm
31
210 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Konstantin Saraste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Butcher!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saraste closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Butcher quickly recovers to half guard.
Saraste wants to pass to mount but Butcher is defending the position.
Saraste is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saraste prevents Butcher from improving his position.
Saraste is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saraste has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Butcher wants to control but Saraste is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saraste throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Butcher has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saraste is working away from the top position though.
Saraste not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saraste prevents Butcher from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saraste wants to control but Butcher is keeping him busy.
Butcher taking some punishment here, with Saraste in his half guard.
Butcher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saraste.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraste prevents Butcher from improving his position.
Saraste not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Butcher is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Saraste scores with a couple of nice shots.
Butcher trying to hold on to Saraste's head to control him but Saraste postures up.
Butcher is looking to improve his position.
Butcher keeps trying to improve his position.
Butcher is still trying to improve position.
Saraste sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Butcher defending well though.
Butcher trying to hold on to Saraste's head to control him but Saraste postures up.

Saraste is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Butcher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Saraste thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Butcher's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraste performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Saraste is keen to just control but Butcher is a slippery customer.
Butcher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Butcher works his way to full guard. Good work.
Butcher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saraste throwing strikes but missing.
Saraste trying to control the position from guard on top but Butcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Butcher tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Butcher wants to control from the top but Saraste keeps moving.
Butcher is fighting to break Saraste's control of his arms but Saraste is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Saraste looking for a guillotine here but Butcher defends easily.
Saraste is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Butcher is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Butcher trying to control but Saraste is working from the bottom.
Saraste trying to control the position here.
Butcher slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Saraste lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saraste trying to control but Butcher is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saraste throwing strikes from guard but Butcher blocks nicely.
Saraste is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at LOD: Contenders (Max ID280) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Butcher seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Saraste dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saraste with a hook.

Saraste has closed the distance and engaged Butcher in a clinch.
Saraste looking for a takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Butcher.

It looks like Konstantin Saraste has been cut.
Saraste looking for a takedown.
Saraste goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saraste is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Butcher gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Konstantin Saraste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saraste is looking to take this one to the mat.
Saraste misses with the head strike.
Butcher's coach down at Westside Martial Arts was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Butcher's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Saraste drops down looking for an ankle pick but Butcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saraste moves forwards but Butcher connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Saraste shoots in for a takedown but Butcher shows good takedown defense.
Butcher swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Butcher moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butcher blocks a jab.
Saraste takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Saraste throws an overhand right that lands on Butcher's shoulder, as Butcher tries to avoid the shot.
Butcher jabs Saraste right on the nose. Saraste blinks but takes it well.
Saraste looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Butcher is fending him off so far but Saraste persists. Nope, Butcher circles away and we're back to standing.
Butcher misses with a series of wild punches.
Butcher defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saraste.
Konstantin Saraste is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saraste is defended easily by Butcher.
Butcher lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Butcher ducks under a wild hook from Saraste.
Butcher wants to slow Saraste down by chopping away at his legs.
Butcher throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Saraste.
Saraste throws out a loose jab but Butcher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Butcher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saraste swinging wildly here.
Butcher swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Butcher gets caught napping as Saraste dives in and scores a takedown. Butcher manages to retain guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Butcher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saraste is one step ahead there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saraste's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saraste keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Butcher's head.
Saraste won't allow Butcher to sweep him here.
Butcher is pulling down on Saraste's head. It's preventing any offense from Saraste, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraste wants to control from the top but Butcher keeps moving.
Butcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saraste trying to control but Butcher is working from the bottom.
Saraste throws a big elbow that misses.
Saraste working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Butcher wants to sweep but no luck.
Saraste might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Butcher keeping moving, preventing Saraste from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Saraste trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Konstantin Saraste overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Butcher is adopting a defensive guard.
Saraste in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Butcher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saraste.
Butcher is trying to keep Saraste in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Butcher avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saraste pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saraste looks for a takedown but Butcher sprawls well.
Butcher lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Billy Butcher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Konstantin Saraste's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Saraste shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Butcher but Butcher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Butcher looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Saraste misses with a takedown attempt - Butcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Butcher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saraste.
Butcher is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Saraste fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Konstantin Saraste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butcher lands with a right hand.
Decent striking displayed by Saraste there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butcher stuffs the takedown attempt from Saraste. Saraste gets slowly back to his feet.
A jab from Saraste misses.
Saraste backing away here, and Butcher unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Butcher connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Saraste misses with an uppercut. Butcher saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Saraste there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Saraste throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saraste is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saraste looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Butcher looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Saraste fails in his attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Butcher! But no joy.
Billy Butcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saraste takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Saraste misses with a wild body shot.
Butcher tries to clinch up.
Billy Butcher seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saraste misses with a series of wild punches.
Saraste misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saraste fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Butcher throws out a counter right but Saraste avoids it with no problem.
Saraste is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Butcher's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Butcher gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraste lands a nice shot to the body.
Butcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saraste fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Butcher throws out a counter right but Saraste avoids it with no problem.
Saraste walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Saraste closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saraste lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
Saraste trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saraste's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Butcher looking to control.

Saraste drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saraste jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saraste looking to sit in guard and control but Butcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraste keeping moving, preventing Butcher from controlling successfully.
Butcher tries to free his leg and advance position but Saraste is retaining full guard.
Butcher is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Saraste escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Butcher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Saraste keeping moving, preventing Butcher from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saraste thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Saraste working a defensive guard here.
Saraste will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saraste is on top in guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saraste accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saraste is in close to Butcher's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saraste wants to control from the top but Butcher keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Butcher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saraste working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Saraste showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saraste 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konstantin Saraste!
Konstantin Saraste managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, MayheM sportswear, into his post fight interview.