PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Isamu Yamada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atte Savitaipale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamada comes into the arena with Yoshida Brothers - Ibuki blaring out of the sound system. Savitaipale comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Roger Whittaker - Finnish Whistler kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Yamada
vs
Savitaipale

179 cm
21
162 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
160 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Isamu Yamada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atte Savitaipale!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Savitaipale finds it's way through Yamada's defenses.
Yamada takes one to the chin there.

Yamada darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Savitaipale controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Yamada is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Savitaipale gets full guard.
Yamada postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamada throwing strikes from guard but Savitaipale blocks nicely.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Yamada stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Savitaipale swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Savitaipale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamada is one step ahead there.
Yamada throwing strikes from guard but Savitaipale blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamada postures up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Savitaipale working a defensive guard but Yamada manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ground and pound from Yamada seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Yamada is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Savitaipale is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Savitaipale tries to buck Yamada off but Yamada is having none of it.
Savitaipale is trying to control Yamada's posture but Yamada avoids it.
Savitaipale is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale is trying to control Yamada's posture but Yamada avoids it.

Yamada thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Savitaipale tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Savitaipale is not content to let Yamada control the position.
Savitaipale gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Savitaipale tries to roll over but Yamada keeps him under control.
Savitaipale trying to hold on to Yamada's head to control him but Yamada postures up.
Yamada prevents Savitaipale from improving his position.

Yamada is working for a kimura but Savitaipale is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale wants to improve his position but Yamada is controlling well.
Yamada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Savitaipale defending well though.

Yamada is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Savitaipale doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yamada.
Savitaipale is positioning himself well to prevent Yamada advancing to mount.
Savitaipale is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yamada's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yamada's back!
Savitaipale scores with punches from the back.
Yamada tries to roll but Savitaipale sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamada is covering up but some of the strikes from Savitaipale are getting through and doing damage.
Savitaipale lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Yamada hold on?!
Yamada is trying to stand back up.
Yamada knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Savitaipale on the ground.
Savitaipale slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Yamada rolls, trying to escape but Savitaipale keeps control of the position.
Savitaipale has Yamada flattened out and is raining down punches.
Savitaipale throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Yamada!
Yamada takes a big shot to 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!
Savitaipale lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Yamada grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Savitaipale is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Savitaipale gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Savitaipale gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Savitaipale apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Savitaipale gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atte Savitaipale dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yamada walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Savitaipale drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yamada throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Savitaipale lands a couple of elbows.
Savitaipale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yamada wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Savitaipale got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yamada has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Savitaipale has managed to get both his arms back between Yamada's legs - danger averted.
Savitaipale works over Yamada with some ground and pound from guard.
Savitaipale postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savitaipale scoring with punches to the head and body.
My spies in Malmi Aitta inform me that Savitaipale has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Savitaipale keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamada's head.
Savitaipale wants to control from the top but Yamada keeps moving.
Savitaipale scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savitaipale is working Yamada over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Savitaipale connects with a couple of short punches.
Savitaipale landing some decent shots from guard.

Yamada is rocked!
Savitaipale makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Oh Yamada is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Savitaipale is in close to Yamada's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yamada seems to have got his legs back now.
Savitaipale stands up over Yamada, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yamada keeping moving, preventing Savitaipale from controlling successfully.
Savitaipale content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Savitaipale scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Savitaipale chips away with some ground and pound.
Savitaipale makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Atte Savitaipale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Savitaipale working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamada's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yamada is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yamada accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Savitaipale is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Savitaipale winds up and cracks Yamada with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Savitaipale connects with a nice short shot to Yamada's temple.
Savitaipale lands strikes from half guard.
Savitaipale looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yamada is looking to control Savitaipale's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yamada avoid being mounted?
Savitaipale lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Savitaipale lands with a punch from half guard.
Savitaipale is nestled in close to Yamada, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale working Yamada over with strikes.
Savitaipale scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Savitaipale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Savitaipale drops an elbow to the side of Yamada's head.
Savitaipale scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Savitaipale looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savitaipale scores with a big shot! Yamada's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Yamada! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Atte Savitaipale!