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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Darren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahti Saarelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren comes to the cage accompanied by Here's to the losers. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 185 cm
21
170 lbs
6 - 4 - 0 |
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180 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Darren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ahti Saarelainen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarelainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Saarelainen misses with a two punch combination.
Saarelainen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Saarelainen feints and as Darren raises his hands in defense, Saarelainen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saarelainen looking to pass the guard.
Darren has his hands on Saarelainen's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darren continues to stall.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarelainen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saarelainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Darren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saarelainen is pushing down on Darren's leg trying to pass to half guard. Darren is fighting to maintain full guard but Saarelainen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Saarelainen trying to control from half guard but Darren is working away.
Darren trying to control but Saarelainen postures up.
Saarelainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Darren wants to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saarelainen is looking to stall here but Darren recovers full guard.
Saarelainen is looking to work some ground and pound but Darren has wrist control.
Saarelainen is looking to work some ground and pound but Darren has wrist control.
Saarelainen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Saarelainen trying to control but Darren is working from the bottom.
Darren pulls Saarelainen in close to prevent any damage.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Darren moves out of range of the strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darren manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saarelainen. Darren does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Darren was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Darren on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Saarelainen swings widly with a right hand
and Darren counters with a body kick.
Ahti Saarelainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Darren looks to clinch
and Saarelainen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Darren!
Saarelainen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Saarelainen is putting a hurting on Darren here, landing some big shots from side control.
Darren stops Saarelainen from passing to mount.
Saarelainen trying to control the action but Darren is working from the bottom.
Darren can't do much from the bottom here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darren tries to bench press Saarelainen off him but Saarelainen keeps the position.
Saarelainen working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darren tries to buck Saarelainen off but Saarelainen is having none of it.
Saarelainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Darren keeps working.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Darren's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Darren is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ahti Saarelainen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Saarelainen swings for the body but Darren moves out of range.
Saarelainen scores with a shot to the body.
Saarelainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Darren moves away.
Darren just misses with a punch to the body.
Saarelainen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Darren defends it well.
Darren misses with a looping left.
Saarelainen throws out a counter right but Darren avoids it with no problem.
Darren lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Saarelainen lands a head shot.
We've been told by Darren's head coaches at Sweat that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Saarelainen misses with a body shot
and Darren counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Darren blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarelainen shoots in and drives through. Darren sprawls well.
Darren looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Darren misses with a low kick as Saarelainen jumps back.
Saarelainen misses with a wild body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Darren. Saarelainen shrugs it off though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarelainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Saarelainen scores with a punch to the head.
Darren misses with a wild body shot.
Saarelainen stuns Darren with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Saarelainen misses with a hook. Darren ducked under it nicely.
Darren is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Saarelainen misses with a left hand
and Darren counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saarelainen's knee momentarily.
Darren moves in looking to clinch but Saarelainen pushes him off.
Darren misses with a looping left.
Darren fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saarelainen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Saarelainen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Darren avoids the body shot from Saarelainen.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Darren swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Saarelainen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Darren misses with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Darren will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Darren feints and then cracks Saarelainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saarelainen down.
Saarelainen misses with a shot to the body
letting Darren counter with a right hand.
Darren ducks under a wild hook from Saarelainen.
Darren was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Darren throws a head kick that misses.
Darren walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ahti Saarelainen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saarelainen misses with a body shot
and Darren counters with an inside leg kick.
Darren displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saarelainen throws out the jab.
Darren looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darren lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Darren throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Darren takes one on the button.
A shot to the body from Saarelainen misses
and Darren counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saarelainen's knee momentarily.
Saarelainen misses with a body shot.
Darren displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saarelainen throws out the jab.
Darren throws a leg kick which misses Saarelainen's front leg but catches the back leg as Saarelainen tries to avoid it.
Darren thows a body kick. Saarelainen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Darren throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Darren has taken the fight to the clinch.
Darren throws an elbow that misses.
Saarelainen tries to work over Darren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Darren.
Darren lands with a good tight uppercut to 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!
Darren comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Saarelainen wants to stall.
Saarelainen avoids the elbow strike from Darren, against the cage.
Saarelainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Darren.
Saarelainen effectively controlling the action here.
Darren tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saarelainen.
Darren lands a damaging elbow.
A frustrated look appears on Saarelainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Darren prevents a body shot from Saarelainen.
A shot in the inside from Darren.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
James Darren dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Darren fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Saarelainen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Darren throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Darren lands a nice shot that snaps Saarelainen's head back.
A bone on bone clash there as Saarelainen blocks the leg kick.
Darren throws a head kick that misses.
Saarelainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Darren.
Saarelainen throws a combination. Darren tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Darren closes the distance and pushes Saarelainen back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darren lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Darren gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
It looks like Ahti Saarelainen has been cut.
Saarelainen takes an elbow to the forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Saarelainen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Darren uses from the top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Darren preventing the sweep.
Darren decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saarelainen, up you get!
Darren drives through and clinches with Saarelainen against the cage.
Darren throws an elbow but it misses.
Saarelainen avoids a wild elbow strike from Darren.
Saarelainen blocks an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Darren as Saarelainen tries to tie him up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Darren lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Saarelainen fails to land.
Darren misses with a punch to the body.
Darren lands a damaging elbow.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Darren - that landed with a thud.
Saarelainen tries to throw a body punch but Darren avoids it by throwing Saarelainen back against the cage.
Darren digs a right hand underneath Saarelainen's ribcage. Saarelainen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Saarelainen blocks an uppercut.
Darren prevents a takedown attempt there.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Darren.
Darren lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Saarelainen is trying to break free.
Saarelainen tries to pull guard but Darren holds him up against the cage and eventually Saarelainen drops back down to his feet.
Saarelainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Darren working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Darren can't find room to land a body shot as Saarelainen controls the action.
Darren lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saarelainen backwards.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Darren.
Darren has a couple of punches blocked by Saarelainen.
Darren creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saarelainen's defenses.
Saarelainen trying to stall but Darren improves his position.
Saarelainen tries to break the clinch but Darren is controlling the position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Saarelainen.
Darren goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saarelainen.
Darren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saarelainen can do to turn this around?
Darren blocks a body shot from Saarelainen.
Saarelainen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Darren lands a damaging elbow.
Darren can't find room to land a body shot as Saarelainen controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saarelainen.
Darren takes a shot to the head.
Darren lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Saarelainen tries to pull guard but Darren holds him up against the cage and eventually Saarelainen drops back down to his feet.
James Darren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahti Saarelainen.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen dodges an elbow strike from Darren.
Darren lands a nice elbow.
Saarelainen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Darren lands with a light punch inside.
Darren comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darren has a couple of punches blocked by Saarelainen.
Saarelainen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Darren to keep the fight standing.
Saarelainen manages to break the clinch.
Darren swings for the body but Saarelainen moves out of range.
Darren throws a quick inside leg kick.
Darren tries to clinch but Saarelainen moves out of range.
Saarelainen misses the body punch
and Darren counters with an outside leg kick.
Darren pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saarelainen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Darrens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
And that's the end of the fight!
James Darren showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Darren 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Darren!
James Darren decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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