PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anna Margret (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joonas Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saarinen has chosen Sika as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Margret
vs
Saarinen

170 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
19
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Syndicate Drugs

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anna Margret!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonas Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarinen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saarinen drops Margret with a left and a right! Oh, Margret is hurt - Saarinen dives into side control looking to finish!

Margret is rocked!

It looks like Anna Margret has been cut.

Saarinen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Margret is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Saarinen off and has taken his back!

Margret looking for the RNC.

Margret tightening his grip on Saarinen, looking for the choke.

Margret looking for the RNC.

Margret is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margret has the hooks in. Saarinen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Saarinen trying to control the position but Margret manages to sink in the hooks.

Saarinen fending off the submission attempt from Margret.
Margret keeps control of the position as Saarinen tries to break free.

Margret patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Saarinen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Margret is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Margret is breathing heavily.
Margret is trying to stick to Saarinen's back but Saarinen is turning into Margret. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Margret's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Saarinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Margret is not content to let Saarinen control the position.

Saarinen is trying to get an arm triangle but Margret is defending well.
Margret is not content to let Saarinen control the position.
Margret manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Saarinen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saarinen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Saarinen won't allow Margret to pass to mount.
Margret slows the pace down in half guard.
Saarinen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Margret wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saarinen keeps working.
Saarinen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Saarinen keeping moving, preventing Margret from controlling successfully.
Margret is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Saarinen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Saarinen working for submissions but it's allowed Margret to get to half guard.
Margret tries to pass the half guard into mount. Saarinen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Saarinen wants to improve his position but Margret is controlling well.

Margret looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Margret is pressing down on Saarinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saarinen is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joonas Saarinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anna Margret's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saarinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Margret but Margret pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saarinen fails to land with a series of punches.

Saarinen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saarinen lands in his opponent's guard.
Margret might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Margret looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Saarinen passes into half guard.
Margret wants to get back to full guard.
Saarinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Margret is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saarinen trying to advance position but Margret counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Margret looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saarinen is one step ahead there.

Margret is looking for a triangle but Saarinen pushes his legs off easily.
Saarinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Margret tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Margret working for a triangle but Saarinen defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Margret is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two 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.
Saarinen is pushing down on Margret's leg trying to pass to half guard. Margret is fighting to maintain full guard but Saarinen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Margret wants to control but Saarinen is keeping busy.
Margret wants to get back to full guard but Saarinen has passed into side control.
Margret tries to hold on but Saarinen postures up.
Margret keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Saarinen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Margret is looking to improve his position but Saarinen isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Saarinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margret is desperately trying to improve his position but Saarinen has a good base and remains in mount.
BOOM! Saarinen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Saarinen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Margret's face.
Margret is desperately trying to improve his position but Saarinen has a good base and remains in mount.
Saarinen lands a big shot there that rocks Margret but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Saarinen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Margret tries to reverse the position but Saarinen maintains control.
Saarinen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Margret hang on?

Saarinen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Margret can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Saarinen lands a nice shot to the head.
Saarinen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Margret can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margret bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Saarinen seems keen to control Margret's posture.
Saarinen wants to stand and escape but Margret is having none of it.
Margret won't allow Saarinen to sweep him here.
Margret advances to half guard.
Margret passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Saarinen!
Saarinen tries to lock up and control but Margret gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Margret is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Saarinen is in real trouble.
Saarinen tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonas Saarinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anna Margret's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Margret avoids a punch combination nicely.

Saarinen closes the distance and clinches.
Margret can't get the takedown.

Margret gets control of Saarinen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Margret will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Margret looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Margret working a defensive guard but Saarinen manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saarinen stands up and beckons Margret to his feet.
Saarinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Saarinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margret avoids a punch combination nicely.

Saarinen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Margret's guard.

Margret has his foot on Saarinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saarinen works his way back into a safe position though.
Margret looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saarinen is one step ahead there.
Margret throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Saarinen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Margret's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen wants to pass the guard but Margret is keeping the position.
Saarinen passes Margret's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Saarinen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Margret wants to sweep but Saarinen has passed to side control!
Margret gets back to half guard.
Margret gets full guard.
Saarinen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Margret trying to control the position.
Margret is looking to sweep but instead, Saarinen has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margret is not content to let Saarinen control the position.
Margret is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saarinen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saarinen's back!
Margret trying to control.
Saarinen breaks Margret's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Margret keeping moving, preventing Saarinen from controlling successfully.
Margret controls Saarinen momentarily but Saarinen frees himself.
Saarinen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Margret's guard.

Margret is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Saarinen pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saarinen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Margret wants to get back to full guard but Saarinen has passed into side control.
Margret is looking to get to half guard.
Joonas Saarinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saarinen controlling the pace for now.
Saarinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Margret is looking to escape.
Anna Margret has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Margret tries to reverse the position but Saarinen maintains control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joonas Saarinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saarinen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joonas Saarinen!