PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Skog (ranked 2956 p4p, 397 weight class) and Mika Saarenpaa (ranked 2037 p4p, 300 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Skog
vs
Saarenpaa

178 cm
29
178 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

183 cm
35
170 lbs
31 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Skog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mika Saarenpaa!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarenpaa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Skog misses with an uppercut
and Saarenpaa counters with a low kick, right behind Skog 's knee.
Skog throws a leg kick
and Saarenpaa counters with a straight right hand.
Saarenpaa misses with an uppercut.
An inside leg kick from Saarenpaa misses.
Skog bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A low kick from Saarenpaa is predictable there

and Skog counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Skog postures up in Saarenpaa's guard and throws a big left but Saarenpaa blocks it.
Skog throws a big elbow that misses.
Saarenpaa trying to keep a closed guard but Skog is proving a slippery customer.
Saarenpaa has momentary wrist control but Skog slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarenpaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saarenpaa seems keen to control Skog's posture.
Saarenpaa keeping moving, preventing Skog from controlling successfully.
Skog is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Skog looking to sit in guard and control but Saarenpaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Skog 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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Saarenpaa wants to control from the top but Skog keeps moving.
Skog not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saarenpaa sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Skog has an active guard here but Saarenpaa has managed to pass into half guard.
Skog wants to get back to full guard.

Skog actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog wants to improve his position but Saarenpaa is controlling well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Saarenpaa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Saarenpaa lands a jab to the head.
Saarenpaa ducks under a wild hook from Skog.
Saarenpaa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Saarenpaa throws the left hand but Skog avoids the punch easily.
Skog misses with a left hand
and Saarenpaa counters with a nice uppercut.
Saarenpaa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Saarenpaa checks a low kick from Skog.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saarenpaa. Skog does a little dance to reset his feet.
Skog ducks under a wild hook from Saarenpaa.
Skog is looking to counter punch.
Saarenpaa thuds a left hand into Skog's body.
Skog uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Saarenpaa has time to react.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Skog jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A head kick by Skog misses
and Saarenpaa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Skog there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Saarenpaa throws a leg kick

and Skog counters with a takedown into side control.
Saarenpaa is trying to get back to half guard.
Skog remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Skog trying to control the action but Saarenpaa is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mika Saarenpaa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Skog darts in and clinches Saarenpaa up against the cage.
Saarenpaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saarenpaa tries to throw a body punch but Skog avoids it by throwing Saarenpaa back against the cage.

Skog has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Saarenpaa regains guard immediately.
Skog postures up.
Saarenpaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've been hearing that Skog has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Skog trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarenpaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skog throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Skog trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarenpaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarenpaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skog throws an elbow that misses. Saarenpaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Skog's guard. Nice move by Saarenpaa!

Skog looking for a sweep. Not yet Skog, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skog 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.
Skog looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Saarenpaa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skog gets back to full guard.
Skog is looking to sweep but instead, Saarenpaa has passed into half guard.
Saarenpaa slows the pace down in half guard.
Skog wants to control but Saarenpaa is keeping busy.
Skog trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Skog is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Skog is looking to improve his position but Saarenpaa isn't that keen on the idea.
Skog is working hard here to advance position.
Skog tries to hold on but Saarenpaa postures up.
Saarenpaa controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Skog is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saarenpaa controlling from the full mount.
Skog is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Saarenpaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saarenpaa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Saarenpaa misses with a straight right.
Skog motions for Saarenpaa to come forward. Skog throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Saarenpaa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Saarenpaa throws a leg kick but Skog sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Skog half committed to a counter leg kick.
Saarenpaa avoids the head kick by Skog.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saarenpaa! But no joy.
Saarenpaa loads up on a big right hand but Skog slips the punch.
Skog loads up on a big right hand but Saarenpaa slips the punch.
Saarenpaa misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skog.
Saarenpaa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Skog appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Saarenpaa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mika Saarenpaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saarenpaa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skog ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saarenpaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Skog ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Skog chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Saarenpaa checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Skog.
Mika Saarenpaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saarenpaa misses with an attempted mid kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Skog misses the target.
Skog tests Saarenpaa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A clash of legs there as Saarenpaa blocks the low kick.
Saarenpaa scores with a hook.
Crunch! Saarenpaa slams his shin into Skog's torso.
Skog slips a jab from Saarenpaa.
Dan Skog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skog takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Saarenpaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Skog.
Skog shoots for a takedown but Saarenpaa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saarenpaa doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Saarenpaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Skog.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saarenpaa scores with a leg kick.
Skog motions for Saarenpaa to come forward. Skog throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saarenpaa lands a leg kick that knocks Skog off balance momentarily.
Skog motions for Saarenpaa to come forward. Skog throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice side step and Saarenpaa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Skog misses with a right hand
and Skog takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slapping leg kick lands for Saarenpaa.
Skog throws a body shot but no joy.
Saarenpaa misses the shot to the body.
Skog shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mika Saarenpaa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skog falls off balance throwing a combination
and Saarenpaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saarenpaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Skog is just out of range.
Saarenpaa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saarenpaa keeps Skog at a distance using the push kick.
Saarenpaa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Skog misses with a looping right.

Skog rushes Saarenpaa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saarenpaa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Saarenpaa misses with the head strike.
Saarenpaa throws a head punch that misses.
Skog throws a head punch that misses.
Saarenpaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Skog.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skog misses with some punches.
Skog lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Skog misses with a hook from the clinch.
Skog goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Skog tries a body shot but Saarenpaa blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Skog's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saarenpaa misses with a punch on the inside.
Skog misses with a body punch.
Skog is trying to maintain a safe position but Saarenpaa gets an underhook and turns Skog into the cage.
Skog misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Skog misses with the head strike.
Skog lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mika Saarenpaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Saarenpaa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mika Saarenpaa!
An out of breath Mika Saarenpaa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.