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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Sakovich (ranked 3839 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tori Kankunnen (ranked 22830 p4p, 584 weight class). Sakovich comes into the arena with The Lunatic National Anthem blaring out of the sound system. Andrei Sakovich looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.
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| 180 cm
28
174 lbs
5 - 1 - 0 |
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195 cm
29
170 lbs
4 - 9 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin |
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Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power |
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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
5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrei Sakovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tori Kankunnen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakovich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sakovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kankunnen dodges the punch combination from Sakovich.
Sakovich rushes Kankunnen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kankunnen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sakovich walks away with a smile on his face. Kankunnen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kankunnen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sakovich tries to keep at a distance but Kankunnen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sakovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankunnen shoots in and drives through. Sakovich sprawls well.
Sakovich is looking to counter with head kicks.
Kankunnen gets a takedown into half guard.
Sakovich wants to get back to his feet.
Sakovich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kankunnen on the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kankunnen there.
Kankunnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kankunnen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Let's hope that Kankunnen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sakovich is looking to escape.
Kankunnen is looking for a kimura here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen is taking a breather. Sakovich says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kankunnen lands a nice short elbow.
Kankunnen decides to stand and escape the position.
Kankunnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sakovich defends it nicely.
Andrei Sakovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tori Kankunnen.
Kankunnen shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakovich closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sakovich is stalling here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakovich stalls.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sakovich takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sakovich working aggressively here.
Kankunnen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sakovich tries to break free but Kankunnen pushes him back against the cage.
Sakovich is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sakovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakovich looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
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.
Sakovich tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kankunnen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kankunnen postures up and lands a big shot to Sakovich's brow.
Sakovich might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kankunnen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kankunnen scores with punches from side control.
Kankunnen is working Sakovich over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kankunnen prevents Sakovich from escaping the position.
Kankunnen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sakovich to his feet.
Sakovich defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kankunnen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Tori Kankunnen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Kankunnen drives through with a takedown into Sakovich's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kankunnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sakovich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sakovich wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kankunnen manages to pass to side control.
Sakovich has hold of Kankunnen's hands but Kankunnen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankunnen is controlling the pace.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kankunnen is looking for a kimura here.
Sakovich is refusing to be controlled, as Kankunnen sits in half guard.
Sakovich tries to kick Kankunnen off but Kankunnen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kankunnen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tori Kankunnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kankunnen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kankunnen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sakovich doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kankunnen.
Kankunnen moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kankunnen lands a few punches from side control.
Kankunnen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kankunnen working the body and head with strikes.
Kankunnen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sakovich down.
Kankunnen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kankunnen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kankunnen cracks Sakovich with a big right hand but Sakovich just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kankunnen lands some shots froms side control.
Kankunnen landing strikes.
Sakovich takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakovich wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kankunnen advances nicely into full mount.
Kankunnen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kankunnen looking to control but Sakovich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kankunnen with the ground and pound from mount.
Kankunnen content just to control the position here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kankunnen wants to control the pace but Sakovich is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kankunnen lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Tori Kankunnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakovich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sakovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kankunnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kankunnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kankunnen dives in for a single leg takedown but Sakovich sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sakovich is looking to clinch.
Sakovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kankunnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankunnen goes for a double leg but Sakovich avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sakovich continues to drive forward.
Andrei Sakovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tori Kankunnen.
Kankunnen dives in for a single leg takedown but Sakovich sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kankunnen blocks a head kick by Sakovich.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sakovich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kankunnen shoots in for a takedown but Sakovich shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakovich gets a clinch.
Sakovich is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sakovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kankunnen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sakovich as he jumps to the side.
Kankunnen shoots in for a takedown but Sakovich shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kankunnen or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakovich, which made it look bad.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakovich lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Andrei Sakovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakovich stuffs the takedown attempt from Kankunnen. Kankunnen gets slowly back to his feet.
Kankunnen closes the distance and clinches up with Sakovich, looking for a takedown. Kankunnen pushes Sakovich against the cage but Sakovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kankunnen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kankunnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kankunnen misses with a takedown attempt
and Sakovich counters with a straight right hand.
Sakovich closes the distance and clinches.
Kankunnen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sakovich gets the underhooks and prevents it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sakovich is struggling to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakovich manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sakovich - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kankunnen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sakovich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kankunnen is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's four 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.
Sakovich trying to land knees to the body.
Kankunnen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sakovich prevents it.
Sakovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sakovich takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kankunnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kankunnen lands in his opponent's guard.
Kankunnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Andrei Sakovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tori Kankunnen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakovich has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kankunnen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sakovich.
And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Sakovich showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kankunnen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tori Kankunnen!
Andrei Sakovich spoke after the fight, saying 'Well that's life folks. Gonna be better next time and win!! So better watch out Bay Bay!!'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
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
34% |
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