PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Saric (ranked 552 p4p, 71 weight class) and Jaakko Ilmarinen (ranked 1536 p4p, 193 weight class). Jaakko Ilmarinen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Saric
vs
Ilmarinen

200 cm
23
195 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
197 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Saric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Ilmarinen!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saric misses with a wild body shot.
Ilmarinen scores with a sloppy right hand. Saric should have avoided that one.
A lazy left from Saric finds it's target.
Ilmarinen misses with a looping left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saric looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been hearing reports that Saric has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Saric fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ilmarinen manages to avoid it.
Saric connects with a crisp jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Saric.

Saric gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saric lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Saric misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Saric on the inside.
Ilmarinen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Saric tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ilmarinen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saric has him pressed against the cage.

Ilmarinen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Saric tries to clinch but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Saric tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ilmarinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saric throws a hook but Ilmarinen blocks it.
It seemed like Ilmarinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Saric connects with a nice looking jab.
Saric tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ilmarinen unleashes a big counter combination but Saric bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Saric throws a body punch but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Saric is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice defenses there by Saric.
Ilmarinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ilmarinen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Saric.
Ilmarinen moves away from the strike by Saric.
Saric cracks a nice hook into Ilmarinen's ribs.
Saric sizes up Ilmarinen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Saric looks to land a left hand but Ilmarinen moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ilmarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saric misses with a left hand
and Ilmarinen counters with a two punch combo.
Ilmarinen feints a jab promting Saric to slip. Ilmarinen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Saric slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Valentin Saric has been cut.
Saric really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ilmarinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saric was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Saric dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Saric misses with a hook.
Saric lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A combination from Ilmarinen does no damage.
Saric ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ilmarinen moves away.
Ilmarinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ilmarinen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ilmarinen throws a head kick but Saric moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Saric.
Saric tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ilmarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Saric - just one landing.
Ilmarinen defending well as Saric loads up on a big left hand.
Saric misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ilmarinen. Saric does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saric swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saric scores with a shot to the body.
Ilmarinen moves out of range as Saric strikes.
Ilmarinen slips under a jab from Saric.
Valentin Saric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ilmarinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saric throws out the jab.
Saric misses with a wild body shot.
Ilmarinen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Saric misses with an uppercut. Ilmarinen saw that one coming.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ilmarinen.
Saric was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Saric clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Saric.
Saric misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen blocking some punches.
Ilmarinen blocks an uppercut.
Saric misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saric swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saric throws a punch but it's blocked by Ilmarinen.
Saric goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saric tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ilmarinen's elbow.

Ilmarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saric slips a jab from Ilmarinen.
Saric was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Saric swings for the body but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ilmarinen.
Saric rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ilmarinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saric tries to clinch up but Ilmarinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ilmarinen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Saric cracks Ilmarinen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Saric closes the distance and pushes Ilmarinen back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Saric dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Valentin Saric's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saric takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ilmarinen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saric looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saric pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saric works Ilmarinen's body with a nice hook.
Saric looks to land a left hand but Ilmarinen moved out of range nicely.
Saric tries to clinch there but Ilmarinen circles away.
Saric scores with a hook to the body. Ilmarinen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Saric clobbers Ilmarinen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saric. Ilmarinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ilmarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saric digs a good hook to Ilmarinen's body.
Saric throws a jab when Ilmarinen was well out of range.
Saric is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ilmarinen.
Valentin Saric is winning the standup battle so far.
Good standup being displayed there by Saric as he connects with a hook.
Good exchange - Ilmarinen coming out on top.
Saric swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saric fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ilmarinen throws a sloppy head kick and Saric moves out of range easily.
Ilmarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saric misses with a wild body shot.
Ilmarinen defending well as Saric loads up on a big left hand.
Ilmarinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saric.
Saric throws the left hand but Ilmarinen avoids the punch easily.
Saric connects with a nice looking jab.
Saric misses with a left hand
and Ilmarinen counters with a left and a right that stings Saric.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saric misses with a looping left.
Saric scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Saric doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ilmarinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ilmarinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saric.
Ilmarinen unleashes a big counter combination but Saric bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Saric throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ilmarinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ilmarinen throws out a counter right but Saric avoids it with no problem.
Saric avoids the head kick by Ilmarinen.
Saric scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Saric lands a nice shot to the body.
Saric jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saric throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ilmarinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ilmarinen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jab by Saric.
Saric just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ilmarinen throws out the jab.

Saric closes the distance and pushes Ilmarinen back into the cage.
Saric misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ilmarinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Ilmarinen breaks from the clinch.
Saric cracks a nice hook into Ilmarinen's ribs.
No joy there for Saric, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saric thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ilmarinen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Saric throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ilmarinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saric.

Saric closes the distance and pushes Ilmarinen back into the cage.
Saric misses with a punch to the body.
Saric just leaning against Ilmarinen, taking a breather.
Saric misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen blocks an uppercut.
Saric lands an uppercut.

Ilmarinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saric dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ilmarinen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Saric counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ilmarinen thinking.
Ilmarinen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen throws a push kick but Saric slaps the foot to one side.
Saric doesn't manage to clinch there - Ilmarinen circles away.
Ilmarinen looks for the body kick but Saric saw that one coming.
Saric throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saric throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ilmarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saric misses the jab.
Ilmarinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Saric.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Saric dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Valentin Saric's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saric loads up on a big right hand but Ilmarinen slips the punch.
Saric throws a shot from downtown. Ilmarinen moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut there from Saric.
Ilmarinen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saric throws a shot from downtown. Ilmarinen moves away and avoids it.
Saric lands the left hand.
Saric misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Saric moves into the clinch.

Ilmarinen breaks from the clinch.
Saric is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ilmarinen can do to turn this around?
Saric connects with a body shot that sends Ilmarinen's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen lands with a straight right. Saric didn't see that one coming.
Ilmarinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ilmarinen wants it to stay on the feet.
Ilmarinen with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Saric instigates a clinch.
Saric swings wildly with an uppercut but Ilmarinen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ilmarinen breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Ilmarinen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Saric doesn't seem phased though.
Saric scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Saric fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saric tries to clinch up but Ilmarinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ilmarinen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Ilmarinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saric.
Saric lands with an overhand left.
Saric listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Saric throws out a loose jab but Ilmarinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ilmarinen misses with a straight left.
Saric swings for the body but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Valentin Saric is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Saric thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saric looks to throw the jab but Ilmarinen is out of range.
Ilmarinen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saric connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saric is looking to clinch but Ilmarinen is avoiding it.
Ilmarinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saric smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Saric lands a jab to Ilmarinen's midsection.
Saric scores with a nice right hand.
Ilmarinen misses with the combination.
Ilmarinen avoids the body shot from Saric.
Ilmarinen is looking for the big counter here.
Ilmarinen tries to bum rush Saric with a series of wild strikes but Saric uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric misses with a body shot.
Saric tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ilmarinen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Saric momentarily.
Ilmarinen looks to land a combination but Saric avoids it well.
It looked like Saric wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Saric darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Saric misses with a hook. Ilmarinen ducked under it nicely.
Saric lands a jab.
Ilmarinen avoids the body shot from Saric.
Saric throws a right hand that misses
and Ilmarinen counters with a stiff right hand.
Saric jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saric takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ilmarinen throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Saric counter with a right hand.
Ilmarinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saric lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saric's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ilmarinen under the eye.
Saric thuds a left hand into Ilmarinen's body.
Saric swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saric stuns Ilmarinen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ilmarinen loads up on a big right hand but Saric slips the punch.
Saric keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ilmarinen.
Saric works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Saric throws a jab but it's blocked by Ilmarinen.
Saric tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jaakko Ilmarinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ilmarinen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ilmarinen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ilmarinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saric throws out the jab.
Saric misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Saric showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saric has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Saric!
Jaakko Ilmarinen spoke after the fight, saying 'Lucky rat I had flu'.