PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatu Lehto (ranked 3188 p4p, 3542 weight class) and Michael Santos (ranked 413 p4p, 452 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lehto
vs
Santos

180 cm
20
180
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
180
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tatu Lehto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Santos!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lehto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lehto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Santos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lehto tries to avoid it but Santos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lehto to the ground. Lehto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lehto tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Santos manages to circle out of the way.
Santos has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Lehto takes a kick to the side of the head.
Santos tries to clinch up but Lehto circles away and keeps his distance.
Lehto dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Santos. That did some damage!
Santos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lehto can pounce on him.
Lehto scores with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Lehto.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lehto.
Santos dives in and grabs Lehto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lehto pushes down on Santos's head and hops out.
We've been told by Lehto's head coaches at The Scrap Squad that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lehto swivels and escapes.
Tatu Lehto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Santos.
Santos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lehto. Lehto obviously looking to wear him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lehto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
And Lehto counters with a quick kick to the body but Santos blocks it.
A good leg kick by Lehto.
Santos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lehto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lehto misses with a body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Lehto.
Tatu Lehto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Santos tries for a takedown but Lehto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lehto with the inside leg kick.
Lehto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santos.
Santos throws a wild body kick that Lehto sees coming a mile off.
Lehto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Santos checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Santos with the counter takedown but Lehto avoids it easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lehto lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Santos has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Santos and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lehto sets himself, and Santos steps forward looking for the clinch! Lehto avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Santos steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lehto.
A big right from Santos misses.
Lehto feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Lehto gets tackled into the cage by Santos. Santos maintains the clinch.
Lehto misses with a knee to the head.
Santos is trying to drag Lehto to the mat but Lehto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lehto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lehto managing to block the knees to the body from Santos.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lehto working Santos over with knees to the body.
Lehto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Santos.
Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lehto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lehto avoids the elbow strike from Santos, against the cage.

Santos has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lehto uses from the top position.
Lehto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehto's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Santos working for a triangle but Lehto defends it easily.
Lehto's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lehto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lehto trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Santos has an active guard here but Lehto has managed to pass into half guard.
Lehto looks to land a strike but Santos avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

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.
Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lehto.
Lehto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos's head.
Lehto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Lehto from controlling successfully.
Lehto forces his way into half guard.
Santos trying to control but Lehto postures up.
Santos is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Lehto is staying active.
Lehto wants to pass to mount but Santos is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tatu Lehto dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Santos checks the leg kick nicely there.
Santos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Lehto throws a front kick aimed at Santos's knee but Santos avoids it well.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lehto as he jumps to the side.
Lehto throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Santos.

It looks like Michael Santos has been cut.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Lehto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lehto connects with a high kick.
Tatu Lehto is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos dives in for a single leg takedown but Lehto sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lehto is looking to counter the offense by Santos and move into the clinch.
Tatu Lehto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Santos.
Santos fails to land the takedown.
Lehto is looking to slow Santos down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehto throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Lehto is looking to chop away at Santos's legs.
Santos checks a leg kick.
Lehto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lehto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santos is able to avoid easily.
Santos checks a low kick from Lehto.
Santos is looking to clinch but Lehto is avoiding it.
Lehto looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Santos tries to clinch but Lehto moves out of range.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Lehto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lehto throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lehto counters with a good low kick that Santos was not able to check.
Lehto throws a leg kick but Santos moved away.
Santos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lehto.
Santos misses with a left hand
and Lehto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown. Lehto tries to sprawl out of it but Santos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lehto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santos shoots for a double leg takedown but Lehto sprawls well. He's pushed Santos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lehto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santos is able to avoid easily.
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!
Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Lehto, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lehto scores with a leg kick.
Lehto connects with a solid leg kick.
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lehto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.
Lehto fires out a quick counter leg kick but Santos just manages to avoid it.
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lehto circles away.
Lehto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lehto tries to score with a low kick but Santos moves his leg out of the way.
Santos wants to clinch.
Lehto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehto scoring well with a low kick there.
Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Lehto circles away.
Santos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lehto as he avoids it easily.
Santos blocks a low kick nicely.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Santos tries to pull guard but Lehto forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lehto throws a knee to the head but misses.
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!
Santos jumps guard but Lehto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tatu Lehto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Santos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Good leg kick by Lehto.
Santos on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lehto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lehto throws a head kick that misses.
Santos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lehto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lehto but Lehto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lehto tried to score with a low kick but Santos checks it.
Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lehto defends it nicely.
Lehto is looking to counter the offense by Santos and move into the clinch.
Lehto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lehto.
Lehto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santos has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lehto.
A nice leg kick from Lehto, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lehto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Santos checks it well.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Lehto, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Lehto against the cage but Lehto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tatu Lehto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Santos.
Lehto misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santos.
As Santos tries to get set, Lehto tries to push him back and clinch up but Santos manages to avoid the attempt.
Santos fails with the takedown.
Santos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lehto.
Santos wants to clinch but Lehto slips to the side
and Lehto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Santos's knee momentarily.
Santos misses with a takedown

and Lehto moves into the clinch.
Lehto scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lehto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lehto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lehto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lehto tries a knee to the head but Santos blocks it.
Lehto lands a knee to the body.
Michael Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lehto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lehto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lehto tries to land a knee to the head but Santos blocks with his arms.
Santos looking to slow down the pace here.
Lehto landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lehto.
You can see that Santos has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lehto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lehto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lehto walks away with a smile on his face. Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lehto lands a head kick!

That has opened up Michael Santos's cut even more.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lehto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lehto lands with a kick to the ribs.
Lehto throws a leg kick which misses Santos's front leg but catches the back leg as Santos tries to avoid it.
Santos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lehto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santos swings widly with a right hand
and Lehto counters with a good low kick that Santos was not able to check.
Santos checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lehto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatu Lehto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lehto 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:25
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatu Lehto!
Tatu Lehto took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) for their support in the buildup to the fight.