PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willy Lee (ranked 5462 p4p, 5235 weight class) and Aleksi Saari (ranked 646 p4p, 636 weight class). Saari is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Oranssi Pazuzu - Lahja . We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lee
vs
Saari

186 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
207
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Willy Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksi Saari!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Saari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lee shoots in for a double leg but Saari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Saari!
No joy there for Saari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Lee shoots in and bounces Saari off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Saari looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lee is one step ahead there.
Lee trying to control but Saari is working from the bottom.
Saari is trying to control the position but Lee postures up.
Lee stops Saari from standing up.
Lee stands and throws Saari's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lee works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lee just content to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lee tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lee has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saari is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saari is trying to control Lee's posture but Lee avoids it.
Saari takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Lee cracks Saari with a big elbow.
You can see the frustration on Saari's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lee cracks Saari with a big right hand but Saari just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lee is chipping away with strikes.
Saari tries to bench press Lee off him but Lee keeps the position.
Lee landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Lee scoring with punches and elbows.
Lee lands a nice forearm strike.

Saari is rocked!
Saari tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lee wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Saari stops Lee from passing to mount.
Lee in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari is looking to reverse the position.

Lee wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Saari, who protects the arm well.
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!
Lee scores with a couple of short elbows.
Saari is still in real trouble! Can Lee finish him?
Saari is letting Lee control him for a moment.
Saari seems to have recovered his senses.
Lee works to advance to full mount. Saari defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Lee unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Saari wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Lee celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Willy Lee!
The defeated Aleksi Saari had this to say: 'Niin metsä vastaa, kuin sinne huudetaan.'.