PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gee Gutsu (ranked 1364 p4p, 1927 weight class) and Daniel Sanninen (ranked 212 p4p, 286 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gutsu
vs
Sanninen

193 cm
20
195
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
185
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gee Gutsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Sanninen!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanninen takes a swing at Gutsu's ribcage but misses.
Sanninen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gutsu fails to land the takedown.
Gutsu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanninen is fending him off so far but Gutsu persists. Nope, Sanninen circles away and we're back to standing.
A slow jab from Sanninen misses its intended target.
Sanninen misses with a looping right.
Sanninen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanninen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gutsu finds it's way round the side to connect with Sanninen's head.
Sanninen lands a glancing blow to the side of Gutsu's head.

It looks like Gee Gutsu has been cut.
Gutsu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gee Gutsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutsu misses with a body shot.
Sanninen works over Gutsu's head and body with a nice combination.
Gutsu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gutsu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sanninen with a nice calf kick.
Gutsu misses with an uppercut.
Sanninen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gutsus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gutsu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanninen but Sanninen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That kick from Sanninen tenderised Gutsu's leg. Gutsu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gutsu checks a leg kick.
Sanninen has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanninen lands a nice shot to the body.
Gutsu seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanninen staying out of range there.
Gutsu throws a body shot but no joy.
Daniel Sanninen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gutsu is looking to chop away at Sanninen's legs.
Gutsu misses the shot to the body.
Gutsu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sanninen.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sanninen.
Sanninen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanninen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu lands with a good body shot.
Sanninen misses with a kick to the body

and Gutsu counters with a shoot takedown. Sanninen fights it but they end up in guard.
Gutsu wants to control from the top but Sanninen keeps moving.
Gutsu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gutsu wants to control from the top but Sanninen keeps moving.
Gutsu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gutsu trying to move into half guard but instead Sanninen has managed to sweep!

Gutsu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanninen is one step ahead there.
Gutsu is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu trying to keep a closed guard but Sanninen is proving a slippery customer.

Gutsu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanninen defends well.
Sanninen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanninen preventing the sweep.
Gutsu wants to improve his position but instead Sanninen has moved into half guard.
Gutsu wants to get back to full guard but Sanninen has passed into side control.
Gutsu taking a bit of punishment here - Sanninen scoring with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Sanninen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gee Gutsu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanninen lands a lovely overhand right.
Gutsu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanninen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gutsu somewhat.
Sanninen slips a jab from Gutsu.
Gutsu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sanninen counters with a straight right hand.
Sanninen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gutsu moves out of range of the body kick from Sanninen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanninen tries to move into range but Gutsu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gutsu tries to land a leg kick but Sanninen saw it coming and moves away.
Sanninen loads up on a big right hand but Gutsu slips the punch.
Gutsu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanninen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutsu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanninen manages to avoid it.
Sanninen is looking for the big counter here.

Gutsu gets a double leg takedown into Sanninen's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sanninen holds on and takes a little breather.
Gutsu looking to sit in guard and control but Sanninen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gee Gutsu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gutsu seems keen to control Sanninen's posture.

Gutsu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanninen is aware though and is defending well.
Sanninen is looking to work some ground and pound but Gutsu has wrist control.

Gutsu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanninen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanninen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen trying to control but Gutsu is working from the bottom.
Sanninen throwing strikes but missing.

Gutsu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanninen preventing the sweep.
Sanninen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gutsu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sanninen throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen is looking to work some ground and pound but Gutsu has wrist control.
Sanninen won't allow Gutsu to sweep him here.

Sanninen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gutsu lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gutsu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanninen is keeping the position for now.
Gutsu postures up and lands a big shot to Sanninen's brow.
Gutsu tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanninen is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen keeping moving, preventing Gutsu from controlling successfully.
Gutsu looking to sit in guard and control but Sanninen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sanninen throwing strikes but missing.

Gutsu working for a triangle but Sanninen defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gutsu is on top in guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Sanninen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gee Gutsu's cut.
That's time! Gutsu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanninen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gutsu misses with a takedown attempt - Sanninen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gutsu walks into a left hand.
Sanninen misses with a body shot.
Gutsu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sanninen sprawls and moves away.
Gutsu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanninen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanninen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gutsu's sensitive parts.
Gutsu misses with a takedown
and Sanninen counters with a stiff right hand.
Sanninen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanninen throws a body shot but no joy.
Sanninen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sanninen checks the leg kick nicely there.
It seemed like Sanninen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Some bone on bone action there as Sanninen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sanninen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sanninen misses with a body shot.
Gutsu shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanninen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gutsu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gee Gutsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gutsu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanninen.
Sanninen scoring well with a low kick there.
Sanninen cracks a nice hook into Gutsu's ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gutsu misses with a takedown
and Sanninen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen jabs Gutsu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sanninen feints and then cracks Gutsu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gutsu down.
Gutsu fails with the takedown
and Sanninen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanninen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gutsu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Daniel Sanninen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanninen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sanninen scores with a jab.

Gee Gutsu's cut is getting worse.
Sanninen scores with a punch to the head.
Sanninen jabs Gutsu to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sanninen lands a nice shot to the body.
Sanninen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gutsu rather than just go for the knockout.
Sanninen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gutsu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sanninen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gutsu on the side of the head.
Sanninen with a nice calf kick.
Gee Gutsu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanninen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gutsu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sanninen misses with a head kick.
Sanninen feints and then cracks Gutsu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gutsu down.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sanninen.
Sanninen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu throws a right hand that misses
and Sanninen counters with a thumping low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gutsu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sanninen.
Sanninen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gutsu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sanninen lands a two punch combo.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sanninen, as that shot connected.

Gee Gutsu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Gutsu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice body kick there by Sanninen.
Sanninen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Sanninen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanninen 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 James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Sanninen!
Daniel Sanninen very nearly forgot to thank FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.