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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Saari (ranked 3826 p4p, 5404 weight class) and Adriel Hoxha (ranked 481 p4p, 599 weight class). Saari comes into the arena with Oranssi Pazuzu - Lahja blaring out of the sound system. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.
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191 cm 20 207 3 - 3 - 1 |
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193 cm 22 201 2 - 3 - 0 |
Decent wrestler Excellent boxer Very quick |
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BJJ White Belt Good kicks Powerful |
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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 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksi Saari! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adriel Hoxha! The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Saari dips down and scores with a jab to the body. Hoxha misses with a hook. Saari scores with a jab. Hoxha acknowledges it with a nod of the head. Hoxha dips to his left and cracks Saari with an uppercut! Saari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hoxha moves away. Saari missing with a left hand there. Hoxha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one. Hoxha shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Saari eats them both and turns towards Hoxha to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo. Saari avoids the head kick by Hoxha.
Hoxha slips a straight right by Saari. Saari scores with a jab. Saari throws out a powerful jab. We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Saari looks to land a right hand but Hoxha moved out of range. Aleksi Saari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Saari misses with a combination
and Hoxha counters with a straight punch to the midsection. Hoxha throws a quick inside leg kick. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. Saari avoids the head kick by Hoxha.
Hoxha takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it. A jab from Saari finds it's way through Hoxha's defenses. Hoxha takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses. Saari scores to the head and body with a nice combination! Hoxha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saari tries to avoid it but Hoxha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saari to the ground. Saari escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round. Saari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh. Saari misses with a two punch combination.
Saari avoids the head kick by Hoxha.
Hoxha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saari connects with the punch. Saari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saari with a nice cross. Saari closes the distance and lands a one-two. A slow jab from Saari misses its intended target. Hoxha throws a leg kick but Saari moved away. Sloppy strikes from Saari. Those never looked like landing. Saari dips to his left and cracks Hoxha with an uppercut! Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Hoxha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saari. Hoxha throws a wild body kick that Saari sees coming a mile off. Some wild striking there from Saari.
Hoxha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range. Hoxha looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Hoxha slips a jab and a cross from Saari.
Saari tries to bum rush Hoxha with a series of wild strikes but Hoxha uses good footwork to avoid the assault. Hoxha ducks under a wild hook from Saari. It looks like Saari has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him. Hoxha scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
It looks like Aleksi Saari has been cut. Saari misses with a hook. Hoxha ducked under it nicely. Hoxha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saari. Saari with a hook. Hoxha tries to clinch up. Hoxha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands. Hoxha takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily. Saari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands. Hoxha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saari works over Hoxha's head and body with a nice combination. Saari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hoxha. Hoxha ducks under a wild hook from Saari. Saari catches Hoxha with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong! A jab lands there for Saari. Saari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hoxha moves out of range and avoids them all easily. Saari misses with a two punch combination.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Hoxha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range. Saari blocks a head kick by Hoxha.
Saari misses with a few strikes there.
Saari's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Saari duly obliges. Hoxha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saari lands a nice shot to the body.
Hoxha throws a body punch but Saari moves out of range. A counter left hand to the body from Saari misses its target. Hoxha tries a head kick but it misses.
Saari swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. Saari throws a right and a left that both miss. Hoxha throws a head kick but Saari moves out of range.
Hoxha throws a series of punches but Saari moves out of range. Aleksi Saari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs. Saari throws a right hand that Hoxha ducks under and follows up with a left that Hoxha also avoids with ease. A combination from Saari does no damage. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. Hoxha connects with a high kick. Hoxha has a takedown stuffed. A cross from Saari lands. Hoxha connects with a good right hand that stumbles Saari. Saari circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Saari clobbers Hoxha with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise. Saari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hoxha moves out of range and avoids them all easily. Hoxha misses with a head kick.
Hoxha takes a shot right to the bread basket. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. Saari is really peppering his opponent's head with punches. Saari avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoxha lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt. Saari lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected. A head kick misses from Hoxha. Hoxha walks into a straight right hand from Saari. Saari tries to bum rush Hoxha with a series of wild strikes but Hoxha uses good footwork to avoid the assault. Hoxha is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here. As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action. Some wild striking there from Saari.
Saari just misses with a punch to the body.
Hoxha misses with a head kick.
Saari lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aleksi Saari dominated that round. The cut man is working on Aleksi Saari's cut. The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Saari throws a combination that misses and Hoxha counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body. Saari misses with a straight right. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle. A slow jab from Saari misses its intended target. Saari lands a nice hook to Hoxha's body. Hoxha takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes. Hoxha on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere. Hoxha stalks Saari and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Saari's face. Saari staggers backwards, shaken. Hoxha throws an overhand right that lands on Saari's shoulder, as Saari tries to avoid the shot. Saari avoids the head kick by Hoxha.
Hoxha connects with a body shot. Aleksi Saari is winning the standup battle so far. A head kick misses from Hoxha. Saari misses with a series of wild punches.
Saari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoxha can do to turn this around? The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Saari misses with a series of wild punches.
Good work by Saari as he checks the leg kick. Saari throws a shot to the body.
Hoxha takes one to the chin there. Saari on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hoxha. Hoxha obviously looking to wear him down.
That's one minute gone in the round. Hoxha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target. Saari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hoxha shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it. Hoxha takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it. Saari waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hoxha. Hoxha drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Saari defends it well. No joy there for Saari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saari takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it. Saari jabs Hoxha right on the nose. Hoxha blinks but takes it well. Hoxha misses with the combination.
Saari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saari throws a series of strikes that have Hoxha backpedaling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Some wild striking there from Hoxha.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky. Hoxha is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Saari rather than just go for the knockout. Hoxha throws a head kick that half lands.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Saari misses with a body shot
and Hoxha counters with an outside leg kick.
Hoxha throws a sloppy head kick and Saari moves out of range easily. Saari throwing a counter right hand but Hoxha manages to avoid it. Saari misses with a double jab.
Hoxha wants to slow Saari down by chopping away at his legs. Saari looks to land a combination but Hoxha avoids it well. A combination from Saari does no damage. Aleksi Saari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things. Saari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here. Hoxha misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoxha tries to clinch up but Saari circles away and keeps his distance. Hoxha swinging wildly here.
Hoxha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saari. Saari lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook. Saari misses with a straight right. Nice uppercut there from Saari. Saari scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hoxha doesn't seem bothered though. Saari misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoxha is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Hoxha is looking to take this fight into the clinch. Hoxha takes a swing at Saari's ribcage but misses. Saari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoxha manages to avoid it. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. A left lands for Saari. Saari getting the better of the striking in that exchange. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle. A looping hook to the body misses from Saari. Hoxha does a little dance to reset his feet. Saari sets himself, and Hoxha steps forward looking for the clinch! Saari avoids it this time. Saari swinging wildly here.
Saari misses with a combination
and Hoxha counters with a big head kick but Saari shrugs it off. Hoxha throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saari fails to land with a series of punches.
Saari takes a swing at Hoxha's ribcage but misses. Some wild striking there from Hoxha.
That's four minutes gone in the round. A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hoxha is defended easily by Saari. No joy there for Saari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. A head kick misses from Hoxha. Saari's corner calls for a 1-2. Saari obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range. Saari throws a jab when Hoxha was well out of range. Hoxha throws a body punch but Saari moves out of range. Saari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hoxha moves out of range and avoids them all easily. Hoxha steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saari. Hoxha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Saari's head. Hoxha throws a right and a left that both miss. Saari misses with a straight left. Hoxha throws a leg kick but Saari sees it coming and moves out of range. Hoxha has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye. The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end. Saari misses with an uppercut. Saari wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection. Saari misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aleksi Saari dominated that second round. The cut man is working on Aleksi Saari's cut. Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round! The fighters circle momentarily. Saari darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch. Hoxha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoxha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Saari. Those never looked like landing. Hoxha lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt. Hoxha throws a nice head kick!
Saari scores with a jab to the body. Hoxha blocks a jab. Saari takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Saari throws a body punch but Hoxha moves out of range. Saari misses with a series of wild punches.
Saari throws a hook but Hoxha blocks it. This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff! Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. Saari stalks Hoxha and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hoxha's face. Hoxha staggers backwards, shaken. Saari throws a nice looking combination but Hoxha bobs and weaves to avoid any damage. Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle. Saari blocks a head kick by Hoxha.
Saari tries to bum rush Hoxha with a series of wild strikes but Hoxha uses good footwork to avoid the assault. Hoxha shoots in for a double leg but Saari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy. Saari lands a lovely overhand right. Saari looks to land a left hand but Hoxha moved out of range nicely. Hoxha shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it. Hoxha avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoxha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saari.
Despite the aggression on Hoxha's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter. Hoxha slips a jab from Saari. Hoxha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily. Aleksi Saari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adriel Hoxha. Saari connects with a jab. Saari works over Hoxha's head and body with a nice combination. Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Saari!
That's two minutes gone in the round. This has been an exciting period of action! Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. Saari seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter. Saari connects with a body shot. Saari connects with a jab. Saari dips to his left and cracks Hoxha with an uppercut! A swing and a miss from Saari. Saari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hoxha sees it coming and avoids it easily. Hoxha misses with a head kick.
Saari scores with a three punch combo!
Saari lands with a hook. Hoxha tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head. Saari avoids the head kick by Hoxha.
Hoxha throws a right and a left that Saari avoids nicely. Hoxha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target. It looked like Saari was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hoxha. Hoxha wants to slow Saari down by chopping away at his legs. Hoxha takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hoxha scores with a kick to the midsection. Saari catches Hoxha with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong! Hoxha goes for a double leg but Saari avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saari continues to drive forward.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Hoxha walks into a straight right hand from Saari. Saari shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hoxha eats them both and turns towards Saari to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo. Saari connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe. Saari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saari. Hoxha does a little dance to reset his feet. Hoxha tries to counter with a clinch but Saari shakes him off and moves away. Saari misses with a two punch combination.
Saari works over Hoxha's head and body with a nice combination. Hoxha fails to land with a series of punches.
Saari shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hoxha eats them both and turns towards Saari to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo. Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. Hoxha dodges the punch combination from Saari.
Saari connects with a nice looking jab.
Hoxha tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab lands there for Saari. Hoxha throws a head kick that misses. Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Hoxha might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Saari has got the better of the exchanges.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Saari leaves Hoxha with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt. Saari tests Hoxha's chin there with a solid looking shot. Saari misses with a two punch combination.
Saari lands with a cross. Saari misses with the combination.
Adriel Hoxha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Hoxha is trying desperately to land a takedown but Saari is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Hoxha. Hoxha blocks a jab. Saari thuds his right hand into Hoxha's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters. Saari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saari misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end. Hoxha throws a head kick that half lands.
Saari throws a series of strikes that have Hoxha backpedaling.
Saari scores with a nice head shot. Aleksi Saari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach. Saari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hoxha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that's the end of the fight! Aleksi Saari showed his dominance in that final round. Well Saari 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27 Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27 Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksi Saari! A relieved looking Aleksi Saari thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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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
98% |
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