PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Morgan Freeman (ranked 4125 p4p, 4256 weight class) and Jarno Saarinen (ranked 254 p4p, 263 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Freeman
vs
Saarinen

188 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

152 cm
25
152
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Morgan Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jarno Saarinen!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarinen misses with a double jab.
A clash of legs there as Freeman blocks the low kick.

Freeman gets caught flat footed, as Saarinen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saarinen trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
Saarinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Freeman is retaining full guard.

Saarinen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Freeman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Saarinen has Freeman in his guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freeman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarinen trying to control the position here.

Saarinen working for a triangle but Freeman defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Saarinen has his hands on Freeman's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freeman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saarinen is keeping the position for now.
Saarinen is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Freeman trying to control but Saarinen is working from the bottom.
Freeman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Saarinen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Freeman is aware though and is defending well.
Freeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freeman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Saarinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Freeman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Saarinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saarinen is pulling down on Freeman's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen defending well as Freeman loads up on a big left hand.
Freeman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saarinen.
Saarinen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Freeman misses with a straight left.

Saarinen shoots in and gets a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Saarinen wanted to stand there but Freeman had control of the position.
Freeman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saarinen is looking to work some ground and pound but Freeman has wrist control.
Saarinen wanted to stand there but Freeman had control of the position.
Saarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saarinen.
Freeman is trying to keep Saarinen in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saarinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Freeman moves out of range as Saarinen strikes.

Saarinen gets a double leg takedown into Freeman's guard.
Saarinen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Let's hope that Saarinen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Saarinen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Freeman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Freeman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Freeman!

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

Jarno Saarinen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Saarinen. Those never looked like landing.
Morgan Freeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saarinen staying out of range there.
Freeman misses with a looping right.
Freeman throws a looping overhand right but Saarinen ducks down to avoid it.

Saarinen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Freeman tries to improve position but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Freeman struggling a bit here.
Jarno Saarinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarinen tries to advance position but instead Freeman slips a leg back in to half guard.
Saarinen trying to advance position but Freeman counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Freeman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Freeman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saarinen wants to pass the guard but Freeman is keeping the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Saarinen from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Saarinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Saarinen tries to get set, Freeman tries to push him back and clinch up but Saarinen manages to avoid the attempt.
Freeman throws a right hand that misses

and Saarinen counters with a shoot takedown. Freeman fights it but they end up in guard.
Saarinen is looking to stand up but Freeman won't let him.
Freeman controls Saarinen momentarily but Saarinen frees himself.
Saarinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saarinen preventing the sweep.
Saarinen throwing strikes from guard but Freeman blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saarinen stays in close to Freeman's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen looking to pass the guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Freeman has a closed guard, preventing Saarinen from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Saarinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Freeman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Freeman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Freeman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saarinen.
Saarinen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Freeman throws a big shot that misses.
Freeman loads up on a big right hand but Saarinen slips the punch.

Saarinen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Freeman sprawls well initially but Saarinen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Saarinen trying to control from half guard but Freeman is working away.
Freeman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Freeman to regain full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freeman is on top in guard.

Freeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freeman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jarno Saarinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saarinen scores with a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Morgan Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saarinen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freeman is on top in guard.

Saarinen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen pulls Freeman in close to his closed guard and prevents Freeman from doing any damage or advancing position.
Saarinen is striking but Freeman is not phased and passes to half guard.
Saarinen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saarinen has a hand on Freeman's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Freeman takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Saarinen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Freeman.
Saarinen is looking to improve his position but Freeman isn't that keen on the idea.
Freeman tries to control but Saarinen wriggling away.
Freeman is really struggling to control Saarinen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Freeman avoids the attempt from Saarinen to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen working to try and regain half guard.

Saarinen tries to improve his position but Freeman has taken his back! Freeman has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Saarinen tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Freeman pushes Saarinen away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Morgan Freeman!