PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joonatan Roinatan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roinatan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Onyx - Slam. Sankari comes into a darkened arena with his song building. SMC Hoodrats kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Joonatan Roinatan has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Roinatan
vs
Sankari

177 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
180 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

FinnFighters Nutrition
FinnFighters Nutrition

Frank`s TASTE 'Q147 Recovery/Muscle

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonatan Roinatan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Pauli Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sankari clinches with his opponent.
Sankari working hard to break the clinch.
Roinatan jumps guard but Sankari stands there with Roinatan around his waist. Roinatan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sankari is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roinatan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Roinatan jumps guard but Sankari stands there with Roinatan around his waist. Roinatan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Roinatan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sankari avoids it.
Sankari is trying to drag Roinatan to the mat but Roinatan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Roinatan can't break the clinch.
Sankari is trying to break the clinch but Roinatan has him pressed against the cage.
Sankari tries for a takedown. No joy.
Joonatan Roinatan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Sankari.
Sankari drops down looking for an ankle pick but Roinatan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roinatan throws a wild body kick that Sankari sees coming a mile off.
Roinatan tries for a takedown but Sankari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A combination from Roinatan does no damage.
Roinatan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sankari tries to avoid it but Roinatan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sankari to the ground. Sankari escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roinatan misses with a takedown attempt - Sankari sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Roinatan throws a body kick that misses.
Roinatan throws the kick towards the body but Sankari avoids it.
Sankari swats away the attempt to clinch by Roinatan.
Roinatan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sankari sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roinatan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Roinatan throws a leg kick which misses Sankari's front leg but catches the back leg as Sankari tries to avoid it.
Roinatan wants to clinch.
Roinatan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sankari avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Roinatan throws a series of punches but Sankari moves out of range.
Roinatan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sankari avoids it really well and circles away.
A punch combination from Roinatan misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Roinatan.
Sankari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roinatan wants to clinch but Sankari slips to the side

and Sankari counters with a single leg into guard. Roinatan didn't expect that.
Sankari trying to control but Roinatan is working from the bottom.
Sankari might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Roinatan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Roinatan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Roinatan tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sankari prevents Roinatan from getting back to his feet.

Sankari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sankari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roinatan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Roinatan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Roinatan stops Sankari from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sankari gets back to full guard.
Sankari is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Sankari had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roinatan defends it easily.
Roinatan wants to control from the top but Sankari keeps moving.
Sankari looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roinatan is one step ahead there.
Roinatan wants to stand but Sankari has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Roinatan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sankari on the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roinatan won't allow Sankari to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Sankari dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Roinatan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sankari counters with a takedown into side control.

Sankari thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sankari working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sankari prevents Roinatan from escaping the position.

Sankari working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sankari prevents Roinatan from escaping the position.
Roinatan struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sankari decides to stand up, so the ref orders Roinatan to his feet.
Sankari is breathing heavily.
Sankari shoots in for a double leg but Roinatan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sankari fails with a takedown attempt.
Roinatan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roinatan scores with a one two! Sankari had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sankari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joonatan Roinatan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Sankari.
Roinatan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Pauli Sankari has been cut.
Crunch! Roinatan slams his shin into Sankari's torso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roinatan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sankari counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Roinatan's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roinatan wants to stand and escape but Sankari is having none of it.
Sankari postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sankari stopping the sweep attempt from Roinatan.
Roinatan wants to get back to his feet but Sankari is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sankari wants to control from the top but Roinatan keeps moving.

Sankari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sankari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sankari moves out of range of the body kick from Roinatan.
Sankari sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Roinatan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roinatan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Roinatan cracks Sankari with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Roinatan fakes the leg kick and cracks Sankari in the body.
Roinatan scores with a push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roinatan throws a head kick that misses.
Roinatan lands with a slapping head kick.
Roinatan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sankari sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roinatan throws a head kick that half lands.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Roinatan, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roinatan thuds his shin into the meat of Sankari's side.
Roinatan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roinatan lands with a slapping head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sankari throws a leg kick
and Roinatan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sankari is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Joonatan Roinatan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roinatan scores with a nice body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Roinatan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonatan Roinatan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pauli Sankari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Roinatan tries a head kick but it misses.
Sankari has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Roinatan.
Roinatan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Roinatan moves in looking to clinch but Sankari pushes him off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roinatan.
Sankari shoots in but Roinatan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sankari takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roinatan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sankari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sankari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sankari stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joonatan Roinatan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sankari misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roinatan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sankari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Roinatan.
Roinatan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sankari clinches up with Roinatan and pushes him back against the cage.
Roinatan is looking to break free of the clinch but Sankari has double underhooks.
Roinatan wants a takedown.

Sankari wants the takedown. Roinatan is fighting it off but Sankari persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Roinatan's guard against the cage.

Sankari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sankari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roinatan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sankari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sankari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roinatan wants to sweep here but Sankari controlling him for the moment.
Roinatan wants to stand but Sankari is controlling the position.
Sankari wants to control from the top but Roinatan keeps moving.
Roinatan controlling Sankari's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Roinatan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Roinatan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roinatan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roinatan with a poor takedown

and Sankari counters by clinching up.

Roinatan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sankari swats away the attempt to clinch by Roinatan.
Good leg kick by Sankari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sankari drops his hands momentarily and Roinatan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sankari moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sankari takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Roinatan throws a nice head kick!
Roinatan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sankari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roinatan somewhat.
Roinatan tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sankari holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sankari wants a takedown but no success here.
Sankari tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sankari looking for a takedown.
Roinatan prevents the takedown attempt.
Roinatan stalling in the clinch but Sankari improves position.

Roinatan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roinatan lands a head kick. Sankari smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joonatan Roinatan.
I think Roinatan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joonatan Roinatan!