PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Villa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tero Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sankari is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Finlandia - Hymn. Tero Sankari has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rafael Villa's chin.

Villa
vs
Sankari

194 cm
29
246 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

200 cm
24
240 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Villa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tero Sankari!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sankari throws a leg kick that is checked
and Villa counters with a big head kick but Sankari shrugs it off.
Villa pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sankari is out of range and Villa settles back down.
Sankari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sankari shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Villa as he avoids it easily.
Sankari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Villa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Sankari.
Sankari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses
and Villa counters with a nice body kick.
Sankari throws a nice inside leg kick.
Villa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sankari as he jumps to the side.
Villa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sankari is fending him off so far but Villa persists. Nope, Sankari circles away and we're back to standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Villa avoids the head kick by Sankari.
Villa moves out of range of the strikes.
Sankari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Villa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Villa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Villa throws a leg kick which misses Sankari's front leg but catches the back leg as Sankari tries to avoid it.
Sankari checks a leg kick.
Sankari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari throws a head kick but Villa moves out of range.
Sankari tries to clinch there but Villa circles away.
Villa lands with a kick to the ribs.
Villa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tero Sankari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sankari chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Villa can pounce on him.
Sankari looks gassed!
Sankari throws out a leg kick but Villa moves out of range and Sankari only half commits.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jab, jab by Villa - just one landing.
A big right from Sankari misses.
Sankari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Villa throws a front kick aimed at Sankari's knee but Sankari avoids it well.
Villa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sankari avoids the head kick by Villa.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Villa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sankari has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sankari and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sankari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sankari misses with a head kick.
Sankari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Sankari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Villa drives through with a takedown into Sankari's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Villa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Villa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sankari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Villa won't allow Sankari to sweep him here.
Sankari keeping moving, preventing Villa from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sankari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Villa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rafael Villa.
A head kick misses from Villa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Villa.
Villa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Villa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sankari tries to clinch but Villa moves away
and Villa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Villa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick from Sankari lands but Villa takes it in his stride.
Villa misses with a head kick.
Villa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses.
Sankari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Villa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Villa checks the leg kick.
Sankari takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sankari misses with a leg kick
and Villa counters with a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good work by Villa as he checks the leg kick.
Sankari misses with a head kick.
Sankari tries a low kick but Villa avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sankari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sankari tries to clinch up but Villa circles away and keeps his distance.
Sankari tries to clinch but Villa moves out of range.
Sankari takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tero Sankari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick and Villa moves out of range easily.
Villa feints and then cracks Sankari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sankari down.
Villa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sankari moves away.
Villa misses with a head kick.
Sankari tries a head kick but it misses.
Sankari misses with a head kick.
Villa throws a push kick but Sankari slaps the foot to one side.
Sankari blocks a low kick nicely.
Villa blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sankari throws a head kick but Villa moves out of range.
Villa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sankari looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Villa thows a body kick. Sankari tries to catch it but that hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Villa lands a nice shot to the body.
Villa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sankari throws a push kick but Villa slaps the foot to one side.
Sankari takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Villa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Villa cracks Sankari with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick and Villa moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Villa drives through with a takedown into guard.

Villa drops back looking for a leg! Sankari is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sankari manages to kick Villa off! Villa jumps back into Sankari's guard.
Villa wants to control from the top but Sankari keeps moving.
Sankari is breathing heavily.
Villa postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa wants to control from the top but Sankari keeps moving.
Sankari is striking but Villa is not phased and passes to half guard.
Sankari tries to roll over but Villa keeps him under control.
Sankari trying to control but Villa postures up.

Villa is looking for a kimura but Sankari is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Villa to get the leverage.
Sankari trying to control but Villa postures up.
Villa trying to control the action but Sankari is working from the bottom.
Sankari tries to roll over but Villa keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari trying to control but Villa postures up.
Sankari is trying to get back to full guard.
Sankari is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A bone on bone clash there as Villa blocks the leg kick.
Villa misses with a wild body shot.
Sankari on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Villa. Villa obviously looking to wear him down.
Sankari wants to clinch.
Villa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sankari pinned against the cage. Sankari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Villa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sankari throws a leg kick but Villa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A head kick by Sankari misses
and Villa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sankari throws out a leg kick but Villa moves out of range and Sankari only half commits.
Villa throws a sloppy head kick and Sankari moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick from Sankari misses.
Sankari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Villa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Villa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sankari tries to clinch but Villa moves out of range.
Jab by Villa.
Tero Sankari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Villa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sankari sprawls well. Sankari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Villa gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Villa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Villa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Villa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Villa lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villa blocks a low kick nicely.
Villa pushes Sankari away with a front kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sankari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A good leg kick by Villa.
Sankari tries a head kick but it misses.
Sankari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Villa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sankari's sensitive parts.
A shot to the liver by Villa. Beautiful body shot.
Sankari's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Villa scores with a decent looking hook.
Villa stuns Sankari with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Villa bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Villa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sankari.
Villa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sankari. That did some damage!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Villa lands a jab to Sankari's midsection.

Villa drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villa passes into half guard.
Villa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Villa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Villa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sankari lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sankari shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Villa.
Villa checks a leg kick.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses
and Villa counters with a solid body kick.
Villa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Villa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Villa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Villa.
Villa misses with a head kick.
Villa scores with a sloppy right hand. Sankari should have avoided that one.
Sankari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sankari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Villa dives in and scores a takedown into Sankari's guard.
Sankari keeping full guard, as Villa tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa wants to control from the top but Sankari keeps moving.
Villa advances to half guard.
Villa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sankari is looking for a sweep. Villa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sankari is trying to control but can't.
Villa is pressing down on Sankari's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sankari is holding on for now.
Villa is trying to control. Sankari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Villa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

We're going to have a standup here because Rafael Villa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sankari explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sankari pivots, looking for a leg kick but Villa is out of range and Sankari settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa avoids the head kick by Sankari.
Sankari has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Villa.
Sankari throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Villa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sankari tries to buck Villa off but Villa is having none of it.
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!
Villa wants to control but Sankari is keeping him busy.
Villa in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Villa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sankari keeps working.
Sankari is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Villa is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Villa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sankari can do to turn this around?
Villa controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villa is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sankari to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sankari shrugs it off.
Villa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sankari is desperately trying to improve his position but Villa has a good base and remains in mount.
Villa controlling the position easily from mount.
Villa with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Sankari slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Villa wants to pass the guard but Sankari is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sankari is looking to get back to full guard here but Villa has managed to pass to side control instead.
Sankari is trying to control Villa's posture but Villa avoids it.
Sankari looks to move to half guard but instead Villa has passed into mount! Damn!
Sankari is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Villa prevents Sankari from getting the reversal.
Sankari tries to hold on but Villa pushes him away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sankari is wriggling around trying to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Villa moves to back control.
Sankari looking very determined here, making life difficult for Villa.
Villa keeps control of the position as Sankari tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa clearly takes 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.

Sankari wants to land a leg kick but Villa is out of range.
Villa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sankari misses with a head kick.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sankari takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick and Villa moves out of range easily.
Villa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Villa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sankari tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Villa. Sankari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Villa's corner calls for a 1-2. Villa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Sankari clinches up with Villa and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Villa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sankari walks away with a smile on his face. Villa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Villa lands a leg kick that knocks Sankari off balance momentarily.
Sankari is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Villa tries a head kick but it misses.
Villa throws a low kick but Sankari moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Villa is looking to wear down Sankari with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Villa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sankari tries to clinch up.
Sankari thumps Villa with a low kick.
Sankari tries to clinch but Villa is having none of it.
Sankari throws a leg kick but Villa checks it.
Sankari doesn't manage to clinch there - Villa circles away.
Sankari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Villa scores with a nice body kick.
Sankari throws a chopping leg kick but Villa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Villa throws a head kick but Sankari moves out of range.
Villa misses with a head kick.
Villa avoids the head kick by Sankari.
An inside leg kick from Villa misses.
Villa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sankari.
A head kick misses from Villa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari lands a nice looking body kick.
Sankari cracks the inside of Villa's front leg.
Sankari wants to clinch up but Villa keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sankari throws a leg kick but Villa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sankari lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sankari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Villa's waist but Villa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sankari off to one side.
Sankari is looking to clinch.
Sankari takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Villa looks for a takedown but Sankari sprawls well.
Sankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rafael Villa is winning the standup battle so far.
Sankari tries a head kick but it misses.
Villa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Villa throws out a leg kick but Sankari moves out of range and Villa only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sankari walks into a jab.
Villa blocks a head kick by Sankari.
Sankari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Villa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sankari throws a leg kick
and Villa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Villa looks for the body kick but Sankari saw that one coming.
Villa throws a leg kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Sankari.
A head kick misses from Sankari.
Sankari throws a front kick aimed at Villa's knee but Villa avoids it well.
Sankari on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sankari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donk. Villa catches Sankari right on the button with a cross.

Villa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sankari napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Villa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villa is looking to take a break and control but Sankari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sankari manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Villa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sankari keeps working.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Rafael Villa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Villa takes a head kick and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa had his way with Tero Sankari in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sankari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Villa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sankari.
Villa tries to land a leg kick but Sankari saw it coming and moves away.
Sankari throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Villa lands a nice looking body shot.
Villa blocks a head kick by Sankari.
Sankari throws a low kick but Villa moves out of range easily.
Sankari fails with the takedown.
Villa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick and Villa moves out of range easily.
Sankari throws a leg kick
and Villa counters with a low kick, right behind Sankari 's knee.
Sankari is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
The crowd cheers as Villa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sankari doesn't seem phased though.
Villa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sankari manages to avoid it.
Villa blocks a head kick by Sankari.
Villa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sankari throws a low kick but it's checked well by Villa.
A chopping leg kick lands by Villa.
Villa avoids the head kick by Sankari.
Villa misses with a wild body shot.
Villa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Villa digs a good hook to Sankari's body.
Sankari has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Villa.
Villa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sankari. That did some damage!

Villa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sankari wants to get back to full guard.
Villa stalling.
Villa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tero Sankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sankari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Villa wants to control but Sankari is keeping him busy.
Sankari tries to roll over but Villa keeps him under control.
Villa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Villa wants to pass the guard but Sankari is defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael Villa wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A low kick from Sankari misses
and Sankari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa is looking to land body kicks.
Sankari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Villa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Villa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sankari throws a nice head kick!
Sankari avoids the head kick by Villa.
Villa fakes the leg kick and cracks Sankari in the body.
Sankari thows a leg kick but Villa checks it
and Villa counters with a straight right hand.
Sankari throws a head kick but Villa moves out of range.
Villa punishes Sankari's body with a nice straight punch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sankari.
Villa avoids the head kick by Sankari.
A head kick from Villa lands but Sankari takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good standup being displayed there by Villa as he connects with a hook.
A head kick misses from Sankari.
Sankari pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sankari circles away quickly and effectively.

Villa gets a takedown into half guard.
Sankari wants to improve his position but Villa is controlling well.
Villa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sankari wants to improve his position but Villa is controlling well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Villa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sankari knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sankari landing strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Villa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Villa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 50:45
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Villa!
Rafael Villa retains his heavyweight title!