PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Urho Itaniemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saku Sakemanni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Urho Itaniemi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Itaniemi
vs
Sakemanni

190 cm
18
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Urho Itaniemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Saku Sakemanni!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Itaniemi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakemanni tries for a takedown but Itaniemi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Itaniemi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakemanni.
Itaniemi swinging wilding here.
Urho Itaniemi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sakemanni clinches.

Sakemanni tightens his grip and picks Itaniemi up, before dumping him to the ground. Itaniemi manages to land in guard.
Itaniemi wants to stand and escape but Sakemanni is having none of it.

Sakemanni drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakemanni jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sakemanni pushing down on Itaniemi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Itaniemi wants to get back to his feet.

Sakemanni wants to work for an arm triangle but Itaniemi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sakemanni is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sakemanni wants to control but Itaniemi is keeping him busy.
Itaniemi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sakemanni on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakemanni prevents Itaniemi from standing back up.
Sakemanni thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Itaniemi's head.
Itaniemi is holding on to half guard well.
Sakemanni trying to control from half guard but Itaniemi is working away.
Itaniemi won't allow Sakemanni to pass to mount.
Sakemanni looks gassed!
Itaniemi is looking to control Sakemanni's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Itaniemi avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Itaniemi looks for the body kick but Sakemanni saw that one coming.
Itaniemi drops Sakemanni with a nice combination! Itaniemi dives into Sakemanni's guard, looking to finish!

Sakemanni is rocked!
Itaniemi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sakemanni is still in real trouble! Can Itaniemi finish him?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Itaniemi is looking to stand up but Sakemanni won't let him.

Sakemanni is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakemanni seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi content to stall in guard here.
Itaniemi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Sakemanni looking for a guillotine here but Itaniemi defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakemanni has a closed guard, preventing Itaniemi from standing up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi stopping the sweep attempt from Sakemanni.
Sakemanni is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sakemanni is working for a submission of some sort.
Sakemanni prevents Itaniemi from improving his position.
Sakemanni stops Itaniemi from getting back to his feet.

Sakemanni is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakemanni wants to pass the guard but Itaniemi is defending well.
Itaniemi wants to get back to his feet.
Itaniemi is in trouble now - Sakemanni has advanced to mount!
Itaniemi is trying to stand up.
Itaniemi is trying to escape the mount.

Sakemanni jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Itaniemi manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Sakemanni thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saku Sakemanni will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakemanni tries to close the distance and clinch up but Itaniemi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Itaniemi throws a series of punches but Sakemanni avoids them all with ease.
Itaniemi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sakemanni shoots in for a double leg but Itaniemi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Itaniemi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sakemanni looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Itaniemi misses with a series of wild punches.
Itaniemi tests Sakemanni's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Itaniemi throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Sakemanni tumbling to the canvas!
Sakemanni can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Itaniemi controls the pace.
Itaniemi wants to get up but he can't break Sakemanni's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Sakemanni working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Itaniemi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Itaniemi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Itaniemi 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakemanni is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Itaniemi trying to hold on to Sakemanni's head to control him but Sakemanni postures up.

Sakemanni seems to be looking for submissions.
Sakemanni works his way into side control.
Sakemanni lands an elbow.

Sakemanni wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Itaniemi, who protects the arm well.
Itaniemi wants to control but Sakemanni postures up.
Sakemanni trying to control the position but Itaniemi is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakemanni working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Itaniemi tries to bench press Sakemanni off him but Sakemanni keeps the position.

Sakemanni wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Itaniemi, who protects the arm well.
Itaniemi is looking to reverse the position.

Sakemanni looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sakemanni working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Sakemanni thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sakemanni is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Itaniemi has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi is trying to control Sakemanni's posture but Sakemanni avoids it.
Sakemanni has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Sakemanni moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Itaniemi has worked his arm free - good work by Itaniemi!
Sakemanni content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Itaniemi is looking for a sweep.
Sakemanni lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi keeping his opponent close.

Sakemanni looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Itaniemi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Itaniemi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Itaniemi tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Itaniemi trying to control but Sakemanni flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Sakemanni gets his hands free as Itaniemi looks to control.
Sakemanni is trying to stick to Itaniemi's back but Itaniemi is turning into Sakemanni. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sakemanni's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Itaniemi.
Sakemanni wants to sweep here but Itaniemi controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Urho Itaniemi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Itaniemi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sakemanni fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Itaniemi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Itaniemi scores with the left hand. Sakemanni knows he should have avoided that one.
Itaniemi throws a hook to the side of Sakemanni's head but Sakemanni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Itaniemi misses with a low kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Itaniemi.
Itaniemi lands a lovely overhand right.
Itaniemi lands with a big left! Sakemanni is wobbled badly! Itaniemi comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Sakemanni to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Urho Itaniemi!