PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liam Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Isotalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Saunders
vs
Isotalo

195 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
276 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Isotalo!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders tries a head kick but it misses.

Saunders clinches up with Isotalo and pushes him back against the cage.
Isotalo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Saunders trying to stall but Isotalo improves his position.

Saunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Isotalo swats away the attempt to clinch by Saunders.
Saunders blocks a head kick by Isotalo.
Isotalo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Isotalo gets a double leg takedown into Saunders's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Isotalo throwing strikes but missing.
Saunders wants to stand up but Isotalo is controlling him.
Isotalo wants to control from the top but Saunders keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isotalo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Isotalo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Isotalo passes Saunders's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Isotalo throwing shots but Saunders is blocking nicely.
Isotalo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saunders is breathing heavily.

Isotalo wants to work for an arm triangle but Saunders is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nice strikes from Isotalo there.
Isotalo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saunders's head.
Isotalo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Isotalo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Isotalo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Isotalo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saunders keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Isotalo connects with a nice short shot to Saunders's temple.
Saunders keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saunders avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Isotalo.
Saunders knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Isotalo on the ground.
Isotalo drops an elbow to the side of Saunders's head.
Isotalo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Isotalo breaks from Saunders's wrist control and lands an elbow.

It looks like Liam Saunders has been cut.
Isotalo landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isotalo is landing with some decent strikes but Saunders is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Isotalo looking to secure an arm triangle but Saunders defends it well.
Isotalo landing strikes from the mount and Saunders is in trouble!
Isotalo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Saunders's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
BOOM! Isotalo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Isotalo working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Liam Saunders's cut is getting worse.
Isotalo raining down hammerfists from mount.
Isotalo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Saunders?
Isotalo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Saunders can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Isotalo wants to finish this one by submission but Saunders is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Isotalo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isotalo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Saunders hang on?
Isotalo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Liam Saunders's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Isotalo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Jeez, Liam Saunders's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Liam Saunders's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Antti Isotalo!