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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Heikko Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saarinen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I Walk Alone. Steele has chosen The Terminator Theme as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!
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| 170 cm
28
154 lbs
22 - 6 - 1 |
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179 cm
28
175 lbs
24 - 9 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
22 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heikko Saarinen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
24 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Steele!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Steele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saarinen moves away.
Saarinen throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Saarinen.
Steele connects with a right hand. Saarinen shakes it off.
Saarinen avoids the body shot from Steele.
Saarinen throws a head kick but Steele moves out of range.
Saarinen wants to slow Steele down by chopping away at his legs.
Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steele.
Saarinen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Saarinen throws a jab when Steele was well out of range.
Nice body kick there by Saarinen.
Steele misses the shot to the body.
Saarinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Heikko Saarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steele blocks a head kick by Saarinen.
Steele shoots for a double leg takedown but Saarinen sprawls well. He's pushed Steele's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a leg kick which misses Steele's front leg but catches the back leg as Steele tries to avoid it.
Steele misses with a straight left.
Saarinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Saarinen is looking to land body kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saarinen. Steele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steele throws a big shot that misses.
Steele fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Saarinen on the side of the head.
Saarinen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Saarinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Steele shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saarinen is trying to stand up here but Steele is controlling him well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws a strike but Saarinen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Steele scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steele accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steele accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saarinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Steele postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saarinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saarinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saarinen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steele throws a big elbow that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen has momentary wrist control but Steele slips an elbow through the middle.
Steele postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Steele prevents Saarinen from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steele passes into half guard.
Steele throwing shots but Saarinen is blocking nicely.
Steele not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Saarinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Steele.
Steele missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Steele there.
Steele not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saarinen works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steele.
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!
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steele throwing strikes but missing.
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steele loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steele is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saarinen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saarinen has escaped and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jason Steele dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Saarinen throws the kick towards the body but Steele avoids it.
Saarinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steele throws a hook to the side of Saarinen's head but Saarinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saarinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Steele misses with a looping left.
Steele moves out of range as Saarinen throws a body kick.
Steele shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saarinen as he avoids it easily.
Saarinen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saarinen misses with a kick to the body.
Steele misses with an uppercut
and Saarinen counters with an inside leg kick.
Steele misses with an uppercut.
Steele takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Horrible takedown by Steele or perhaps it was just good defense by Saarinen which made him look bad.
Heikko Saarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Steele.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen lands a jab to the head.
Saarinen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Saarinen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saarinen feints and then cracks Steele's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Steele down.
Heikko Saarinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steele walks into a straight right hand from Saarinen.
Saarinen lands with a nice body kick.
Steele missing with a left hand there. Saarinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steele tries to bum rush Saarinen with a series of wild strikes but Saarinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saarinen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saarinen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saarinen throws a nice looking combination but Steele bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen takes one to the chin there.
Saarinen slips a jab from Steele.
Steele looks to land a right hand but Saarinen moved out of range.
Steele shoots in looking for a takedown but Saarinen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Steele's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saarinen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Saarinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Heikko Saarinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Steele throws a right and a left that Saarinen avoids nicely.
Saarinen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Steele. That did some damage!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Saarinen, right into the meat.
Saarinen works Steele's body with a nice hook.
An inside leg kick from Saarinen misses.
Saarinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Saarinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Saarinen is looking to slow Steele down with leg kicks.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele throws a looping overhand right but Saarinen ducks down to avoid it.
Saarinen looks for the body kick but Steele saw that one coming.
Saarinen works the jab nicely.
Steele connects with a body shot.
Saarinen wants to land a leg kick but Steele is out of range.
Saarinen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Steele throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saarinen throws a poor cross that misses
and Steele counters with a series of strikes. Saarinen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Steele loads up on a big right hand but Saarinen slips the punch.
Saarinen throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Steele takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Saarinen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Steele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saarinen.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Steele.
Saarinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saarinen lands a nice looking body kick.
Saarinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Steele checks it well.
Saarinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steele checks a leg kick.
Steele shoots in for a takedown but Saarinen shows good takedown defense.
Steele misses with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarinen misses with a body kick.
Saarinen tries a low kick but Steele avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A punch lands to the side of Saarinen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Steele's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Steele throws a lazy uppercut
and Saarinen counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Heikko Saarinen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Saarinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Steele is just out of range.
Saarinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saarinen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Saarinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steele uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saarinen.
Saarinen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Saarinen looks for the body kick but Steele saw that one coming.
Steele takes a swing at Saarinen's ribcage but misses.
Steele looks to land a right hand but Saarinen moved out of range.
Saarinen misses with a low kick.
Steele throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saarinen slips a straight right by Steele.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
Saarinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saarinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Steele misses with the combination.
Steele moves out of range as Saarinen throws a body kick.
Steele might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Saarinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Steele scores with a punch to the head.
Saarinen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Saarinen there as he acknowledges the shot.
No luck for Steele with that takedown attempt.
Steele throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saarinen's waist but Saarinen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Steele off to one side.
Nice uppercut there from Saarinen.
Steele swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Saarinen counters with a nice uppercut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Saarinen.
Steele displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saarinen throws out the jab.
Saarinen slips under a jab.
Saarinen misses with a hook.
Steele misses with a looping right.
Steele stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Saarinen.
Saarinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Steele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saarinen moves away.
Steele on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Saarinen. Saarinen obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele just misses with a punch to the body.
Saarinen slips a jab from Steele.
Saarinen misses the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steele. Saarinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Steele's calf.
Jab from Steele.
Steele shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saarinen pinned against the cage. Saarinen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Heikko Saarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Steele.
Steele lands a head shot.
Steele on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Saarinen throws a lazy uppercut
and Steele counters with a left and a right that stings Saarinen.
Steele shoots for a takedown but Saarinen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saarinen lands a really nice looking cross but Steele seems unphased.
Saarinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saarinen misses the shot to the body.
Saarinen cracks the inside of Steele's front leg.
Saarinen blocks a jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele blocks the body kick.
Steele moves out of range of the body kick from Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Steele staying out of range there.
Saarinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Saarinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steele moves away.
Saarinen lands with a right hand.
Steele ducks under a wild hook from Saarinen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saarinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saarinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saarinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steele shoots and misses
and Saarinen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Heikko Saarinen clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Saarinen throws the kick towards the body but Steele avoids it.
Steele fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Saarinen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Saarinen misses with a lunging right hand
and Steele counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Saarinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Saarinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Steele checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Steele looks to land a right hand but Saarinen moved out of range.
Saarinen throws a nice head kick!
Saarinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steele manages to avoid it.
Saarinen throws a hook to the side of Steele's head but Steele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saarinen throws an off balance right hand
and Steele counters with a three punch combo that has Saarinen backing up. Saarinen nods at Steele to acknowledge the strikes.
Steele throws a right and a left that Saarinen avoids nicely.
Saarinen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saarinen misses with a kick to the body.
Steele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saarinen manages to avoid it.
Saarinen is looking to clinch but Steele is avoiding it.
Saarinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Steele checks it well.
Steele throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saarinen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Steele is able to avoid easily.
Saarinen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Saarinen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Saarinen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Steele is out of range.
Saarinen lands a high kick!
A punch combination from Steele misses.
Saarinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a low kick but Steele moves out of range easily.
Steele looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steele ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Saarinen wants to land a leg kick but Steele is out of range.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
Steele misses with a wild body shot.
Steele takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Saarinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saarinen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Saarinen slowing the pace effectively.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen lands with a right to the head.
Saarinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saarinen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saarinen tries to work over Steele's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saarinen can't find room to land a body shot as Steele controls the action.
Saarinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Steele.
Saarinen avoiding damage.
Steele wants to stall.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen stalling.
A left hand lands to the body for Saarinen.
Saarinen misses with the head strike.
Saarinen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Saarinen lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saarinen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Saarinen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Heikko Saarinen had his way with Jason Steele in that round.
That's time! Saarinen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Steele slips under a jab.
Saarinen throws a head kick that misses.
Saarinen thuds his shin into the meat of Steele's side.
A leg kick checked by Steele.
Steele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Saarinen.
Steele throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Saarinen counter with a right hand.
Saarinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steele.
Steele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saarinen manages to avoid it.
Saarinen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Saarinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Steele keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Saarinen staying out of range there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a sloppy head kick and Steele moves out of range easily.
Steele displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saarinen throws out the jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Saarinen. That's going to slow Steele down.
Steele has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Saarinen.
Nice defenses there by Saarinen.
Saarinen tried to score with a low kick but Steele checks it.
Saarinen misses with a hook. Steele ducked under it nicely.
Saarinen is looking to chop away at Steele's legs.
Saarinen throws a head kick that misses.
Steele thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steele has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Saarinen throws a leg kick which misses Steele's front leg but catches the back leg as Steele tries to avoid it.
Steele scores with the left hand. Saarinen knows he should have avoided that one.
Saarinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saarinen misses with a low kick.
Steele misses with a straight left.
Saarinen misses with a looping left.
Steele checks a low kick from Saarinen.
Steele throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Steele uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saarinen.
Steele moves forwards but Saarinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Steele closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saarinen circles away.
Steele blocks a low kick nicely.
Saarinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele blocks a leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Saarinen as Steele shoots in.
A swing and a miss from Saarinen.
Saarinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Steele avoids the head kick by Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a head kick that half lands.
Saarinen throws a solid leg kick but Steele takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Saarinen.
Saarinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Saarinen throws out a leg kick but Steele moves out of range and Saarinen only half commits.
Jason Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Heikko Saarinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Steele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saarinen.
Saarinen looks to land a body kick but Steele moved away.
Saarinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steele moves out of range of the body kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen throws a low kick, looking for Steele's leg but Steele calmly moves out of range.
Steele is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a hook but Steele blocks it.
Danga de danga de dang - Steele scores with a four punch combination!
Saarinen moves out of range of the strikes.
The fighters circling - Steele throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Steele moves out of range of the body kick from Saarinen.
Saarinen throws a hook but Steele avoids it easily.
Saarinen throws a right hand that Steele ducks under and follows up with a left that Steele also avoids with ease.
Steele works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saarinen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Steele defending well as Saarinen loads up on a big left hand.
Steele shoots in but no luck this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Heikko Saarinen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saarinen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 49:46
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heikko Saarinen!
Heikko Saarinen retains his welterweight title!
Heikko Saarinen decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
85% |
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