PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdallah Said (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samu Sand (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.

Said
vs
Sand

185 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abdallah Said !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samu Sand!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Said gets tackled into the cage by Sand. Sand maintains the clinch.
Sand tries to work over Said 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sand pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Said throws a combination that misses
and Sand counters with a head kick.
Sand fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Said avoids it really well and circles away.
Sand throws a head kick but Said moves out of range.
Said shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sand defends it nicely.
Said lands a jab.
Sand throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Said gets a takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sand is looking to escape.
Said wants to stand up but Sand is controlling the position.
Said is looking to stall here but Sand recovers full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sand is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Said is controlling him.
Said being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Said won't allow Sand to get back to his feet.

Said decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sand, up you get!
Sand throws a sloppy head kick and Said moves out of range easily.
Said tries to clinch there but Sand circles away.
Sand is looking to clinch.
Sand blocks a leg kick.
Sand wants to clinch up but Said keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Said . Those never looked like landing.
Said is looking to clinch.

Sand closes the distance and clinches.
Said has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sand after a bit of a struggle.
Sand avoiding damage.

Sand manages to break the clinch.

Said tries to keep at a distance but Sand has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sand tries to work over Said 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sand stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Said is pressed up against the cage. Sand has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Said down to the mat. Said avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sand stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sand wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdallah Said . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Said stuffs the takedown attempt from Sand. Sand gets slowly back to his feet.
Said swinging wildly here.
Said is breathing heavily.
Sand keeps Said at a distance using the push kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Said dives in and scores a takedown into Sand's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Said stopping the sweep attempt from Sand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Samu Sand will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sand taking a breather.
Said looking for a takedown.
Said tries to circle away but Sand has him pinned against the cage.
Sand controlling the action here for a moment.
Said is trying to drag Sand to the mat but Sand just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sand fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdallah Said . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Said throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sand throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Said .

It looks like Abdallah Said has been cut.
Said shoots in for a double leg but Sand sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sand closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Said to the mat! Said manages to get full guard.
Sand stays in close to Said 's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sand's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Samu Sand has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sand throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Said .

Sand shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Said is trying to defend but Sand finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Said tries to get to full guard but Sand has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sand keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Samu Sand wasn't active enough on the ground.
Said circles away from the clinch attempt.
Samu Sand seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Said gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sand counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sand lands a nice knee to the body.

Sand breaks from the clinch.
Sand wants to clinch.
A combination from Said does no damage.

Sand shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Said manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sand stands and steps away. Said gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samu Sand showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abdallah Said 's cut.
That's time! Said 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sand tries to close the distance and clinch but Said swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sand tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Said paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sand misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Said throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Said fails with an attempt to clinch.
Said throws a head kick that misses
and Sand finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Sand looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sand throws a head kick but Said moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sand feints a jab promting Said to slip. Sand then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Said slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Said misses with a leg kick
and Sand counters with a left and a right that stings Said .
Abdallah Said is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Said takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sand scores with the left hand. Said knows he should have avoided that one.

Abdallah Said 's cut is getting worse.
Sand throws a head kick but Said moves out of range.
Said dives in and grabs Sand's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sand pushes down on Said 's head and hops out.
Sand works over Said 's head and body with a nice combination.
Sand tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Said swivels and escapes.
Said shoots for a double leg takedown but Sand sprawls well. He's pushed Said 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sand showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Said .
Sand throws a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sand lands with a kick to the temple. Said shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Sand closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Said takes a knee to the side of the body.

Sand breaks the clinch.
Sand fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Said misses with a leg kick
and Sand counters with a leg kick.
Samu Sand seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Said changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sand tries to avoid it but Said manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sand to the ground. Sand escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdallah Said . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sand closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sand lands a knee to the head.

Said breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sand throws a head kick but Said moves out of range.
Sand misses with a head kick.
Samu Sand is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Said shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sand defends it nicely.

Sand closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Said can't break the clinch.
Said has Sand pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sand manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sand.
Sand with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sand.
Abdallah Said has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sand will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Said up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sand lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

And that's the end of the fight!
Samu Sand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sand has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samu Sand!