PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antti Atleetti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atleetti comes into the arena with Beyonce - Halo blaring out of the sound system. The key to victory for Antti Atleetti has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Atleetti
vs
Sankari

180 cm
18
179 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Atleetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atleetti moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
No joy there for Atleetti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Atleetti tries for a takedown but Sankari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Atleetti stuffs the takedown.

Sankari forces Atleetti back against the cage and clinches.

Sankari has picked Atleetti up - he's going for a ride! Sankari dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sankari stalling away here and it's allowed Atleetti to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Sankari stands and steps away. Atleetti gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Atleetti shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Atleetti showed some decent athleticism there.

Sankari looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Atleetti stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Atleetti misses.
Atleetti with a poor takedown

and Sankari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Sankari stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sankari with a lazy takedown attempt
and Atleetti counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sankari looks gassed!
Atleetti throws a right hand that Sankari ducks under and follows up with a left that Sankari also avoids with ease.
Atleetti tries to bum rush Sankari with a series of wild strikes but Sankari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sankari shoots in but Atleetti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Antti Atleetti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikael Sankari.
Atleetti throws a right hand that Sankari ducks under and follows up with a left that Sankari also avoids with ease.

Sankari shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Atleetti is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atleetti holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sankari tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Atleetti wants to control but Sankari is having none of it.
Atleetti really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sankari scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sankari fails to move to back control.

Sankari moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Atleetti has worked his arm free - good work by Atleetti!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sankari swings around for an armbar but Atleetti sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sankari's guard.
Atleetti trying to control but Sankari is working from the bottom.
Atleetti works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sankari is refusing to be controlled, as Atleetti sits in half guard.
Sankari tries to roll over but Atleetti keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Atleetti wants to take a breather but Sankari is having none of it.
Atleetti wants to pass to mount but Sankari is defending the position.

Sankari kicks Atleetti off and gets back to his feet.
Atleetti gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sankari counters with a shoot takedown. Atleetti fights it but they end up in guard.

Sankari decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Atleetti, up you get!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atleetti has a takedown stuffed.
Atleetti throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Sankari dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sankari looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Sankari decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Atleetti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Atleetti throws a right and a left that Sankari avoids nicely.
Atleetti misses with a few strikes there.
Sankari shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Atleetti but Atleetti pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Atleetti fails with the takedown

and Sankari counters with a nice double leg into side control. Atleetti won't be happy with that.

Sankari decides to stand back up. Sankari steps back and let's Atleetti get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atleetti stuffs the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Atleetti scores with a four punch combination!
A shot to the body from Atleetti misses

and Sankari counters with a takedown into side control.
Atleetti sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sankari wants to get back to his feet.

Sankari is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sankari wants to pass the guard but Atleetti is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atleetti wants to get back to his feet.

Sankari stands up out of the half guard.
Sankari tries for a takedown but Atleetti circles away easily
and Atleetti counters with a nice uppercut.
Antti Atleetti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikael Sankari.
Atleetti misses with a takedown

and Sankari counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Atleetti's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sankari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Atleetti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sankari throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atleetti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sankari postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Atleetti is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sankari, into his guard.

Sankari wriggles free and stands up.
Sankari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Atleetti's waist but Atleetti gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sankari off to one side.
Sankari slips a jab and a cross from Atleetti.
Sankari changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Atleetti tries to avoid it but Sankari manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Atleetti to the ground. Atleetti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Antti Atleetti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atleetti looks to land a combination. Sankari sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Atleetti shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sankari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Sankari stands up from half guard.
Atleetti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Antti Atleetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atleetti doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sankari counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Atleetti's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sankari has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Atleetti is proving hard to escape from.
Atleetti wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Sankari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Atleetti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sankari closes the distance and clinches up with Atleetti, looking for a takedown. Sankari pushes Atleetti against the cage but Atleetti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Atleetti getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Atleetti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sankari counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sankari is pressing down on Atleetti's thigh, looking to free his foot. Atleetti is holding on for now.
Sankari looks to land a strike but Atleetti avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Atleetti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sankari has an active guard here but Atleetti has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sankari avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Atleetti.
Atleetti stops Sankari from getting back to his feet.
Atleetti working over Sankari with some ground and pound. Sankari looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sankari is trying to stand up here but Atleetti is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sankari wants to improve his position but Atleetti is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Atleetti throws a series of punches but Sankari moves out of range.

Atleetti drives through with a takedown into guard.

Atleetti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sankari is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sankari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Atleetti can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Atleetti pushes down on Sankari's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sankari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Atleetti missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sankari kicks Atleetti off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Atleetti shoots for a takedown but Sankari saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Atleetti misses with a takedown attempt

and Sankari holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sankari ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sankari no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sankari is looking to stand up but Atleetti isn't so interested in that idea.
Sankari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Atleetti wants to control from the top but Sankari keeps moving.
Mikael Sankari has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sankari working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Atleetti doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Atleetti manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sankari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikael Sankari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sankari winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikael Sankari!