PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitsuomi Sakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Rokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakata comes to the cage accompanied by Ketsunoke vs Shirinoke by Gintama OST. Rokka comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Antero's Walkout kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sakata
vs
Rokka

183 cm
23
220 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
212 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mitsuomi Sakata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antero Rokka!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rokka blocks a jab.
Rokka works Sakata's body with a nice hook.
Sakata loads up on a big right hand but Rokka slips the punch.
Rokka checks a low kick from Sakata.
Sakata swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sakata takes one to the side of the head.
Sakata looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sakata throws a low kick, looking for Rokka's leg but Rokka calmly moves out of range.
Sakata throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rokka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rokka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakata takes a swing at Rokka's ribcage but misses.
Rokka thows a body kick. Sakata tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakata looks to score with a jab to the body but Rokka is just out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rokka.
Sakata lands a leg kick that knocks Rokka off balance momentarily.
Nice body kick from Sakata.
Rokka moves out of range of the strikes.
Sakata throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka moves out of range of the strikes.
Rokka throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Crunch! Sakata slams his shin into Rokka's torso.
Sakata misses with a straight left.

Rokka closes the distance and pushes Sakata back into the cage.
Sakata using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rokka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sakata throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sakata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakata lands with a light punch inside.
Rokka misses with the head strike.
Sakata throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rokka blocks it with crossed arms.
Sakata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rokka gets through Sakata's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sakata lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rokka backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sakata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sakata looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rokka working aggressively here.
Sakata tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rokka avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokka avoiding damage as Sakata throws knees to the body.
Sakata throws a head punch that misses.
Rokka lands a nice uppercut.
Rokka avoiding damage as Sakata throws knees to the body.
Rokka blocks a body shot from Sakata.
Sakata throws a head punch that misses.
Sakata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rokka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rokka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sakata backwards.
Sakata throws a punch but it's blocked by Rokka.
Rokka pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rokka lands a body shot.
Rokka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sakata lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rokka swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakata uses good head movement to avoid it.

Rokka drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rokka has his foot on Sakata's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakata works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rokka wants to sweep but no luck.
Sakata looking to pass the guard.
Rokka wants to sweep here but Sakata controlling him for the moment.

Rokka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rokka keeping moving, preventing Sakata from controlling successfully.
Sakata working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rokka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakata defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rokka has his foot on Sakata's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakata works his way back into a safe position though.
Rokka keeping moving, preventing Sakata from controlling successfully.

Sakata avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sakata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rokka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rokka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakata wants to control from the top but Rokka keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antero Rokka will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sakata's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sakata works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A big right from Sakata misses.
Sakata throws a hook to the side of Rokka's head but Rokka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakata will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sakata darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sakata misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rokka.
Sakata throws a looping overhand right but Rokka ducks down to avoid it.
Sakata throws a push kick but Rokka slaps the foot to one side.
Sakata will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sakata motions for Rokka to come forward. Sakata throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sakata.
Sakata misses with a straight right.
Rokka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakata throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rokka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rokka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sakata manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rokka.
Rokka smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rokka moves away from the strike by Sakata.
Sakata misses with a leg kick.
Rokka lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sakata will feel that in the morning.
Sakata thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rokka tests Sakata's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rokka throws a leg kick which misses Sakata's front leg but catches the back leg as Sakata tries to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rokka. That's going to slow Sakata down.
Mitsuomi Sakata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rokka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rokka scores with a punch to the head.
Sakata keeps the fight on the outside.
Rokka connects with an inside leg kick.
Rokka catches Sakata with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rokka tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rokka lands a big right hand that sends Sakata crashing to the mat! Rokka stays standing though and waves Sakata back to his feet!

Sakata is rocked!
Rokka moves out of range of the strikes.
Oh Sakata is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rokka moves out of range as Sakata throws a body kick.
Sakata seems to have got his legs back now.
Sakata misses with a straight left.
Rokka throws a head kick but Sakata moves out of range.
Sakata swats away the attempt to clinch by Rokka.
Rokka fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sakata has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rokka throws a nice looking combination but Sakata bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sakata looks to land a right hand but Rokka moved out of range.
Antero Rokka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rokka misses with a head kick.
Sakata throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sakata misses with a body shot.
Sakata lands with a good body shot.
Rokka moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakata misses with a hook.
Rokka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sakata scores with a decent looking hook.
Sakata fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sakata swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rokka scoring well with a low kick there.
Rokka takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rokka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sakata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rokka misses with a head kick.
Rokka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakata.
Rokka thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakata connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rokka takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rokka is breathing heavily.
Rokka throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakata goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rokka lands a really nice looking cross but Sakata seems unphased.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sakata.
A jab from Sakata misses.
Sakata throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sakata misses with a wild body shot.
Rokka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rokka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sakata missing with a left hand there. Rokka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakata thumps Rokka with a low kick.
Sakata with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sakata lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakata scores with a kick to the body.
Sakata lands a nice looking body shot.
Sakata fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rokka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
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 Mitsuomi Sakata will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sakata throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sakata buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rokka 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.
Sakata jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakata keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sakata misses with a two punch combination.
Sakata feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rokkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sakata buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A jab from Sakata misses.
Sakata pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sakata throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakata throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rokka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rokka dips to his left and cracks Sakata with an uppercut!
Rokka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rokka tries to clinch up.
Rokka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Sakata there.
Rokka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sakata wants to slow Rokka down by chopping away at his legs.
Rokka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sakata misses with an uppercut

and Rokka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rokka.
Rokka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Rokka.
A left hand lands to the body for Rokka.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakata with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sakata lands with a left to the head.
Sakata misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rokka.
Sakata with an attempt at a knee that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rokka throws a punch but it's blocked by Sakata.
A left hand lands to the body for Rokka.
A shot in the inside from Rokka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokka lands a nice shot to the body.
Rokka is trying to pull guard but Sakata turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sakata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakata trying to land knees to the body.
Rokka avoids the elbow strike from Sakata, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rokka.
Rokka lands with a short shot to the head.
Sakata prevents a body shot from Rokka.
A head punch on the inside from Sakata fails to land.
Rokka blocks a body shot from Sakata.
Rokka lands a hook that snaps the head of Sakata backwards.
Rokka avoids a wild elbow strike from Sakata.
Rokka lands a body punch.
Rokka misses with a body punch.
Rokka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sakata swings wildly with an uppercut but Rokka uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka blocks an elbow strike from Sakata.
Sakata misses with a knee strike.
Sakata working aggressively here.
Sakata scores with a knee to the head.
Rokka stalling in the clinch.
Sakata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sakata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rokka's elbow.
Sakata lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sakata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rokka's elbow.
Rokka blocking some punches.
Rokka blocks the elbow strike.
Rokka working aggressively here.
Sakata swings wildly with an uppercut but Rokka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakata tries to throw a body punch but Rokka avoids it by throwing Sakata back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rokka.
Rokka scores with a shoulder strike.
Sakata prevents a body shot from Rokka.
Sakata misses with the head strike.
A hook to the body from Rokka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice left hand lands by Rokka.
Rokka is trying to pull guard but Sakata turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sakata lands an elbow that stopped Rokka in his tracks for a moment.
Sakata looking to throw knees to the head but Rokka is blocking nicely.
Rokka lands a right hand.
Rokka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sakata misses with a body punch.
Rokka blocking some punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakata swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sakata misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rokka.
Sakata throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sakata lands a body shot in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mitsuomi Sakata.
I think Sakata 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mitsuomi Sakata!
Post fight, Mitsuomi Sakata stared into the camera and said 'Minnasan, arigatou gozaimasu! Ore wa sugoku ureshii desu! Yatta!'.