PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Saraste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thor Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wood is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Wardruna - Blood Eagle. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saraste
vs
Wood

175 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Sun-Tzu

Urban Fighter

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Konstantin Saraste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Wood!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wood closes the distance but Saraste moves to the side
and Saraste counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Saraste throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Wood stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Saraste stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wood.
Saraste avoids the head kick by Wood.
Wood tries to close the distance and clinch but Saraste swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saraste appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saraste. Wood does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wood connects with a crisp jab.
Wood lets loose with a powerful body kick. Saraste will feel that in the morning.
Wood swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood is looking to clinch but Saraste is avoiding it.
Saraste swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice uppercut lands for Saraste. That snapped Wood's head back.
Saraste throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wood sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wood tries to counter by closing the distance.
Thor Wood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wood tries a low kick but Saraste avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraste throws a jab but it's blocked by Wood.
A big left from Saraste misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Wood! But no joy.
Wood looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Saraste throws a body punch but Wood moves out of range.
Wood swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thor Wood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wood's corner calls for a 1-2. Wood obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wood looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Saraste is looking to counter punch.
Wood throws a front kick that sends Saraste stumbling back into the cage.
Wood lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wood throws a leg kick which misses Saraste's front leg but catches the back leg as Saraste tries to avoid it.
Saraste gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A head kick misses from Wood.
Wood throws a head kick but Saraste moves out of range.
Jab by Wood.
Wood is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Saraste throws the left hand but Wood avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraste moves out of range of the leg kick from Wood.
Saraste was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Wood moves in looking to clinch but Saraste pushes him off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wood jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice inside leg kick there by Wood. That's going to slow Saraste down.
A telegraphed right hand from Saraste misses the target.
Wood flicks out a counter leg kick but Saraste steps away.
Wood slips under a jab from Saraste.
The fighters circling - Saraste throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wood misses with a low kick.
Saraste changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Saraste is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Wood's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Wood connects with a leg kick. Saraste looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wood throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saraste sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Wood lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wood swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Saraste on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wood throws a leg kick that misses.
Wood takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood moves away from the strike by Saraste.
Saraste slips under a jab.
Wood tries to clinch there but Saraste circles away.
Wood pivots, looking for a leg kick but Saraste is out of range and Wood settles back down.
Saraste checks a low kick from Wood.
A low kick from Wood misses
and Saraste counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wood throws out a loose jab but Saraste uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wood scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wood throws a poor cross that misses
and Saraste counters with a nice body shot.
Wood throws a head kick that Saraste semi-blocks.
Wood misses with a straight right.
Wood misses with a straight right.
Wood tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wood tries to clinch up but Saraste circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saraste shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Wood kicks off Saraste and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wood misses with an uppercut.
Saraste checks a low kick from Wood.
Saraste keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Wood avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wood thows a leg kick but Saraste checks it

and Saraste counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Wood manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Saraste slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Wood forces Saraste back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Wood dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Wood bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saraste's head backwards.
Wood blocks a jab.
Wood has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wood scores with a nice body kick.
A swing and a miss from Saraste.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Wood - that will leave a mark!
Wood throws a leg kick
and Wood takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saraste swings for the body but Wood moves out of range.
Wood throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wood closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fighters circling - Saraste throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saraste tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wood was well out of range. Poor timing from Saraste.
Wood tries to land a front kick but Saraste steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Wood gets caught flat footed, as Saraste shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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!
Saraste working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wood's head.
Saraste has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraste in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saraste with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saraste might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saraste tries to free his leg and advance position but Wood is retaining full guard.
Saraste stands up over Wood, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saraste is working Wood over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Saraste is in close to Wood's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saraste wants to pass the guard but Wood is keeping the position.
Saraste lands a couple of digs.
Saraste throws a big elbow that misses.
Saraste postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood looking to control.
Wood looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saraste trying to control but Wood is working from the bottom.
Saraste stands up over Wood, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saraste stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saraste trying to control the position from guard on top but Wood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saraste trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraste throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saraste misses with an uppercut.
Wood throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saraste scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A telegraphed right hand from Wood misses the target.
Wood dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Saraste throws a hook but Wood blocks it.
Despite the aggression on Wood's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Wood throws a leg kick
and Saraste cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wood tries to work over Saraste's front leg with a kick but Saraste checks it.
Wood blocks a jab.
Wood throws a body kick that misses
and Saraste cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wood throws a leg kick that is checked

and Saraste counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saraste.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saraste throwing strikes but missing.
Wood working a defensive guard here.
Wood keeping moving, preventing Saraste from controlling successfully.
Wood 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saraste is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wood trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Saraste dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from Saraste.

It looks like Thor Wood has been cut.
Wood misses with a leg kick
and Wood takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wood stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wood throws a leg kick but Saraste moved away.
Wood moves out of range as Saraste strikes.
Wood ducks under a wild hook from Saraste.
Saraste lands an overhand right.
Saraste is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wood tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Saraste is able to avoid easily.
A little feinted left hand from Saraste on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wood slips a straight right by Saraste.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood throws a leg kick but Saraste moved away.
Saraste misses with a body shot.
Saraste has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wood.
Wood is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saraste.
Saraste half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraste looks to throw the jab but Wood is out of range.
Wood avoids the body shot from Saraste.
Saraste smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wood tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saraste throws a shot to the body.
Wood misses with a body kick.
Saraste appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Wood attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thor Wood seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saraste keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Wood will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Saraste feinted with a counter takedown.
Wood throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Wood misses the target.
Wood ducks under a wild hook from Saraste.
A big right from Wood misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraste cracks Wood with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wood is looking to clinch but Saraste is avoiding it.
Wood is looking to clinch but Saraste is avoiding it.
Saraste on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wood throws a sloppy head kick and Saraste moves out of range easily.
Wood fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Saraste is out of range.
Wood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saraste moves out of range of the body kick.
Saraste fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wood manages to avoid it.
Saraste sets himself, and Wood steps forward looking for the clinch! Saraste avoids it this time.
Wood takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wood fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Saraste checks it well.
Saraste seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Wood lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A cross from Wood lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraste looks to score with a jab to the body but Wood is just out of range.
Wood swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saraste is looking to counter punch.
Wood moves away from the strike by Saraste.
A little jabbing left from Wood on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Wood throws a leg kick but Saraste moved away.
Wood misses with a leg kick
and Saraste counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Saraste manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Wood on his heels. He'll look to pass Wood's guard now, I'm sure.
Wood looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saraste is one step ahead there.
Saraste is stalling in the full guard.
Saraste working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saraste is stalling in the full guard.
Saraste throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saraste stands up over Wood, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saraste postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Saraste lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wood can't keep his opponent in guard - Saraste advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Saraste seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Saraste showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saraste 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konstantin Saraste!
An out of breath Konstantin Saraste thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.