PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mika Saarenpaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kato
vs
Saarenpaa

176 cm
31
167 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

183 cm
27
170 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Dauntless
Machiavelli Boutique

GREEN!160
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenji Kato!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mika Saarenpaa!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kato lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kato throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saarenpaa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kato is able to avoid easily.
Saarenpaa has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kenji Kato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kato lands with a straight right. Saarenpaa didn't see that one coming.
Kato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarenpaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saarenpaa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kato throws a low kick but Saarenpaa avoids it.
Saarenpaa appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kato works over Saarenpaa's head and body with a nice combination.
Saarenpaa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Saarenpaa scores with a nice right hand.
Saarenpaa lands the left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarenpaa digs a good body shot into Kato's ribs.
Kato looks to land a combination but Saarenpaa avoids it well.
Kato has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Netherlands Top Team in the buildup to the fight.
Saarenpaa moves out of range of the strikes.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Saarenpaa.
The fighters circling - Kato throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Saarenpaa digs a good hook to Kato's body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saarenpaa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Saarenpaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kato.
Saarenpaa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kato checks it well.
Kato on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kato lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Saarenpaa scores with a jab to the body.
Kato takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Saarenpaa slips a straight right by Kato.
Saarenpaa throws a jab when Kato was well out of range.
Saarenpaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kato works the jab nicely.
Kato thuds a left hand into Saarenpaa's body.
Kato misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saarenpaa.
Kato throws a hook but Saarenpaa blocks it.
Saarenpaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Kato is just out of range.
Kato throws a chopping leg kick but Saarenpaa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Saarenpaa. Kato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saarenpaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Kato tries to clinch but Saarenpaa is having none of it.
Saarenpaa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Saarenpaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Saarenpaa throws a body kick that misses
and Kato counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kato takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Saarenpaa is looking to chop away at Kato's legs.
Nice body kick there by Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa throws a jab when Kato was well out of range.
Kato blocks a head kick by Saarenpaa.
Kato scores with a nice strike.
Kato misses with a body kick.

Kato has managed to clinch.
Kato throws a punch but it's blocked by Saarenpaa.
Kato lands a hook to the side of the head.

Kato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saarenpaa throws the left hand but Kato avoids the punch easily.
Kato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Saarenpaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kato.
Saarenpaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato avoids the body shot from Saarenpaa.
Kato throwing a counter right hand but Saarenpaa manages to avoid it.
Kato misses with a straight left.
Saarenpaa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Saarenpaa feints and then cracks Kato's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kato down.
Saarenpaa ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Kato on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Saarenpaa. Saarenpaa obviously looking to wear him down.
Kato blocks the body kick.
Saarenpaa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Saarenpaa lands a high kick!
Saarenpaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kato moves away.
Saarenpaa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Saarenpaa throws a body shot but no joy.
Saarenpaa cracks Kato with a good jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Saarenpaa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kato has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kato and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kato takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kato thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saarenpaa! But no joy.
Saarenpaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kato.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kato crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Saarenpaa - the referee stops the clock and Kato gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Saarenpaa. Kato manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kato looks to land a right hand but Saarenpaa moved out of range.
Kato misses with a right hand
and Saarenpaa counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Saarenpaa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kato wants to clinch up but Saarenpaa keeps it at a distance.
Saarenpaa cracks Kato with an open hand slap.
Kato misses with a hook.
Kato wants to clinch up but Saarenpaa keeps it at a distance.
Saarenpaa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Saarenpaa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kato.
Saarenpaa pushes Kato away with a front kick.
Kato throws a shot to the body.
Saarenpaa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kato throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kato will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Kato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Saarenpaa checks a leg kick.
Kato throws a shot from downtown. Saarenpaa moves away and avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saarenpaa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A swing and a miss from Kato.
Saarenpaa is trying to counter with his kicks.
Kato takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Saarenpaa throws a leg kick but Kato sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mika Saarenpaa will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saarenpaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kato throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Saarenpaa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kato takes a step back to recover.
Mika Saarenpaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kato looks to land a left hand but Saarenpaa moved out of range nicely.
Kato tries to clinch up.
Some bone on bone action there as Kato checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Saarenpaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kato with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kato looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A slapping leg kick lands for Saarenpaa.
Kato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kato takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Saarenpaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kato.
Kato throws a lazy right hand but Saarenpaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Kato checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A big right from Kato misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarenpaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kato throws a lazy uppercut
and Saarenpaa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kato's knee momentarily.
Kato misses with a body punch
and Saarenpaa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saarenpaa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Kato instigates a clinch.

Kato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kato throws a body punch but Saarenpaa moves out of range.
Saarenpaa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Saarenpaa lands with a shot to the body.
Saarenpaa connects with a solid leg kick.
Saarenpaa is looking to land body kicks.
A shot to the body from Kato misses
and Saarenpaa counters with a stiff right hand.
Saarenpaa is looking to slow Kato down with leg kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarenpaa misses with a body kick.
Kato walks into a stiff left hand from Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Saarenpaa.
Kato lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato throws a hook to the side of Saarenpaa's head but Saarenpaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kato blocks the body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Kato misses the target.
Saarenpaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kato.
Saarenpaa blocks a jab.
Kato takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kato drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
That kick from Saarenpaa tenderised Kato's leg. Kato is trying to keep his angry face on.
Saarenpaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saarenpaa keeps Kato at a distance using the push kick.
Kato is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kato. That's going to slow Saarenpaa down.
Saarenpaa is looking to slow Kato down with leg kicks.
Kato throws a sloppy body shot
and Saarenpaa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kato just misses with a punch to the body.
Saarenpaa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saarenpaa lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A shot to the liver by Kato. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa throws a hook to the side of Kato's head but Kato sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kato swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A good leg kick by Saarenpaa.
Kato turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Saarenpaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kato.
Saarenpaa steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Saarenpaa throws a leg kick which misses Kato's front leg but catches the back leg as Kato tries to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Kato blocks the low kick.
Kato throws a body shot but no joy.
A decent looking cross lands there for Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa motions for Kato to come forward. Saarenpaa throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saarenpaa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Saarenpaa lands a leg kick that knocks Kato off balance momentarily.
Kato misses with a double jab.
Kato scoring well with a low kick there.
Saarenpaa feints and then cracks Kato's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kato down.
Saarenpaa ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Kato missing with a left hand there. Saarenpaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Saarenpaa misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kato throws out the jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saarenpaa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saarenpaa thuds his right hand into Kato's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Saarenpaa with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kato to score with a decent uppercut.
Saarenpaa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Katos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Saarenpaa lands with a right hand.
Saarenpaa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kato blocks a low kick nicely.
Kato swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saarenpaa was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Saarenpaa, right into the meat.
Kato on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Saarenpaa. Saarenpaa obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from Kato misses.
Saarenpaa looks to throw the jab but Kato is out of range.
Kato throwing a counter right hand but Saarenpaa manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kato misses with a right hand
and Saarenpaa counters with a leg kick.
Saarenpaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kato can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Saarenpaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kato steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Saarenpaa. That one must have hurt.
Saarenpaa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kato throws a jab when Saarenpaa was well out of range.
Saarenpaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kato walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Saarenpaa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kato misses with a series of wild punches.
Kato checks the leg kick.
Saarenpaa ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Saarenpaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
That kick from Saarenpaa tenderised Kato's leg. Kato is trying to keep his angry face on.
Saarenpaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kato misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarenpaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saarenpaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Saarenpaa throws a low kick but Kato moves out of range easily.
Saarenpaa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kato's calf.
Kato is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Saarenpaa's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saarenpaa throws a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato connects with a looping right hand.
Saarenpaa lands with an uppercut that bounces Kato off the cage and back into range.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
Saarenpaa throws a hook but Kato avoids it easily.
Saarenpaa tries a low kick but Kato avoids it.
Kato throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Saarenpaa ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Kato throws a low kick, looking for Saarenpaa's leg but Saarenpaa calmly moves out of range.
Saarenpaa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saarenpaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kato was well out of range. Poor timing from Saarenpaa.
Kato throws a big shot that misses.
That kick from Saarenpaa tenderised Kato's leg. Kato is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big left from Kato misses.
Saarenpaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Saarenpaa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato throws out a powerful jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kato takes a jab right on the kisser.
Saarenpaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kato takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Saarenpaa feints and then cracks Kato's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kato down.
Kato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saarenpaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kato.
Saarenpaa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kato manages to avoid it.
Kato tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Saarenpaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kato throws a nice looking combination but Saarenpaa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kato checks a leg kick.
Kato throws a lazy uppercut
and Saarenpaa counters with a stiff right hand.
An inside leg kick from Kato misses.
Kato misses with a body kick.
Saarenpaa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kato tries to clinch there but Saarenpaa circles away.
Kato looks to land a right hand but Saarenpaa moved out of range.
Saarenpaa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Saarenpaa checks a leg kick nicely.
Saarenpaa now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kato looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Saarenpaa has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kato.
Saarenpaa throws a leg kick which misses Kato's front leg but catches the back leg as Kato tries to avoid it.
Kato swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Saarenpaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kato thows a leg kick but Saarenpaa checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Saarenpaa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kato tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kato takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kato looks to land a right hand but Saarenpaa moved out of range.
Saarenpaa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kato tried to score with a low kick but Saarenpaa checks it.
Kato takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saarenpaa lands with a kick to the ribs.
Saarenpaa scores with a kick to the body.
Kato misses with a straight right.
Saarenpaa connects with an inside leg kick.
Saarenpaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kato misses with a double jab
and Saarenpaa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa scores with a leg kick.
Kato looks to land a combination but Saarenpaa avoids it well.
Saarenpaa thuds his shin into the meat of Kato's side.
Kato gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Saarenpaa.
Kato darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A big right from Kato misses.
Saarenpaa blocks a jab.
Saarenpaa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kato misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Saarenpaa really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kato walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Saarenpaa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Saarenpaa thumps Kato with a low kick.
Saarenpaa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kato's calf.
Saarenpaa misses with a wild body shot.
Saarenpaa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saarenpaa defending well as Kato loads up on a big left hand.
Saarenpaa is trying to counter with his kicks.
Kato misses with a wild body shot.
Saarenpaa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Saarenpaa is looking to slow Kato down with leg kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fighters circling - Kato throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kato throws a poor cross that misses
and Saarenpaa counters with an outside leg kick.
Saarenpaa staying out of range there.
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!
Kato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saarenpaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Saarenpaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarenpaa lands a right hook to the body.
Saarenpaa throws a front kick aimed at Kato's knee but Kato avoids it well.
Kato tries to clinch but Saarenpaa is having none of it.
Saarenpaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kato.
Saarenpaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Saarenpaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Kato closes the distance and pushes Saarenpaa back into the cage.
Kato struggles to land a body shot inside as Saarenpaa controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kato.
Saarenpaa misses with some punches.
Kato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kato misses with a punch on the inside.
Saarenpaa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saarenpaa misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato tries to work over Saarenpaa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kato struggles to land a body shot inside as Saarenpaa controls his hands.
Saarenpaa prevents a body shot from Kato.
Saarenpaa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kato tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saarenpaa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kato.
A short right from Kato.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saarenpaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saarenpaa misses with the head strike.
Saarenpaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Kato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saarenpaa misses with a punch on the inside.
Saarenpaa scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kato misses with a punch to the body.
Kato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kato blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saarenpaa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Katos head.
Kato lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saarenpaa backwards.
Kato goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saarenpaa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kato lands a left hand.
Kato scores with a shoulder strike.
Kato blocking some punches.
Saarenpaa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Saarenpaa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Kato fails to land.

Kato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato looks to land a body kick but Saarenpaa moved away.
Kato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kato takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kato misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarenpaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Kato.
Kato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saarenpaa lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kato misses with an uppercut. Saarenpaa saw that one coming.
Kato lands a two punch combo.
The fighters circling - Kato throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Saarenpaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Saarenpaa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Saarenpaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Saarenpaa connects with a body shot.
Kato throws an overhand right that lands on Saarenpaa's shoulder, as Saarenpaa tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Mika Saarenpaa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Saarenpaa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kato.
Saarenpaa throws a shot to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Saarenpaa.
Kato misses with a left hand
and Saarenpaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saarenpaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Saarenpaa looks for the body kick but Kato saw that one coming.
Kato misses with a looping right.
Kato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A good leg kick by Kato.
Saarenpaa thuds his shin into the meat of Kato's side.
Good leg kick by Saarenpaa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Saarenpaa connects with a right hand. Kato shakes it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saarenpaa tries a head kick but it misses.
Kato misses with a body kick.
Saarenpaa follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kato jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kato closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kato misses with a straight left.
Kato tries to clinch up but Saarenpaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Saarenpaa ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
Saarenpaa checks a low kick from Kato.
Saarenpaa scores with the left hand. Kato knows he should have avoided that one.

Kato has taken the fight to the clinch.
Saarenpaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Saarenpaa.
Kato's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Saarenpaa misses with the head strike.
Saarenpaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kenji Kato has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Saarenpaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Kato scores with a nice short uppercut.
Saarenpaa prevents a body shot from Kato.
Saarenpaa gets through Kato's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Saarenpaa lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa struggles to land a body shot inside as Kato controls his hands.
Kato takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kato misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Saarenpaa.
Kato blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kato swings wildly with an uppercut but Saarenpaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kato lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa lands a body shot.
Kato lands a nice uppercut.
Kato misses with some punches.

Kato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saarenpaa misses with a wild body shot.
Kato slips under a jab from Saarenpaa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarenpaa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Saarenpaa lands a jab to the nose.
Kato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saarenpaa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saarenpaa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kato scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kato tries to clinch but Saarenpaa is having none of it.
Kato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saarenpaa was well out of range. Poor timing from Kato.
A nice side step and Saarenpaa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kato throws a lazy right hand but Saarenpaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kato lands with a shot to the body.
Saarenpaa blocks a leg kick.
Saarenpaa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Saarenpaa misses with a low kick.
A jab from Kato misses.
Saarenpaa slips a jab and a cross from Kato.

Saarenpaa gets tackled into the cage by Kato. Kato maintains the clinch.
Kato is trying to push Saarenpaa away but Saarenpaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kenji Kato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saarenpaa blocking some punches.
Kato scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saarenpaa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Saarenpaa.
A head punch on the inside from Saarenpaa fails to land.
Kato misses with a punch to the body.
Kato misses with a punch on the inside.
Saarenpaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Kato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saarenpaa struggles to land a body shot inside as Kato controls his hands.
Kato has a couple of punches blocked by Saarenpaa.
Saarenpaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kato is working Saarenpaa over against the cage.
Kato can't find room to land a body shot as Saarenpaa controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mika Saarenpaa.
I've got Saarenpaa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 46:49
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mika Saarenpaa!
Mika Saarenpaa is the new lightweight champion!
Mika Saarenpaa thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Kenji Kato spoke after the fight, saying 'Well shit he beat me twice now, the guy is a stud.'.