PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samppa Linna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rau Utu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rau Utu will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Linna
vs
Utu

190 cm
33
242 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

225 cm
41
278 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samppa Linna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rau Utu!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Utu closes the distance and pushes Linna back into the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Linna creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Rau Utu has been cut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Linna.
Utu blocking some punches.
Linna lands a shoulder strike.
Utu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Linna fails to land.
Linna pushes Utu back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Linna lands a shoulder strike.
Linna misses with the head strike.
Linna scores with a nice hook to the head.
Utu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short uppercut from Linna.
Utu misses with the head strike.
Utu tries to throw a body punch but Linna avoids it by throwing Utu back against the cage.
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!
Linna cracks Utu with a nice body shot.
Utu blocks an uppercut.
Utu throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Linna fails to land.
Linna lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Linna lands a left hand that snaps the head of Utu backwards.
Linna throws a head punch that misses.
Utu blocks a body shot from Linna.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Utu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Utu manages to break the clinch.
Donk. Utu catches Linna right on the button with a cross.
Utu throws a wild body kick that Linna sees coming a mile off.
Utu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Linna at a distance.
A punch lands to the side of Linna 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Utu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Linna throws out the jab.
Utu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Utu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Utu throws a body punch but Linna moves out of range.
Linna throws a nice outside leg kick.
Linna misses the jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Utu.
Linna is looking to clinch but Utu is avoiding it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Linna fails with a takedown attempt.
Linna looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Utu just misses with a punch to the body.
Linna takes one on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Utu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Linna as he connects with a hook.
Utu misses with a body kick.
Utu checks a low kick from Linna.
Utu follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Utu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Linna avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Utu slips under a jab.
Linna pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Linna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Linna doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A body shot lands from Utu.
Linna is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Utu's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A body shot lands from Linna.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Linna.
Utu looks winded!

Utu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Utu throws a shot from downtown. Linna moves away and avoids it.
Linna looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Utu stuffs the takedown.
Linna connects with a solid leg kick.
Linna misses with a looping right.
Utu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Linna tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Utu swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samppa Linna. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linna fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Utu manages to avoid it.
Linna shoots in for a takedown but Utu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Linna tries to clinch there but Utu circles away.
Utu looks to land a right hand but Linna moved out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Linna misses the target.
Rau Utu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good leg kick by Linna there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Utu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Utu scores with a decent looking hook.
Utu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Utu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Linna throws out the jab.
Linna throws a big shot that misses.
Utu misses with a body kick.
Utu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Linna jabs at Utu's body.
Linna lands a body shot.
Linna avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Linna shoots in for a double leg but Utu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Utu takes one to the chin there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good work by Utu as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Linna throws a jab but it's blocked by Utu.
Utu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Linna throws a low kick but it's checked well by Utu.
Utu raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Utu lands a front kick.
Linna takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Linna misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Utu misses.
Linna scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Linna slips a jab from Utu.
Linna tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Utu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Utu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Linna misses with a straight right.
Linna scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Utu lands a lovely overhand right.
Linna pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Linna moves out of range as Utu strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Utu as Linna shoots in.
Utu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Samppa Linna will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rau Utu's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Utu closes the distance and pushes Linna back into the cage.
Utu lands a shot to the body.
Linna stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Utu.
Linna swings wildly with an uppercut but Utu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Linna misses with the head strike.
A right hand to the body from Utu.
Nice body punch from Linna.
Utu lands with a left to the head.
Utu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Linna prevents a body shot from Utu.
Utu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Utu on the inside.
Linna lands a right hand that snaps the head of Utu backwards.
Still in the clinch, Linna scores with a nice short uppercut.
Linna doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Utu misses with the head strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Utu lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linna lands a body punch in the clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Linna here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Utu is breathing heavily.
Linna lands a right hand that snaps the head of Utu backwards.
Good body shot from Linna.
A right handed body shot lands from Linna.
Linna blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Linna lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Utu.
Linna lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Linna lands with a short shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Linna scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Linna.

Linna manages to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Linna has his hands on Utu's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utu is looking to work some ground and pound but Linna has wrist control.
Linna is trying to keep Utu in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linna managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Linna tries to keep at a distance but Utu has taken the fight into the clinch.

Utu breaks the clinch.
Utu paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Linna closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Linna is looking to take a break and control but Utu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Linna stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Utu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Linna connects with a leg kick. Utu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Utu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That has opened up Rau Utu's cut even more.
Rau Utu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Linna throws out a loose jab but Utu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Linna changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Utu drives through and clinches with Linna against the cage.
Utu struggles to land a body shot inside as Linna controls his hands.
Linna tries a body shot but Utu blocks it.
Linna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Linna misses with some punches.
Linna lands a right hand that snaps the head of Utu backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Utu.
Linna gets through Utu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Linna tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Utu gets through Linna's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Linna on the inside.
Linna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Utu blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samppa Linna dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rau Utu's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Utu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Linna lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Utu.
Linna makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Linna has a couple of punches blocked by Utu.
Utu swings wildly with an uppercut but Linna uses good head movement to avoid it.
Linna throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Samppa Linna has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Linna swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Linna is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Utu can do to turn this around?
Linna struggles to land a body shot inside as Utu controls his hands.
Utu blocks an uppercut.
Linna digs a right hand into Utu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Utu's gas tank.
Linna lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Utu backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linna has a couple of punches blocked by Utu.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Linna.
Linna lands a left hand.
Linna throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Utu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A hook to the body from Linna.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Linna lands a left hand that snaps the head of Utu backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Utu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Utu.
Linna blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Utu throws a punch but it's blocked by Linna.

Utu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Utu moves in looking to clinch but Linna pushes him off.
Linna half committed to a counter leg kick.
Linna scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Linna misses with a wild body shot.
Linna misses with a looping left.
Utu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Linna tests Utu's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Utu is rocked!

The cut above Rau Utu's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Linna lands a slapping body shot.
Linna doesn't manage to clinch there - Utu circles away.
Linna throws a body shot but no joy.
Rau Utu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Linna.
Utu misses with a looping right.
Linna lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Utu is still on wobbly legs! Can Linna finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linna rushes Utu and presses him up against the cage.
Utu struggles to land a body shot inside as Linna controls his hands.
Utu blocks an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Utu blocking some punches.
Utu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Utu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Utu blocking some punches.
Utu seems to have recovered his senses.
Utu misses with the head strike.

Utu manages to break the clinch.
Linna connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Utu closes the distance and clinches.
Utu lands a nice shot to the body.
Utu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Linnas head.
Linna goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Linna.
Still in the clinch, Linna scores with a nice short uppercut.
Linna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Linna fails to land.
Utu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Utu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Linna blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linna tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short uppercut from Linna.
Linna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Linna swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Utu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Utu blocking some punches.
Utu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Linna.
A head punch on the inside from Linna fails to land.
Linna lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Rau Utu's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Utu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Linna throws a jab when Utu was well out of range.
A slow jab from Linna misses its intended target.
Utu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Linna.
Utu tries to clinch but Linna moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Utu.
Linna looks for the body kick but Utu saw that one coming.
Utu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rau Utu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utu misses with a wild body shot.

Linna is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Utu's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Utu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Samppa Linna is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Linna trying to mount his opponent but Utu defends it.
Utu wants to get back to full guard.
Utu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Linna's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Linna's back!
Linna covering up well and avoiding damage.
Linna manages to reverse the position and now he's in Utu's guard. Nice work there by Linna.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samppa Linna showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Linna has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samppa Linna!
A less than humble Samppa Linna misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
The defeated Rau Utu had this to say: 'This is what happens when u dont get a Hy Sckul diploma and have to continue fighting for a living even tho u "depoppin" like a bitch! I wont be around much longer...but here is a fart to remember me by...'.