PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Atte Savitaipale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ao Ki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savitaipale comes to the ring accompanied by Roger Whittaker - Finnish Whistler. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Savitaipale
vs
Ki

177 cm
22
160 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

181 cm
23
163 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atte Savitaipale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ao Ki!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ki blocks a jab.
Ki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Ki.
Ki misses with a head kick.
Ki tries a head kick but it misses.
Savitaipale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ki moves away.
Savitaipale scores with a jab to the body.
Savitaipale throws a body shot but no joy.
Savitaipale misses with a body shot.
Savitaipale has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Savitaipale connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Savitaipale lands with a nice body punch.
Savitaipale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ki manages to avoid it.
Savitaipale swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Savitaipale closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half 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!
Ki trying to control here.
Ki desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Savitaipale sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savitaipale wants to free his trapped foot but Ki is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ki looking for submissions off his back.
Savitaipale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ki keeps working.
Savitaipale is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Savitaipale working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Savitaipale passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ki!
Ki working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ki sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Nice strikes from Savitaipale there.
Ki trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Savitaipale there.
Ki taking some punishment here, with Savitaipale in his half guard.
Savitaipale working the head and body with strikes.
Ki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Ki is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ki is still in real trouble! Can Savitaipale finish him?
Ki has hold of Savitaipale's hands but Savitaipale slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Savitaipale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Ki pushes Savitaipale off and gets back to his feet.
Ki defending well as Savitaipale loads up on a big left hand.
Ki seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale takes a swing at Ki's ribcage but misses.
Ki tries to counter with a clinch but Savitaipale shakes him off and moves away.
Ki is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Savitaipale is defended easily by Ki.
Savitaipale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ki wants to clinch up but Savitaipale keeps it at a distance.
Ki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Savitaipale swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savitaipale swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ki wants to clinch.
Savitaipale misses with a body shot.
Ki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ki throws the kick towards the body but Savitaipale avoids it.
Savitaipale moves out of range as Ki throws a body kick.
Ki misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savitaipale is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ki's half guard.
Savitaipale landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ki preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Savitaipale is trying to control. Ki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Savitaipale looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Savitaipale lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ki manages to get to full guard.
Ki trying to control the position.
Savitaipale content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Savitaipale makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atte Savitaipale dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Savitaipale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ki moves away.
Savitaipale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savitaipale misses with a wild body shot.
A shot to the body from Savitaipale misses

and Ki counters by clinching up.
Ki stalling against the ropes.
Ki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Savitaipale misses with a body punch.
Savitaipale tries a body shot but Ki blocks it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savitaipale has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Savitaipale has a couple of punches blocked by Ki.
Savitaipale is trying to maintain a safe position but Ki gets an underhook and turns Savitaipale into the ropes.
Savitaipale struggles to land a body shot inside as Ki controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savitaipale doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Savitaipale tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ki's elbow.
Savitaipale jumps guard but Ki turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Savitaipale throws a head punch that misses.
Savitaipale tries to break the clinch but Ki is controlling the position.
Savitaipale is trying to pull guard but Ki has him pressed against the ropes.
Savitaipale is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atte Savitaipale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savitaipale is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ki is defending well.
Savitaipale is looking to break free of the clinch but Ki has double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Ki breaks from the clinch.
Ki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Savitaipale stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ki.
Savitaipale tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Savitaipale somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ki misses with a body kick.
Savitaipale thuds a left hand into Ki's body.
Savitaipale misses with an uppercut.
Ki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ki slips a straight right by Savitaipale.
Savitaipale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ki moves away.
Savitaipale walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ki.
Savitaipale shoots for a double leg takedown but Ki sprawls well. He's pushed Savitaipale's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Savitaipale shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Savitaipale trying to control the position from guard on top but Ki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ki trying to control the position.
Savitaipale lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale postures up and lands a big shot to Ki's brow.
Savitaipale postures up.
Savitaipale cracks Ki with a solid left hand.
Savitaipale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Savitaipale is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ki can do to turn this around?
Savitaipale distracts Ki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Savitaipale with a nice head shot there.

Ki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Savitaipale stands up over Ki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ki is trying to keep Savitaipale in close.
Savitaipale postures up and lands a big shot to Ki's brow.
Ki keeping moving, preventing Savitaipale from controlling successfully.
Savitaipale lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale is in close to Ki's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Savitaipale drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ki!

Savitaipale manages to get back to half guard.
Ki is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Savitaipale has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ki is working away from the top position though.
Ki wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savitaipale moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atte Savitaipale dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Savitaipale shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ki as he avoids it easily.
Ki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ki bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Savitaipale connects with a jab.
Ki throws a low kick, looking for Savitaipale's leg but Savitaipale calmly moves out of range.
Ki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Savitaipale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ki was well out of range. Poor timing from Savitaipale.
Ki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ki avoids the body shot from Savitaipale.
Ki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A shot to the body from Savitaipale misses
and Ki counters with a low kick, right behind Savitaipale 's knee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savitaipale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ki looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Savitaipale has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ki.
Ki cracks Savitaipale with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A big left from Savitaipale misses.
A jab from Savitaipale misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ki darts in and clinches Savitaipale up against the ropes.
Savitaipale can't get the takedown.
Ki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Savitaipale.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atte Savitaipale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ki keeps control of Savitaipale as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Savitaipale misses with a hook to the ribs.
Savitaipale misses with a body punch.
Savitaipale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ki avoids it.
Savitaipale is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ki blocks a body shot from Savitaipale.

Ki breaks from the clinch.
Savitaipale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ki was well out of range. Poor timing from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ki manages to avoid it.
Savitaipale swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ki avoids the body shot from Savitaipale.
Ki tries to clinch up but Savitaipale circles away and keeps his distance.
Savitaipale is looking to wear down Ki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ki lands with a kick to the temple. Savitaipale shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ki misses the jab.
Savitaipale throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ki's waist but Ki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Savitaipale off to one side.
Ki throws a head kick but Savitaipale moves out of range.
Savitaipale shoots for a takedown but Ki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Savitaipale swats away the attempt to clinch by Ki.
A big right from Savitaipale misses.
Ki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Savitaipale changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Savitaipale looks to score with a jab to the body but Ki is just out of range.
Savitaipale blocks a head kick by Ki.
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!
Ki lands with a slapping head kick.
Atte Savitaipale is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Savitaipale misses with a body shot.
Savitaipale misses with a wild body shot.
Ki is looking to land body kicks.
Savitaipale blocks a head kick by Ki.
Savitaipale scores with a jab to the body.
Savitaipale swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ki counters with a two punch combo.
Savitaipale misses with a body shot

and Ki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ki.
Ki stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ki stalling in the clinch but Savitaipale improves position.
Savitaipale tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ki's elbow.
Ki gets underhooks to prevent Savitaipale's takedown attempt.
Ki prevents a body shot from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ki tries to stall but Savitaipale uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Savitaipale is trying to force a seperation but Ki has the dominant position.
Savitaipale tries to break the clinch but Ki is controlling the position.
Ki prevents a body shot from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Atte Savitaipale is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ki is trying to maintain a safe position but Savitaipale gets an underhook and turns Ki into the ropes.
Ki is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ki stalling in the clinch but Savitaipale improves position.

Ki manages to break the clinch.
Savitaipale just misses with a punch to the body.
Ki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savitaipale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savitaipale looks to score with a jab to the body but Ki is just out of range.
Ao Ki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savitaipale swings for the body but Ki moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ao Ki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Savitaipale 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atte Savitaipale!