PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Mccormick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Saaliste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mccormick
vs
Saaliste

156 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

189 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jerome Mccormick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Saaliste!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saaliste tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mccormick swivels and escapes.
Saaliste tries a head kick but it misses.
Mccormick keeps the fight on the outside.
Saaliste fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mccormick tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saaliste manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saaliste shoots in and drives through. Mccormick sprawls well.
Saaliste lands with a nice combination. Mccormick backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Jerome Mccormick has been cut.
Mccormick fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saaliste gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mccormick holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jerome Mccormick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Saaliste.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccormick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saaliste smiles and moves away.

Saaliste closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mccormick could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mccormick jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Saaliste walks away with a smile on his face. Mccormick gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Saaliste moves into range and clinches up with Mccormick.

Mccormick pulls guard.
Saaliste passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Saaliste sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mccormick is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Saaliste happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saaliste stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Saaliste shoots for a takedown but Mccormick saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Saaliste rushes Mccormick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mccormick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saaliste smiles and moves away.
Mccormick avoids the head kick by Saaliste.

Saaliste moves into the clinch.
Saaliste is trying to pull guard but Mccormick has him pressed against the cage.
Mccormick fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mccormick has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saaliste uses from the top position.

Saaliste stands and steps away. Mccormick gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Saaliste with a poor takedown

and Mccormick counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Mccormick manages to break the clinch.
Saaliste fails to land the takedown.
Saaliste is looking to clinch but Mccormick is avoiding it.
Saaliste tries for a takedown but Mccormick sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mccormick appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Mccormick rushes Saaliste and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mccormick jumps guard and drags Saaliste to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saaliste content to stall in guard here.

Saaliste stands and steps away. Mccormick gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Saaliste has managed to clinch.
Saaliste wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mccormick pulls Saaliste into guard.
Mccormick throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mccormick wants to improve his position but instead Saaliste has moved 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!
Saaliste passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Saaliste dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jerome Mccormick's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mccormick is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saaliste.
Saaliste shoots in looking for a takedown. Mccormick tries to sprawl out of it but Saaliste keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mccormick manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mccormick doesn't manage to clinch there - Saaliste circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Mccormick. No joy for Saaliste on that attempt.
As Saaliste looks to move away, Mccormick throws a big counter combo but Saaliste just gets out of the way.
Jerome Mccormick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Saaliste.
Saaliste shoots in but Mccormick avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mccormick closes the distance and clinches.
Mccormick is trying to pull guard but Saaliste turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mccormick fails to pull guard.

Mccormick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jerome Mccormick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown attempt by Saaliste or perhaps it was just good defense by Mccormick, which made it look bad.
Saaliste darts in looking for a takedown but Mccormick gets double underhooks and turns Saaliste into the cage.
Mccormick seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mccormick checks a low kick from Saaliste.
Mccormick tries to counter by clinching up but Saaliste breaks away and moves out of range.
Saaliste will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saaliste is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saaliste fails to land the takedown.
Saaliste tried to score with a low kick but Mccormick checks it.
Mccormick wants to clinch.
Saaliste shoots in but Mccormick avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saaliste gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Mccormick counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mccormick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saaliste fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saaliste shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Mccormick closes the distance and clinches.

Mccormick jumps guard.
Saaliste won't allow Mccormick to get back to his feet.
Mccormick doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saaliste controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saaliste trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Saaliste prevents Mccormick from getting back to his feet.
Mccormick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saaliste is one step ahead there.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mccormick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Mccormick dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jerome Mccormick's cut.
That's time! Mccormick's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Saaliste has Mccormick up against the cage in a clinch.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but Saaliste forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mccormick stops a takedown attempt from Saaliste.
Saaliste lands a hook that snaps the head of Mccormick backwards.
Saaliste is trying to force a seperation but Mccormick has the dominant position.

Mccormick decides to pull guard.
Mccormick might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saaliste got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mccormick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saaliste has managed to get both his arms back between Mccormick's legs - danger averted.
Saaliste wants to control from the top but Mccormick keeps moving.
Saaliste stays in close to Mccormick's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saaliste postures up in Mccormick's guard and throws a big left but Mccormick blocks it.

Saaliste stands and steps away. Mccormick gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mccormick tries to clinch up.

Saaliste clinches up with Mccormick and pushes him back against the cage.
Saaliste is trying to break the clinch but Mccormick is controlling him.
Mccormick letting Saaliste take a breather here.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but Saaliste holds him up against the cage and eventually Mccormick drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mccormick jumps guard but Saaliste stands there with Mccormick around his waist. Mccormick gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Mccormick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but Saaliste holds him up against the cage and eventually Mccormick drops back down to his feet.
Saaliste looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but Saaliste forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mikko Saaliste seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Saaliste has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mccormick is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Saaliste fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saaliste just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mccormick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saaliste just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccormick tries to pull guard but Saaliste forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Saaliste drags the fight down to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saaliste is on top in guard.

Mikko Saaliste has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saaliste missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Saaliste gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Saaliste fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Saaliste closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saaliste pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saaliste trying to control the position.
Saaliste wants to sweep but no luck.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Saaliste. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mccormick with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mccormick trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Saaliste comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saaliste has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Saaliste!
Mikko Saaliste seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.