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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ahti Saarelainen (ranked 1773 p4p, 245 weight class) and Miles North (ranked 4274 p4p, 481 weight class). North has chosen Men at Work - Down Under as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 180 cm
25
175 lbs
9 - 6 - 0 |
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194 cm
28
169 lbs
6 - 6 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Ahti Saarelainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miles North!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
North misses with a left hand
and Saarelainen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A good leg kick by Saarelainen.
Saarelainen throws a leg kick which misses North's front leg but catches the back leg as North tries to avoid it.
North takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saarelainen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from North.
North takes a jab right on the kisser.
Saarelainen works North's body with a nice hook.
Ahti Saarelainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Saarelainen.
Saarelainen throws a front kick that sends North stumbling back into the cage.
North's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saarelainen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! North scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarelainen misses with a body shot.
Saarelainen checks a low kick from North.
Saarelainen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Saarelainen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Seppo's Massage Temple in the buildup to the fight.
North thows a leg kick but Saarelainen checks it
and Saarelainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
North walks into a straight right hand from Saarelainen.
Excellent takedown into side control there by North.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saarelainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saarelainen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on North's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Saarelainen trying to hold on to North's head to control him but North postures up.
North is nestled in close to Saarelainen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Saarelainen is looking for a sweep. North is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saarelainen is pressing down on North's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
North lands a couple of elbows.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
North postures up.
North got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saarelainen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, North has managed to get both his arms back between Saarelainen's legs - danger averted.
Saarelainen wants to sweep here but North controlling him for the moment.
North throws a strike but Saarelainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
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!
Saarelainen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of North's head.
Saarelainen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Saarelainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saarelainen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
North is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saarelainen is aware though and is defending well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen drops back, looking for a kneebar! North looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. North looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from North!
Saarelainen wants to control but North postures up.
Saarelainen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Saarelainen is trying to maintain the position but North is very close to passing his half guard.
Saarelainen looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. North connects with a nice short shot to Saarelainen's temple.
North has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
North looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saarelainen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen is trying is best to control the position here.
Saarelainen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. North lands a nice short elbow.
North thows a huge punch but Saarelainen dodges it nicely.
Saarelainen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but North pulls his head out easily.
North throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saarelainen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from North there.
North seems to be looking for submissions.
North missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
North winds up and cracks Saarelainen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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 Ahti Saarelainen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Saarelainen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt North.
Saarelainen throws a body shot but no joy.
North gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Saarelainen tries to sprawl but North drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Saarelainen tries to roll over but North keeps him under control.
North has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
North is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saarelainen regains half guard.
Saarelainen looking for submissions off his back.
North thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saarelainen's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
North throwing shots but Saarelainen is blocking nicely.
Saarelainen trying to control here.
North wants to take a breather but Saarelainen is having none of it.
Saarelainen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saarelainen tries to regain full guard. Instead though, North has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
North controlling his opponent.
North is in the full mount, landing strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Saarelainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from North.
North working the head and body with strikes.
North blocks the strikes from Saarelainen.
Miles North has got the better of the ground game so far.
North thows a huge punch but Saarelainen dodges it nicely.
Saarelainen wants to improve his position but North is controlling well.
Saarelainen has hold of North's hands but North slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
North wants to control but Saarelainen is keeping him busy.
Saarelainen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saarelainen.
North with a flurry of punches that miss.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen is looking for a triangle but North pushes his legs off easily.
North working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
North throwing strikes from guard but Saarelainen blocks nicely.
Saarelainen wants to sweep but no luck.
North postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
North is in close to Saarelainen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
North avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
North working some strikes from top position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
North trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarelainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
North not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Saarelainen has his foot on North's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. North works his way back into a safe position though.
Saarelainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
North postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
North postures up.
Saarelainen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
North keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saarelainen's head.
North trying to control but Saarelainen is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Miles North showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Saarelainen misses with a body shot.
North fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
North tried to score with a low kick but Saarelainen checks it.
North shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. North showed some decent athleticism there.
North lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Saarelainen wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarelainen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but North pulls his head out easily.
Saarelainen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. North is working away from the top position though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
North looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saarelainen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
North trying to control the action but Saarelainen is working from the bottom.
North controlling the pace.
Saarelainen is pressing down on North's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Saarelainen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. North is aware though and is defending well.
Saarelainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
North wants to control from the top but Saarelainen keeps moving.
North looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saarelainen is on top in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Saarelainen lands a couple of elbows.
Saarelainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saarelainen postures up and lands a big shot to North's brow.
Saarelainen advances to half guard.
Saarelainen prevents North from improving his position.
Saarelainen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
North moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
North escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saarelainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Saarelainen stands up over North, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
North is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
North isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Saarelainen stacks North on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Saarelainen!
North takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saarelainen taking a break here but North is having none of it and regains half guard.
Saarelainen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saarelainen trying to control from half guard but North is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saarelainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saarelainen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miles North.
I think North 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Miles North!
A very excited looking Miles North made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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