PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leo Leka (ranked 1309 p4p, 161 weight class) and Atte Savitaipale (ranked 1480 p4p, 173 weight class). Leka's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, For Heavy Metal we will die!. Savitaipale has chosen Roger Whittaker - Finnish Whistler as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Leka
vs
Savitaipale

177 cm
34
163 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

177 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leo Leka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Atte Savitaipale!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savitaipale misses the shot to the body.
Leka misses with a looping right.
Both fighters circling a little - Leka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Savitaipale shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Leka's guard.
Savitaipale scoring with punches to the head and body.
Leka pulls Savitaipale in close to his closed guard and prevents Savitaipale from doing any damage or advancing position.
Savitaipale trying to control the position from guard on top but Leka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savitaipale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Leka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Savitaipale is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Savitaipale wants to control from the top but Leka keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savitaipale scoring with some ground and pound.
Leka keeping moving, preventing Savitaipale from controlling successfully.
Leka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Leka can't keep his opponent in guard - Savitaipale advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Leka tries to get to full guard but Savitaipale has control of the leg.
Leka trying to control here.
Savitaipale winds up and cracks Leka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Savitaipale slips a nice elbow through Leka's hands, connecting with Leka's forehead.
Savitaipale wants to control but Leka is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leka tries to get to full guard but Savitaipale has control of the leg.
Savitaipale with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Leka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Savitaipale missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Leka actively working from the bottom here.
Savitaipale keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ground and pound from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Savitaipale is trying to control. Leka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Leka definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
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 throwing shots but Leka is blocking nicely.
Savitaipale is looking to advance position but Leka won't allow it.

Leka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Savitaipale pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Leka is trying to get back to full guard.
Savitaipale working over Leka with some ground and pound. Leka looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Leka is looking to get back to full guard here but Savitaipale has managed to pass to side control instead.
Savitaipale moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Savitaipale connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Leka some visible discomfort.
Leka takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale trying to control the action but Leka is working from the bottom.
Leka gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ground and pound from Savitaipale.
Leka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Savitaipale is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savitaipale passes the guard and advances to mount!
Leka is desperately trying to improve his position but Savitaipale has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savitaipale looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Savitaipale wants to control the pace but Leka is squirming around nicely.
Leka 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.
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!

Leka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Leka ducks right into an uppercut from Savitaipale.
Leka throws out a loose jab but Savitaipale uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savitaipale digs a good body shot into Leka's ribs.

Leka scores with a takedown into Savitaipale's guard.
Savitaipale is trying to keep Leka in close.
Leka stopping the sweep attempt from Savitaipale.
Savitaipale is pulling down on Leka's head. It's preventing any offense from Leka, at least for the moment.

Leka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leka lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leka keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Savitaipale's head.
Leka landing with the ground and pound.
Savitaipale looking for a sweep. Not yet Savitaipale, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savitaipale pulls Leka in close to prevent any damage.
Savitaipale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leka is one step ahead there.
Savitaipale is still trying to improve position.
Leka postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Savitaipale wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Savitaipale looking to control.
Leka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Savitaipale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leka throws an elbow that misses. Savitaipale uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Leka's guard. Nice move by Savitaipale!

Atte Savitaipale has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savitaipale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Savitaipale wants to control from the top but Leka keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savitaipale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Savitaipale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savitaipale with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Leka is looking for a triangle but Savitaipale pushes his legs off easily.
Savitaipale has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Malmi Aitta . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Savitaipale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leka controls Savitaipale momentarily but Savitaipale frees himself.
Savitaipale not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Leka keeping moving, preventing Savitaipale from controlling successfully.
Savitaipale throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leka is looking for a triangle but Savitaipale pushes his legs off easily.
Leka is trying to control the position but Savitaipale postures up.
Savitaipale won't allow Leka to sweep him here.
Savitaipale postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Savitaipale tries to free his leg and advance position but Leka is retaining full guard.
Leka being controlled here, momentarily.
Savitaipale preventing the sweep.
Savitaipale sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Leka's guard.
Leka is trying to get back to full guard.
Savitaipale is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leka is refusing to be controlled, as Savitaipale sits in half guard.
Savitaipale prevents Leka from improving his position.
Leka on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Savitaipale passes to full mount!
Savitaipale landing strikes from the mount and Leka is in trouble!
Savitaipale trying to control but Leka is having none of it.
Leka tries to hold on but Savitaipale pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leka is trying to escape the mount.
Savitaipale can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Leka is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atte Savitaipale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Savitaipale smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Leka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A decent looking cross lands there for Leka.
Savitaipale takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Leka fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Savitaipale has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Leka misses with a straight right.
Savitaipale ducks under a wild hook from Leka.
Leka looks to land a combination but Savitaipale avoids it well.
Leka misses with a straight right.
Leka misses with a straight left.
Leka is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Savitaipale let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Leka lands a jab to the head.
Savitaipale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Leka as he jumps to the side.
Leka throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Leo Leka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Leka closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Leka throws a hook but Savitaipale blocks it.
Leka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Leka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Savitaipale.
Savitaipale looks to throw the jab but Leka is out of range.
Leka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Savitaipale checks it well.
Leo Leka is winning the standup battle so far.
Savitaipale misses with a hook. Leka ducked under it nicely.
Savitaipale looks to land a left hand but Leka moved out of range nicely.
Savitaipale scores with a jab to the head.
Leka misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Savitaipale counters with a straight right hand.
Savitaipale ducks under a wild hook from Leka.
Savitaipale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leka.
Savitaipale scores with a hook to the body. Leka takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Savitaipale stuffs the takedown.
Savitaipale misses with a hook. Leka ducked under it nicely.
Leka changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Savitaipale paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leo Leka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leka throws a lazy uppercut
and Savitaipale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Leka throws a hook to the side of Savitaipale's head but Savitaipale sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Savitaipale swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Leka throws a hook to the side of Savitaipale's head but Savitaipale sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Savitaipale moves away.
Savitaipale walks into a left hand.
Jab, jab by Savitaipale - just one landing.
Leka misses with a hook. Savitaipale ducked under it nicely.
Savitaipale swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Savitaipale uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Leka has time to react.
Savitaipale scores with a jab to the head.
Savitaipale keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Leka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Savitaipale connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Leka.
Savitaipale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Savitaipale connects with a right hand. Leka shakes it off.
Leka missing with a left hand there. Savitaipale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savitaipale drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Leka defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leka.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Savitaipale checks a leg kick.
Leka misses the jab.
Nice defenses there by Savitaipale.
Savitaipale ducks under a wild hook from Leka.
Atte Savitaipale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Savitaipale digs a good body shot into Leka's ribs.
A telegraphed right hand from Leka misses the target.
Leka throws a body shot but no joy.
Savitaipale changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Savitaipale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leka's corner calls for a 1-2. Leka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Savitaipale scores with a nice head shot.
Leka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Leka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Leka throws an overhand right that lands on Savitaipale's shoulder, as Savitaipale tries to avoid the shot.
Leka throws a hook but Savitaipale blocks it.
Leka misses the jab.
Savitaipale stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Savitaipale moves out of range of the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savitaipale checks a low kick from Leka.
Savitaipale is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Leka missing with a left hand there. Savitaipale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Savitaipale appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Leka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Savitaipale.
Nice uppercut lands for Savitaipale. That snapped Leka's head back.
Leka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Savitaipale cracks Leka with a right hand to the side of the head.
Savitaipale misses with a wild body shot.
Savitaipale slips a straight right by Leka.
Leka takes one on the button.
Savitaipale bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Leka has a takedown stuffed.
Savitaipale with the counter takedown but Leka avoids it easily.
Savitaipale takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Savitaipale! But no joy.
Savitaipale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leka.
Nice cross by Savitaipale.
Savitaipale scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Atte Savitaipale.
Well Savitaipale has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atte Savitaipale!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Atte Savitaipale made sure he mentioned KOMBAT KLOTHING, along with how happy he was to win his fight.