PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ilpo Saarela (ranked 5385 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kribb Thunder (ranked 5150 p4p, 348 weight class). Kribb Thunder has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ilpo Saarela's chin.

Saarela
vs
Thunder

175 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilpo Saarela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kribb Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarela throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thunder lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thunder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thunder wants to clinch up but Saarela keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Saarela as Thunder shoots in.
Saarela scores with a body shot.
Saarela catches Thunder with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Saarela connects with a nice looking jab.
Saarela swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Thunder or perhaps it was just good defense by Saarela, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saarela lands a head shot.
Thunder throws out a loose jab but Saarela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice shot by Saarela.
Saarela thuds his right hand into Thunder's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Thunder is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saarela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thunder.
Ilpo Saarela is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thunder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saarela.
Thunder unleashes a big counter combination but Saarela bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thunder is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saarela throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thunder is still on wobbly legs! Can Saarela finish him?
Thunder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saarela but Saarela pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ilpo Saarela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kribb Thunder.
Saarela scores with a shot to the body.
Thunder seems to have recovered his senses.
Thunder dodges the punch combination from Saarela.
Thunder misses with a head kick.
Saarela is looking to counter punch.
Saarela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thunder manages to avoid it.
Thunder ducks under a wild hook from Saarela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder has a takedown stuffed.
Saarela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thunder.

Thunder drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Saarela sneaks out the side door and pushes Thunder away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thunder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thunder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saarela defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thunder.
Thunder with a lazy takedown attempt
and Saarela counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thunder looks winded!
Thunder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saarela.
A shot to the liver by Saarela. Beautiful body shot.
Thunder dives in for a single leg takedown but Saarela sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarela lands a jab-cross combination.
Saarela misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saarela digs a good hook to Thunder's body.
Saarela misses with a double jab.
Saarela defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thunder.
Thunder moves out of range as Saarela strikes.
Thunder with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Saarela to score with a decent uppercut.

Oooooh!!! Saarela has knocked Thunder down with a huge combo! Saarela steps away and waves a wobbly Thunder back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thunder avoids the body shot from Saarela.

Saarela lands a big uppercut and Thunder crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Thunder looks OK. Saarela waves Thunder back to his feet!
Saarela misses the shot to the body.
Saarela swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thunder.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thunder follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saarela but Saarela pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thunder dives in and grabs Saarela's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saarela pushes down on Thunder's head and hops out.
Saarela lands a body shot.
Saarela lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thunder backs up against the cage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saarela. Thunder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saarela is looking to wear down Thunder with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Saarela scores with a sloppy right hand. Thunder should have avoided that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saarela keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A right-left combo lands from Saarela.
Saarela comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilpo Saarela dominated that round.
That's time! Saarela's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thunder takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thunder is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Saarela.
Thunder darts in looking for a takedown but Saarela gets double underhooks and turns Thunder into the cage.
Thunder gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Saarela.
Ilpo Saarela is winning the standup battle so far.
Saarela lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thunder fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saarela throws a body shot but no joy.
Saarela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thunder was well out of range. Poor timing from Saarela.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thunder gets a double leg takedown into Saarela's 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!
Saarela keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saarela wants to stand but Thunder is controlling the position.
Thunder trying to control but Saarela is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder won't allow Saarela to get back to his feet.
Thunder is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Thunder drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thunder jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thunder is breathing heavily.
Saarela wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Thunder manages to pass to side control.
Thunder is looking to take a break and control but Saarela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saarela on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saarela tries to get out of the position.

Thunder is trying to work for a kimura but Saarela is defending well.

Thunder seems to be working for a kimura but Saarela defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saarela is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thunder is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saarela defends it well.

Saarela manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Thunder keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Saarela wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thunder has him pressed against the cage.
Saarela is trying to push Thunder away but Thunder has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Saarela working hard to break the clinch.

Saarela breaks from the clinch.
Saarela throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thunder.
Thunder avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Saarela.
Thunder shoots in for a double leg but Saarela sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saarela throws a lazy uppercut
letting Thunder counter with a right hand.
Saarela misses with a straight left.
Saarela looks to score with a jab to the body but Thunder is just out of range.
The crowd cheers as Saarela lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thunder doesn't seem phased though.
Thunder moves away from the strike by Saarela.
Saarela waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thunder.
Saarela stuffs the takedown attempt from Thunder. Thunder gets slowly back to his feet.
Ilpo Saarela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kribb Thunder.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Saarela!
Saarela lands a nice shot that snaps Thunder's head back.
A slow jab from Saarela misses its intended target.
Saarela throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saarela clobbers Thunder with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saarela tests Thunder's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kribb Thunder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thunder.
Thunder avoids the body shot from Saarela.
Thunder feints the counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilpo Saarela dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Saarela ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saarela as he avoids it easily.
Thunder tries for a takedown but Saarela circles away easily
and Saarela counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Saarela works the jab nicely.
Saarela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Saarela throws a body shot but no joy.
Saarela tries to bum rush Thunder with a series of wild strikes but Thunder uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thunder closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Saarela tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Thunder manages to move to mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saarela wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thunder fails to move to back control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thunder is working for a guillotine from mount but Saarela frees his head quite easily.
Saarela squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thunder fails to move to back control.
Thunder can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saarela is looking to escape.
Saarela is trying to stand.

Thunder swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kribb Thunder!