PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Baller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Apila
vs
Baller

210 cm
24
281 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

225 cm
24
275 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Bare Knuckle Clothing

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pertti Apila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Baller!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apila fails to land with a series of punches.
Apila takes a swing at Baller's ribcage but misses.
Apila loads up on a big right hand but Baller slips the punch.
Baller takes a jab right on the kisser.
Apila tries to clinch there but Baller circles away.
Apila throws the left hand but Baller avoids the punch easily.
Baller fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baller tries to bum rush Apila with a series of wild strikes but Apila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baller throws a series of punches but Apila moves out of range.
Baller misses the jab.
Apila avoids the body shot from Baller.
Apila pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Apila lands a body shot.

Apila moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Baller's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Baller is trying to break the clinch but Apila has him pressed against the cage.

Apila pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baller tests Apila's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A big right from Apila misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller connects with the punch.
Apila walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Apila connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Baller momentarily.

It looks like Paul Baller has been cut.
Baller fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Apila manages to avoid it.
Baller avoids the body shot from Apila.
Apila throws a lazy right hand but Baller sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Baller swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baller keeps the fight on the outside.
Good exchange - Apila coming out on top.
Baller misses with a few strikes there.
Apila throws a lazy right hand but Baller sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pertti Apila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apila moves in looking to clinch but Baller pushes him off.
Apila swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Baller scores with a punch to the head.
Baller defending well as Apila loads up on a big left hand.
Apila keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apila misses with a wild body shot.
Baller moves away from the strike by Apila.
Baller cracks Apila with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Apila gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Baller swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Apila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Apila ducks under a wild hook from Baller.
Baller on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Apila misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baller slips under a jab.
Apila avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baller misses with an uppercut.
Apila missing with a left hand there. Baller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice body punch from Baller.
Baller is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baller misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baller lands a lovely overhand right.
Apila throws a hook but Baller avoids it easily.
Apila misses with an uppercut.
A nice combination there by Apila.
Baller swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baller with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Apila swings for the body but Baller moves out of range.
Baller looks to score with a jab to the body but Apila is just out of range.

Apila gets a clinch.
Apila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baller or not.
Apila has Baller pressed against the cage, preventing Baller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Apila softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apila has Baller pressed against the cage, preventing Baller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short uppercut from Apila.
Apila lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Baller fails to land.
Baller is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Apila is keeping busy.
Apila scores with a shot to the side of Baller's head.
Still in the clinch, Apila scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Apila manages to break the clinch.
Apila throws a combination that misses
and Baller cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Baller connects with a nice looking jab.
Apila lands a right hook to the body.
Baller throws a body punch but Apila moves out of range.
Apila throws a looping overhand right but Baller ducks down to avoid it.
Baller connects with the punch.
Apila misses with a double jab
and Baller counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baller stuns Apila with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Apila.
Apila showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baller.
Baller throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pertti Apila dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Baller'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.

Apila throws a right hand that Baller ducks under and follows up with a left that Baller also avoids with ease.
Baller is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Apila takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Baller bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Apila's head backwards.
Apila staying out of range there.
Apila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Baller counters with a straight right hand.
Apila misses with a few strikes there.
Apila ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Baller slips under a jab.
Apila lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baller circles away quickly and effectively.
Baller has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Apila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baller.
Apila throws a combination that misses
and Baller counters with a stiff right hand.
Baller moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Baller keeps the fight on the outside.
Baller throws a right and a left that Apila avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Baller moves out of range of the strikes.
Apila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baller moves away.
Apila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baller counters with a three punch combo that has Apila backing up. Apila nods at Baller to acknowledge the strikes.
Baller throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Apila ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baller ducks under a wild hook from Apila.
Apila moves in looking to clinch but Baller pushes him off.
Apila on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Apila avoids a punch combination nicely.
Apila throws a looping overhand right but Baller ducks down to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Baller.
A telegraphed right hand from Apila misses the target.
Baller takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baller uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Apila.
Baller scores with a sloppy right hand. Apila should have avoided that one.
Apila misses with a combination
and Baller cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pertti Apila is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apila. Baller does a little dance to reset his feet.
Baller jabs at Apila's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apila misses with a shot to the body
and Baller counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Apila throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baller connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Apila momentarily.
Apila uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baller.
A left and a right from Baller both land. Nice combination.
Baller punishes Apila's body with a nice straight punch.
Apila looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Apila walks into a jab.
Apila uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Baller.
Apila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Baller scores with a four punch combination!
Baller connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Apila is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Baller's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Apila fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baller manages to avoid it.
Baller throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Apila on the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Baller.
Apila has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Apila there as he acknowledges the shot.
Baller darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Apila avoids a punch combination nicely.
Apila takes one to the chin there.
Baller slips under a jab.
Apila staying out of range there.
Baller misses with a few strikes there.
Apila misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila lands a with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baller slips a straight right by Apila.
The fighters circling - Apila throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baller lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Baller lands a jab to Apila's midsection.
Baller ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Baller swings for the body but Apila moves out of range.
Baller slips under a jab.
Baller looks to land a right hand but Apila moved out of range.
Baller lands with a nice combination. Apila backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Pertti Apila has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baller misses with a looping left.
Apila ducks under a wild hook from Baller.
Apila lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Apila throws a shot from downtown. Baller moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Baller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baller fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Baller connects with a looping right hand.
Apila throws a right hand that Baller ducks under and follows up with a left that Baller also avoids with ease.
Baller throws a right and a left that Apila avoids nicely.
Baller jabs at Apila's body.
Baller lands a really nice looking cross but Apila seems unphased.
Apila pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Apila throws a one two combo.
Apila showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baller.
Apila ducks under a wild hook from Baller.
Apila misses with a double jab
and Apila takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baller takes one to the chin there.
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!
Apila on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Baller.
Baller looks to land a combination but Apila avoids it well.
Baller missing with a left hand there. Apila was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Apila misses with a looping left.
Apila looks to land a left hand but Baller moved out of range nicely.
Apila throws a hook to the side of Baller's head but Baller sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Baller smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Baller misses with a combination
and Apila counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Apila looks to throw the jab but Baller is out of range.
Baller swinging wildly here.
Baller rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Apila moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baller takes a jab right on the kisser.

Apila has Baller up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Apila manages to break the clinch.
Apila displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baller throws out the jab.
Apila moves in looking to clinch but Baller pushes him off.
Apila misses with a looping left.
Baller scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Apila misses with an uppercut. Baller saw that one coming.
Apila swinging wildly here.
Baller lands a jab to Apila's midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baller moves away from the strike by Apila.
Baller misses with a two punch combination.
Baller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Apila scores with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Baller lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Baller.
Apila connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Baller misses with the combination.
Apila throws an overhand right that lands on Baller's shoulder, as Baller tries to avoid the shot.
Baller misses with an uppercut.
Baller defending well as Apila loads up on a big left hand.
Apila misses the body punch
and Baller counters with a two punch combo.
Baller throws a nice looking combination but Apila bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baller misses with a wild body shot.
Baller is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Apila tries to clinch there but Baller circles away.
Baller moves out of range of the strikes.
Baller falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Apila counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila misses with a looping right.
A lazy left from Baller finds it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baller walks into a left hand.
Apila looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Apila connects with a jab.
Baller tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Apila was well out of range. Poor timing from Baller.
Apila ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baller looks to land a combination but Apila avoids it well.
Apila misses with a looping left.
Baller with a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baller uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Apila.
Apila throws an overhand right that lands on Baller's shoulder, as Baller tries to avoid the shot.
Some wild striking there from Apila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Paul Baller just about did enough to take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Apila falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baller counters with a straight right hand.
Apila throws a shot from downtown. Baller moves away and avoids it.
Baller scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Apila uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baller.
Apila misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Baller counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Apila thinking.
Baller looks to score with a jab to the body but Apila is just out of range.
Apila takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Baller scores with a decent looking hook.
Apila throws a big shot that misses.
Apila takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Apila slips a jab and a cross from Baller.
Apila takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Baller lands a nice hook to Apila's body. Apila takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Apila throws an overhand right that lands on Baller's shoulder, as Baller tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller lands a head shot.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Baller looks to land a combination but Apila avoids it well.
Apila takes a swing at Baller's ribcage but misses.
Apila uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baller has time to react.
Apila misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Baller counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Apila fails to land with a series of punches.
Baller takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Apila on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A punch combination from Baller misses.
Apila has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Apila there as he acknowledges the shot.
Apila throws a sloppy body shot
and Baller counters with a series of strikes. Apila will be more careful next time no doubt.
Apila takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Baller lands with a nice combination. Apila backs away looking to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Baller does no damage.
Baller throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Baller darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Apila connects with a jab.
The crowd cheers as Baller lands an impressive looking overhand right. Apila doesn't seem phased though.
Apila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Apila is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baller.
Baller keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Baller listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Paul Baller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baller.
Baller lands with a nice combination. Apila backs away looking to recover.
Baller throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Apila sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baller misses with a series of wild punches.
Apila misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Baller finds it's target.
Baller swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Apila sizes up Baller with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Baller lands an overhand right.
Baller throws a nice looking combination but Apila bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baller takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Baller misses with the combination.
Apila throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baller moves out of range as Apila strikes.
A slow jab from Baller misses its intended target.
Baller moves out of range as Apila strikes.
Baller looks to land a combination. Apila sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila missing with a left hand there. Baller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Baller throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Apila sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baller throws a right hand that Apila ducks under and follows up with a left that Apila also avoids with ease.
Apila missing with a left hand there. Baller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Baller cracks Apila with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baller dodges the punch combination from Apila.
Baller uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Apila is looking to clinch.
Apila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baller connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Baller throws a series of punches but Apila avoids them all with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apila dips to his left and cracks Baller with an uppercut!
Baller defending well as Apila loads up on a big left hand.
Baller lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Apila backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Baller dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Apila misses with a body punch
letting Baller counter with a right hand.
Apila dodges the punch combination from Baller.
Apila throws a jab when Baller was well out of range.
Baller throws an overhand right that lands on Apila's shoulder, as Apila tries to avoid the shot.
Nice jab there from Baller.
Baller is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Apila.
Baller misses with the combination.
Apila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apila dodges the punch combination from Baller.
Apila misses with a hook to the body
and Baller counters with a one-two to the body.
Baller swinging wildly here.
Apila throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila tries to clinch there but Baller circles away.
Apila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baller scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Apila comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Baller walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Baller throws a series of punches but Apila moves out of range.
Apila fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Baller misses.
Apila misses with an uppercut. Baller saw that one coming.
Baller cracks Apila with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Baller lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Apila rushes Baller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Apila blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apila scores with a hook to the body.
Apila lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Apila.
Baller looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Apila makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Apila displaying some good clinch control by pressing Baller up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Apila.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Apila.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apila lands a body punch in the clinch.
Apila displaying some good clinch control by pressing Baller up against the cage.
Baller has had enough of the clinch but Apila keeps him there for the moment.
Nice body punch from Apila - that landed with a thud.

Apila breaks from the clinch.
Apila throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Apila misses.
Baller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Apila misses with a body shot
and Baller cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Baller throws a nice looking combination but Apila bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice defenses there by Baller.
Pertti Apila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila is looking to clinch.
Apila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Baller counters with a left and a right that stings Apila.
Paul Baller is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Baller lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Apila looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Baller throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Apila shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Apila falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baller counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Apila walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Apila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Baller connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Baller lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apila circles away quickly and effectively.
Apila swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila dodges the punch combination from Baller.
Apila's corner calls for a 1-2. Apila obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A left lands for Baller.
Apila jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Apila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Baller counters with a left to the body.
Baller staying out of range there.
Baller clobbers Apila with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Apila jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Baller scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apila shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Apila takes one to the side of the head.
Baller throws a series of punches but Apila moves out of range.
Baller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Baller.
I think Baller 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 47:49
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 46:49
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Baller!
Paul Baller is the new heavyweight champion!