PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Armas Paakku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Swertz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armas Paakku has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Paakku
vs
Swertz

180 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Armas Paakku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damian Swertz!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paakku moves in looking to clinch but Swertz pushes him off.
Paakku thows a body shot but no joy.
Swertz closes the distance but Paakku moves to the side

and Paakku counters by clinching up.
Swertz blocks an uppercut.
Swertz blocks an uppercut.
Swertz can't get the takedown.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Swertz has eaten all the pies!
Swertz jumps guard but Paakku stands there with Swertz around his waist. Swertz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Paakku stops a takedown attempt from Swertz.
Armas Paakku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Swertz.
Swertz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Paakku stops a takedown attempt from Swertz.
Paakku swings wildly with an uppercut but Swertz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paakku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paakku working aggressively here.
Swertz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paakku lands a nice uppercut.
Paakku throws a punch but it's blocked by Swertz.
Paakku has a couple of punches blocked by Swertz.
Swertz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Paakku prevents it.
Paakku working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swertz is working for takedown but Paakku is calmly controlling the position for now.
Swertz blocking some punches.

Swertz gets control of Paakku's arms and successfully pulls guard. Swertz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Swertz has momentary wrist control but Paakku slips an elbow through the middle.
Swertz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Paakku gets to his feet - Swertz follows without any prompting.
Swertz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Paakku moves into the clinch.
Paakku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paakku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Swertz looking to stall.
Swertz blocking some punches.
Swertz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paakku throws a head punch that misses.
Swertz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paakku fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Swertz looks gassed!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swertz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Paakku tries to stand but Swertz is controlling from the bottom.
Paakku working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Paakku thows a big elbow that misses.
Paakku with a flurry of punches that miss.
Paakku postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Swertz looking to control.
Swertz is pulling down on Paakku's head to control his posture.
Paakku working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paakku working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Swertz's head.
Paakku thows a big elbow that misses.
Paakku wants to stand but Swertz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Paakku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swertz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Paakku fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Paakku fails to land.
Paakku misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A short right from Paakku.
Paakku prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Swertz.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paakku.
Paakku is pressed up against the cage. Swertz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Paakku down to the mat. Paakku avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Swertz with a poor takedown

and Paakku counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Swertz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paakku fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paakku wants to clinch but Swertz slips to the side

and Swertz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Paakku!
Paakku really wants to buck Swertz off and get back to his feet.
Paakku trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Swertz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paakku is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paakku's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Paakku dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Swertz walks into a left hand.

Paakku pushes Swertz up against the cage in a clinch.
Paakku working aggressively here.
Swertz can't get the takedown.
Paakku swings wildly with an uppercut but Swertz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Swertz tries for a takedown but Paakku manages to get underhooks.
Swertz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paakku misses with a punch on the inside.
Swertz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Paakku smiles and moves away.
Armas Paakku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Swertz.

Paakku darts in and clinches Swertz up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paakku has a couple of punches blocked by Swertz.
Swertz is breathing heavily.
Paakku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Swertz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Swertz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Paakku gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Paakku misses with the head strike.
Paakku throws a head punch that misses.
Swertz fails to pull guard.
Swertz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paakku lands a right hand that snaps the head of Swertz backwards.
Paakku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Paakku throws a punch but it's blocked by Swertz.
Paakku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Swertz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paakku swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Paakku throws a punch but it's blocked by Swertz.
Paakku lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Paakku misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paakku.
Paakku stops a takedown attempt from Swertz.
Swertz blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paakku.
Paakku gets underhooks to prevent Swertz's takedown attempt.
Paakku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Paakku lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Paakku swings wildly with an uppercut but Swertz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paakku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paakku lands an uppercut.
Paakku throws a head punch that misses.
Paakku throws a punch but it's blocked by Swertz.
A short right from Paakku.
A short right from Paakku.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Paakku.
Paakku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Swertz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Swertz jumps guard but Paakku stands there with Swertz around his waist. Swertz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Paakku swings wildly with an uppercut but Swertz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paakku scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Swertz pulls guard successfully.
Paakku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paakku missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paakku is looking to work some ground and pound but Swertz has wrist control.

Paakku stands and steps away. Swertz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Swertz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Paakku swinging wildly here.
Swertz avoids the body shot from Paakku.
Swertz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Swertz has his takedown stuffed
and Paakku counters with a three punch combo that has Swertz backing up. Swertz nods at Paakku to acknowledge the strikes.
Armas Paakku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paakku throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Paakku wants to clinch.

Paakku drives through and clinches with Swertz against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swertz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paakku pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paakku swings wildly with an uppercut but Swertz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paakku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paakku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Paakku dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Paakku tries to clinch up but Swertz circles away and keeps his distance.
Swertz takes one on the button.
Paakku tries to clinch up but Swertz circles away and keeps his distance.
Swertz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Paakku counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Some wild striking there from Paakku.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paakku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paakku is looking to clinch but Swertz is avoiding it.
Swertz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Paakku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Swertz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Paakku tries to clinch up but Swertz circles away and keeps his distance.
Paakku looks to land a combination but Swertz avoids it well.
Paakku tries to clinch up but Swertz circles away and keeps his distance.
Swertz has his takedown stuffed
and Paakku counters with a left and a right that stings Swertz.
Armas Paakku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Swertz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Swertz slips a jab and a cross from Paakku.
Paakku lands a nice hook to Swertz's body. Swertz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Swertz has his takedown stuffed

and Paakku moves into the clinch.
Paakku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paakku misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paakku.
Swertz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Paakku smiles and moves away.
Paakku wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paakku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paakku throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Swertz.
Paakku throws a one two combo.

That's four 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.
Paakku throws a series of punches but Swertz avoids them all with ease.
Swertz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Paakku counters by clinching up.
Paakku misses with some punches.
Paakku prevents a takedown attempt there.
Swertz tries for a takedown but Paakku manages to get underhooks.
Swertz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paakku misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Paakku.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swertz blocking some punches.
Swertz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paakku swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Damian Swertz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Armas Paakku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paakku lands with a light punch inside.
Swertz misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armas Paakku showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paakku, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armas Paakku!