PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pauli Painija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogelio Baltazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Painija
vs
Baltazar

160 cm
18
176 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pauli Painija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rogelio Baltazar!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Painija throws a nice looking combination but Baltazar bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Painija uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baltazar.
Painija defending well as Baltazar loads up on a big left hand.
Painija shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baltazar but Baltazar pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Painija fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baltazar, pushing him back against the cage.
Baltazar working hard to break the clinch.
Baltazar wants to get back to striking at distance but Painija won't allow it.
Painija leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Painija lands on the inside with an uppercut.

It looks like Rogelio Baltazar has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Painija changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baltazar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Painija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Painija tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Painija changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Baltazar tries to avoid it but Painija manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Baltazar to the ground. Baltazar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Baltazar connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Painija shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baltazar pinned against the cage. Baltazar gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Painija tries to clinch up but Baltazar circles away and keeps his distance.
Baltazar scores with a hook.
Baltazar tests Painija's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baltazar misses with a double jab.
A combination from Baltazar does no damage.
Painija fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Baltazar throws a hook but Painija blocks it.

Baltazar gets caught flat footed, as Painija shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Painija thows a big elbow that misses.
Painija with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Painija missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Painija controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Baltazar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Painija.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija throwing strikes from guard but Baltazar blocks nicely.
Painija might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Painija accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baltazar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baltazar waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Painija.
Painija ducks under a wild hook from Baltazar.

Painija has Baltazar up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Painija to work.

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.
Painija wants a takedown.
Painija has Baltazar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baltazar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Painija is trying to trip Baltazar. He has hold of a leg but Baltazar is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Painija persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Painija stops Baltazar from standing up.
Painija passes into half guard.
Painija throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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 Pauli Painija will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rogelio Baltazar's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baltazar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Painija paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Painija has Baltazar up against the cage in a clinch.

Painija wants the takedown. Baltazar is fighting it off but Painija persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Baltazar's guard against the cage.
Baltazar keeping full guard, as Painija tries to pass.
Painija looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Baltazar keeping moving, preventing Painija from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija is stalling in the full guard.
Painija wants to control from the top but Baltazar keeps moving.
Painija postures up in Baltazar's guard and throws a big left but Baltazar blocks it.
Painija is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Painija's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Painija throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Painija content to stall in guard here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Pauli Painija just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Baltazar lands a glancing blow to the side of Painija's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baltazar takes a swing at Painija's ribcage but misses.
Baltazar is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Painija takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Painija has a takedown stuffed.
Painija moves away from the strike by Baltazar.

Painija has managed to clinch.
Painija has Baltazar pressed against the cage, preventing Baltazar from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Painija misses with an elbow strike.
Baltazar gets underhooks to prevent Painija's takedown attempt.
Baltazar is looking to break free of the clinch but Painija has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Painija drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baltazar pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Painija. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Painija throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Baltazar was covering up waiting for the punch and Painija finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Painija is standing up over Baltazar. Baltazar looks to escape but Painija dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Painija in side control, throwing shots but Baltazar defends.
Painija moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rogelio Baltazar's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fighters circling - Baltazar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Painija closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baltazar did well to prevent Painija getting side control.
Painija controlling the action here.
Painija stalling away here and it's allowed Baltazar to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Painija is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Baltazar is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Baltazar has escaped and now he's on top!

Painija pushes Baltazar off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija shoots in but Baltazar avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Painija shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Painija wants to pass to mount but Baltazar is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Painija lands a nice short elbow.
Painija frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Painija landing strikes from the mount and Baltazar is in trouble!
Painija has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Painija scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Baltazar?

Baltazar is rocked!

That has opened up Rogelio Baltazar's cut even more.
Painija lands a big shot to the head and Baltazar winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Pauli Painija!