PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Kelso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Painija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelso comes to the cage accompanied by That 70's Show Theme Music. Michael Kelso has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kelso
vs
Painija

190 cm
21
176 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

160 cm
19
176 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Kelso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pauli Painija!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Painija shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kelso is trying to defend but Painija finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Kelso is defending against the submission attempts here by Painija.

Kelso is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Painija pulls his head out easily.
Kelso is looking to control Painija's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kelso avoid being mounted?
Painija thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kelso's head.
Painija looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Painija throwing shots but Kelso is blocking nicely.
Painija looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kelso with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelso trying to control here.
Painija wants to control but Kelso is keeping him busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Painija connects with a nice short shot to Kelso's temple.
Kelso wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija is trying to control. Kelso wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kelso tries to roll over but Painija keeps him under control.
Kelso wants to get back to his feet.
Painija seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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

Kelso moves into the clinch successfully.
Kelso gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Painija.

Kelso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kelso connects with a right hand. Painija shakes it off.
Kelso scores with a decent looking hook.
Painija changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kelso tries to avoid it but Painija manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kelso to the ground. Kelso escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Painija has managed to clinch.
Kelso is trying to break the clinch but Painija has him pressed against the cage.
Kelso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kelso throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kelso throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelso throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Painija blocks it with crossed arms.
Painija can't find room to land a body shot as Kelso controls the action.
Painija blocks an elbow strike.
Kelso prevents a takedown attempt there.
Michael Kelso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
Kelso throws an elbow that misses.
Painija dodges an elbow strike from Kelso.
Kelso has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kelso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Painija closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Painija tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kelso knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kelso wants to get back to his feet.
Painija looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kelso with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Painija thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kelso's head.

Painija seems to be looking for submissions.
Painija trying to control the action but Kelso is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelso pushes Painija off looking to stand but Painija dives back in and keeps control.

Painija is trying to work for a kimura but Kelso is defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kelso catches Painija with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kelso keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Painija shoots in for a takedown but Kelso shows good takedown defense.
Painija looks gassed!
Kelso lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Painija at a distance.
Painija is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kelso doesn't manage to clinch there - Painija circles away.
Painija walks into a left hand.
Kelso closes the distance but Painija moves to the side

and Painija counters by clinching up.
Kelso wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Painija has him pressed against the cage.

Kelso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circling - Kelso throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelso with a hook.
Kelso misses with a hook.
Painija drops his hands momentarily and Kelso takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Painija instigates a clinch.
Kelso lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kelso wants to break free but Painija has control.
Kelso tries to circle away but Painija has him pinned against the cage.
Kelso wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kelso lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Kelso breaks the clinch.
Painija looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kelso lands with a hook. Painija tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Painija clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kelso can't break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelso lands a shot to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Kelso's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Painija misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kelso.
Kelso doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kelso is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kelso dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters circling - Kelso throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Painija walks into a straight right hand from Kelso.
Painija shoots in for a takedown but Kelso shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Painija fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kelso is out of range.
Painija looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kelso is fending him off so far but Painija persists. Nope, Kelso circles away and we're back to standing.
Kelso scores with a nice head shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kelso.
Painija shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kelso sprawls well. Kelso wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Painija gets slowly back to his feet.
Michael Kelso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
Painija shoots in for a takedown but Kelso shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kelso jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kelso works over Painija's head and body with a nice combination.
Pauli Painija is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Painija with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kelso to score with a decent uppercut.
Kelso moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kelso moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Kelso pushes Painija up against the cage in a clinch.
Painija gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kelso.
Kelso scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija with a knee to the head.

Kelso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kelso waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Painija.
Kelso with a jab.
A big right from Painija misses.
Kelso closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Painija throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kelso makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Painija misses with a takedown
and Kelso connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A slow jab from Kelso misses its intended target.
Kelso throws a looping overhand right but Painija ducks down to avoid it.
Kelso scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Painija takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A left lands for Kelso.
Painija tries to bum rush Kelso with a series of wild strikes but Kelso uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Painija closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kelso did well to prevent Painija getting side control.

Kelso looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Painija wants to take a breather but Kelso is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Painija sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kelso defending well though.
Kelso trying to control but Painija postures up.
Painija looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kelso with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kelso trying to hold on to Painija's head to control him but Painija postures up.
Painija is keen to just control but Kelso is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kelso tries to clinch

and Painija counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Painija trying to control but Kelso is working from the bottom.
Painija might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kelso kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Painija with a flurry of punches that miss.

Kelso has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Painija can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Painija stops Kelso from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelso keeping moving, preventing Painija from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Painija swinging wildly here.
Painija shoots in and drives through. Kelso sprawls well.
Michael Kelso is winning the standup battle so far.
Kelso throws a leg kick but Painija sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Painija tries for a takedown but Kelso circles away easily
and Kelso counters with a nice uppercut.
Painija is breathing heavily.
Kelso takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Painija moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kelso throws a shot from downtown. Painija moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Painija checks a leg kick.
Kelso lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Painija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kelso displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Painija.
Painija shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kelso as he jumps to the side.
Painija shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Painija gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kelso leaves Painija with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kelso connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Painija uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kelso.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelso throws out a loose jab but Painija uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kelso throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Painija stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kelso tests Painija's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Painija tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kelso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kelso dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kelso paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kelso paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kelso is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Kelso scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Painija is trying to stand.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Painija tries to kick Kelso off but Kelso keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kelso will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kelso is working for an americana but Painija has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Kelso was thinking about the submission.
Kelso looking to pass the guard.
Painija takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kelso trying to control but Painija is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelso wants to pass the guard but Painija is keeping the position.
Kelso wants to stand and escape but instead Painija has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kelso wants to sweep here but Painija controlling him for the moment.

Kelso has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Painija can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kelso utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Painija throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kelso throws a looping overhand right but Painija ducks down to avoid it.

Painija fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kelso, pushing him back against the cage.
Painija displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kelso up against the cage.
Kelso lands a body shot in the clinch.

Kelso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Painija is looking to clinch but Kelso is avoiding it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Painija.

Painija looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kelso!
Kelso is trying desperately to improve position.
Painija can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kelso is looking to escape.
Pauli Painija has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kelso is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija lands a heavy elbow.
Painija fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Painija prevents Kelso from getting the reversal.
Kelso is squirming around, avoiding Painija's attempts to control the action.
Painija lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Painija pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BOOM! Painija connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Painija lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Painija lands a big elbow.
Kelso is bucking up trying to escape but Painija cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Painija cracks Kelso with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kelso wants to control but Painija is having none of it.
Kelso regains half guard.
Pauli Painija has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Kelso actively working from the bottom here.
Painija takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kelso gets back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Painija looking to sit in guard and control but Kelso gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Painija pushes Kelso off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Michael Kelso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelso lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pauli Painija comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kelso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Kelso!