PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Armas Paakku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lillen Eklund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paakku
vs
Eklund

180 cm
22
176 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 Helsinki, Armas Paakku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lillen Eklund!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Paakku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paakku ducks right into an uppercut from Eklund.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paakku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Eklund thows a leg kick but Paakku checks it
and Paakku counters with a left to the body.

Paakku moves into the clinch.
Eklund wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Paakku lands a right hand that snaps the head of Eklund backwards.
Eklund's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Paakku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Eklund looks gassed!
Eklund struggles to land a body shot inside as Paakku controls his hands.
Paakku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Eklund prevents a body shot from Paakku.
Paakku lands a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paakku is working Eklund over against the ropes.
Paakku is working Eklund over against the ropes.
A short body shot lands from Paakku as the two fighters clinch.
Paakku comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Lillen Eklund has been cut.
Still in the clinch, Paakku scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Paakku on the inside.
Paakku working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Paakku lands a body punch.
A short right from Paakku on the inside.
Paakku lands a body shot in the clinch.
Eklund's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Paakku misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paakku scores with a hook to the body.
A shot in the inside from Paakku.
Paakku presses Eklund against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Good body shot from Paakku.
Paakku cracks Eklund with a nice body shot.
A short body shot lands from Paakku as the two fighters clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Paakku.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Eklund.
Paakku digs a right hand into Eklund's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Eklund's gas tank.
Paakku lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Eklund.
Paakku is working Eklund over against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Paakku.
Paakku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Paakku lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Eklund backwards.
Paakku has a couple of punches blocked by Eklund.
A head punch on the inside from Paakku fails to land.
A short right from Paakku on the inside.
Eklund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paakku digs a right hand into Eklund's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Eklund's gas tank.
A body shot lands from Paakku.
Paakku misses with a punch to the body.
Paakku working aggressively here.
Paakku misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Eklund.
Paakku can't find room to land a body shot as Eklund controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Paakku.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Eklund.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Paakku creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Paakku.
Paakku misses with a body punch.
Paakku lands a right hand.
Paakku throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short body shot lands from Paakku as the two fighters clinch.
Eklund blocks a body shot from Paakku.
A right hook to the body lands for Paakku.
Paakku is leaning against Eklund and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Paakku lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Paakku.
Paakku scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Paakku cracks Eklund with a nice body shot.
Still in the clinch, Paakku scores with a nice short uppercut.
Paakku lands a shot to the body.
Paakku makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paakku lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Paakku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Paakku cracks Eklund with a nice body shot.
Paakku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short left from Paakku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paakku prevents Eklund from breaking the clinch.
A short right from Paakku on the inside.
Paakku cracks Eklund with a nice body shot.
Paakku pushes Eklund back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Paakku lands a knee to the body.
Paakku cracks Eklund with a nice body shot.
Paakku digs a right hand into Eklund's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Eklund's gas tank.
Paakku lands a right hand that snaps the head of Eklund backwards.
Paakku tries a body shot but Eklund blocks it.
Eklund managing to block the knees to the body from Paakku.
Eklund wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Paakku lands a body punch.
Eklund working hard to break the clinch.
Eklund has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Eklund blocks an uppercut.
Paakku throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Eklunds head.
Paakku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Eklund is pushing Paakku up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Paakku makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Eklund looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Paakku - that landed with a thud.
Paakku lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Eklund or not.
A head punch on the inside from Paakku fails to land.
Paakku lands with a right to the head.
Eklund wants to stall.
Paakku scores with a shot to the side of Eklund's head.
Good body shot from Paakku.
Eklund has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Paakku lands an elbow inside that Eklund shrugs off.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Paakku.
Paakku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
A short right from Paakku.
Paakku lands an elbow that stopped Eklund in his tracks for a moment.
Paakku working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Eklund can't break the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Paakku.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paakku is working Eklund over against the ropes.
Paakku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Eklund blocks a body shot from Paakku.
Paakku lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Paakku creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Paakku scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Paakku dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lillen Eklund's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Eklund looks to throw a body kick
and Paakku counters with a nice low kick that buckles Eklund's knee momentarily.
Lillen Eklund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paakku looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Paakku tries to clinch there but Eklund circles away.
Paakku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paakku tries to clinch up
and Eklund counters with a nice body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Eklund.
Paakku throws a leg kick
and Eklund counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Eklund circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paakku is looking to clinch but Eklund is avoiding it.
Eklund catches Paakku with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fighters circling - Eklund throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Paakku closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paakku wants to clinch.
Eklund cracks Paakku with a right hand to the side of the head.
Eklund lands a really nice looking cross but Paakku seems unphased.
A solid leg kick lands there for Eklund.
Eklund ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Eklund throws a leg kick which misses Paakku's front leg but catches the back leg as Paakku tries to avoid it.
Paakku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Eklund paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paakku tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Paakku lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Eklund cracks Paakku with an open hand slap.
Paakku has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A right-left combo lands from Eklund.
Eklund tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paakku was well out of range. Poor timing from Eklund.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eklund throws a jab when Paakku was well out of range.
Paakku tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Eklund manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Eklund misses with a kick to the body.
Eklund throws a nice outside leg kick.
Paakku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Paakku forces Eklund back against the ropes and clinches.
Eklund is trying to push Paakku away but Paakku has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Paakku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Eklund tries to circle away but Paakku has him pinned against the ropes.
A shot in the inside from Paakku.
Paakku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Eklund's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Paakku.
Paakku lands with a right to the head.
Paakku working aggressively here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Paakku as Eklund tries to tie him up.
Paakku scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paakku presses Eklund against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Paakku keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Eklund's efforts to push away.
Paakku keeps control of Eklund as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Paakku lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Paakku lands a body shot in the clinch.
Good body shot from Paakku.
Paakku lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Armas Paakku has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Paakku working aggressively here.
Paakku lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Paakku lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Eklund.
A right hook to the body lands for Paakku.
Paakku is leaning against Eklund and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Eklund.
Paakku lands a hook to the side of the head.
Paakku lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Eklund wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Paakku has him pressed against the ropes.
Eklund tries to break free but Paakku pushes him back against the ropes.
Paakku landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Paakku pushes Eklund back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Paakku lands a body punch in the clinch.
Paakku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paakku makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paakku scores with a hook to the body.
Paakku lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Eklund or not.
A right hand to the body from Paakku.

Eklund breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick from Paakku misses.
Eklund punishes Paakku's body with a nice straight punch.
Eklund tries a head kick but it misses.

Paakku has taken the fight to the clinch.
Paakku prevents Eklund from breaking the clinch.
Paakku throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Paakku misses with some punches.
Paakku lands a nice uppercut.
Eklund swings wildly with an uppercut but Paakku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paakku lands a right hand.
Paakku misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Eklund is trying to break the clinch but Paakku has him pressed against the ropes.
Paakku scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Armas Paakku will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lillen Eklund's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Paakku doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A big right from Eklund misses.
Eklund throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Eklund checks a leg kick.
Eklund motions for Paakku to come forward. Eklund throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Paakku tries to clinch up
letting Eklund counter with a right hand.
Paakku moves out of range as Eklund throws a body kick.
Sloppy strikes from Eklund. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eklund avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Eklund moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paakku misses the shot to the body.
Eklund throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paakku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paakku misses with a low kick.
Eklund throws a body kick the misses

and Paakku counters by clinching up.
Paakku tries to work over Eklund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Eklund works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Paakku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Eklund's elbow.
Paakku keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Eklund's efforts to push away.
Paakku lands a nice shot to the body.
Paakku tries to work over Eklund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paakku misses with a body punch.
Eklund takes an elbow to the forehead.
Eklund's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Eklund blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paakku tries to work over Eklund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paakku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Eklund is looking to break free of the clinch but Paakku has double underhooks.
Paakku scores with a nice hook to the head.
Eklund wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two 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.

Eklund's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paakku thows a leg kick but Eklund checks it
and Eklund counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Eklund lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Paakku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eklund.
Paakku tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Eklund manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paakku tries to clinch up
and Eklund counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Paakku moves to clinch but Eklund breaks away
and Eklund counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Paakku has taken the fight to the clinch.
Paakku misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paakku misses with an elbow over the top.

Eklund escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paakku is looking to clinch but Eklund is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paakku is looking to clinch but Eklund is avoiding it.
Paakku misses with a body punch
and Eklund counters with a stiff right hand.
Paakku lunges at Eklund with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Eklund's hand.
Eklund dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paakku tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Eklund counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paakku on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Eklund. Eklund obviously looking to wear him down.
Paakku looks to clinch
and Eklund counters with a stiff right hand.
Paakku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Eklund.
Paakku wants to clinch
enabling Eklund to counter with a crisp jab.
Paakku tries to close the distance and clinch but Eklund swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Eklund. That's going to slow Paakku down.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Eklund!
Eklund throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Paakku counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Paakku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eklund is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Paakku scores with a hook to the body.
Paakku throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Eklund can't break the clinch.

Eklund pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paakku tries to close the distance and clinch but Eklund swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Eklund keeps the fight on the outside.
Paakku wants to clinch.
Lillen Eklund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eklund throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Paakku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Armas Paakku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paakku tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Eklund manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Eklund throws a sloppy head kick and Paakku moves out of range easily.
Paakku moves into range and connects with a jab.
Paakku tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Eklund manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Eklund throws a leg kick
and Paakku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Paakku works the jab nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lillen Eklund.
I think Paakku 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:27

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