PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cid Strife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Painija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strife comes to the cage accompanied by Tool - Ticks and Leeches. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Strife
vs
Painija

183 cm
24
172 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

160 cm
21
176 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Powerful

Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy + Stamina!

M/S Paint Fightwear **Laundry service**

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cid Strife!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pauli Painija!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strife takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Strife takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Strife chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Painija can pounce on him.

Strife tries to keep at a distance but Painija has taken the fight into the clinch.

Painija pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Painija avoids the head kick by Strife.
Strife circles away from the clinch attempt.
Painija is looking to clinch.

Painija gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Painija breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Painija throws a body punch but Strife moves out of range.

Painija throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Strife was covering up waiting for the punch and Painija finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Painija stays in close to Strife's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija looking to pass the guard.
Strife is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Painija is controlling him.
Strife knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Painija on the ground.
Painija throwing strikes from guard but Strife blocks nicely.

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.
Strife keeping full guard, as Painija tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Painija is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Painija throwing strikes but missing.
Strife preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Strife keeping moving, preventing Painija from controlling successfully.
Painija stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strife swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija wants to control from the top but Strife keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Strife wants to get back to his feet but Painija is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Painija is looking to work some ground and pound but Strife has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Painija trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Painija is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Painija throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Painija tries to free his leg and advance position but Strife is retaining full guard.
Painija is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Strife will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Painija landing with the ground and pound.
Painija slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Painija has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Painija working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Painija wants to control but Strife is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Painija dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Painija wants to clinch up but Strife keeps it at a distance.

Painija shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Painija seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strife does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Painija moves into full mount! Strife won't be happy about that!
Painija lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Painija sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Painija lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Painija looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Painija sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Painija landing strikes, looking to finish!
Painija scores with a couple of good head shots there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Painija sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Painija takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Strife is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Painija is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Strife can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Painija lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Strife hang on?
Painija punching from mount but Strife doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija controlling from the full mount.
Painija landing strikes from the mount.
Painija looking to finish with strikes here!
Painija with a couple of short strikes.
Painija sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Painija postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Strife looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Strife hang on?
The referee warns Strife that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Painija lands a nice shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Painija controlling his opponent.
Strife taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Painija is landing with some decent strikes but Strife is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Painija is looking to clinch.
Painija lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Painija throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Painija checks a leg kick.
Painija misses with a hook.
Strife stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strife wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Painija.

Painija darts in and clinches Strife up against the cage.

Painija breaks the clinch.
Strife pivots, looking for a leg kick but Painija is out of range and Strife settles back down.

Painija has Strife up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Painija's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Painija tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strife thows a left - swing and a miss!
Painija swings for the body but Strife moves out of range.

Painija fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strife, pushing him back against the cage.
Strife throws an elbow but it misses.
Painija dodges an elbow strike from Strife.
Painija has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Painija makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Painija lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Strife missing with knees to the body.
Painija changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Strife fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cid Strife has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
Strife tries a head kick but it misses.
Painija misses with an uppercut. Strife saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Painija throws a leg kick but Strife sees it coming and moves out of range.
Painija tries to clinch up
and Strife counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Painija is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Painija. Strife does a little dance to reset his feet.
Painija ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Strife throws a head kick that misses.
Painija thuds a left hand into Strife's body.
Painija jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Painija tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strife was well out of range. Poor timing from Painija.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija catches Strife with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Painija checks a low kick from Strife.
Strife looks to clinch
and Painija counters with a nice body shot.
Strife throws a looping overhand right but Painija ducks down to avoid it.
Pauli Painija seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Painija looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Strife tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Painija manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strife throws a sloppy head kick

and Painija counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Painija looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strife with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Strife keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija wants to control but Strife is keeping him busy.
Painija throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Strife avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Painija.
Strife keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Strife avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Painija.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Painija frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Painija is landing with some decent strikes but Strife is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Painija lands a big shot there that rocks Strife but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strife moves to clinch but Painija breaks away
and Painija counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Painija looks to score with a jab to the body but Strife is just out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Painija.
Painija throws a predictable looking body shot
and Strife counters with a stiff right hand.
Painija fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strife avoids it really well and circles away.

Painija has taken the fight to the clinch.
Painija is looking to break free of the clinch but Strife has double underhooks.
A hook to the body from Painija.

Painija pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strife swings widly with a right hand
and Strife takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Painija is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Strife rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Painija.
Cid Strife has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
Painija looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Painija lands a nice hook to Strife's body. Strife takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Painija shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strife manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Strife wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Painija manages to pass to side control.
Painija is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pauli Painija has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija slips a nice elbow through Strife's hands, connecting with Strife's forehead.
Painija thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Painija thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Strife keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Painija thows a huge punch but Strife dodges it nicely.
Painija seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija is pressing down on Strife's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strife is holding on for now.
Painija missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Painija is working for a submission of some sort.
Painija thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four 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 is nestled in close to Strife, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Painija thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Painija looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Painija stops Strife from getting back to his feet.
Strife on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Painija works his way into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Painija, as that shot connected.
Strife tries to close the distance and clinch up but Painija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Strife swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Painija throws a combination. Strife tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Painija throws a body punch but Strife moves out of range.

Painija closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Painija dodges an elbow strike from Strife.

Painija breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strife walks into a stiff left hand from Painija.
Strife lands a leg kick that knocks Painija off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Painija takes the fight into the clinch.
Painija lands a body punch.

Painija breaks from the clinch.
Painija misses with a takedown attempt - Strife sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Painija blocks a head kick by Strife.
Painija lands with a shot to the body.
Painija fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cid Strife is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Painija does it's job there.
Painija lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strife at a distance.
Cid Strife has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija moves in looking to clinch but Strife pushes him off.
Painija misses the shot to the body.
Strife throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Painija misses.
Painija lands with a right hand.
Pauli Painija seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strife loads up on a big right hand but Painija slips the punch.
Painija lands with a right hand.

Painija scores a takedown into full mount!
Painija looking to ground and pound but Strife is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Painija.
Painija working Strife over with strikes here.
Strife is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Painija landing shots from mount.
Painija tries to control but Strife wriggling away.
The referee warns Strife that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pauli Painija is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strife is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Painija is landing with some decent strikes but Strife is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Painija cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Painija tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Painija looking to control but Strife is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pauli Painija comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Painija has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 44:50
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 44:50
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pauli Painija!
Pauli Painija is the new welterweight champion!