PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pasi Rantala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andersson Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rantala
vs
Penn

195 cm
27
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

204 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pasi Rantala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andersson Penn!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rantala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Penn moves away from the strike by Rantala.
Rantala displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Penn.

Rantala moves into the clinch.
Rantala wants to break free but Penn has control.

Rantala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pasi Rantala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Penn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rantala.
Rantala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rantala throws a right hand that Penn ducks under and follows up with a left that Penn also avoids with ease.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Rantala shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pasi Rantala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andersson Penn.

Penn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantala pushes Penn off looking to stand but Penn dives back in and keeps control.
Rantala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rantala tries to get out of the position.
Penn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rantala is not content to let Penn control the position.
Penn is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Penn is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rantala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rantala taking some punishment here, with Penn in his half guard.
Penn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Penn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Rantala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Penn stops Rantala from getting back to his feet.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rantala keeps working.
Penn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Penn throwing shots but Rantala is blocking nicely.
Penn working the head and body with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn lands with a punch from half guard.
Penn is nestled in close to Rantala, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Penn thows a huge punch but Rantala dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn lands with a punch from half guard.
Rantala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Penn.
Penn thows a huge punch but Rantala dodges it nicely.
Rantala is not content to let Penn control the position.
Penn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rantala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.
Rantala looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rantala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn working over Rantala with some ground and pound. Rantala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rantala has hold of Penn's hands but Penn slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Penn lands with a punch from half guard.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Penn prevents Rantala from standing back up.
Rantala is breathing heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Penn lands a nice short elbow.
Penn is keen to just control but Rantala is a slippery customer.
Penn scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Penn slips a nice elbow through Rantala's hands, connecting with Rantala's forehead.
Penn slips a nice elbow through Rantala's hands, connecting with Rantala's forehead.
Penn winds up and cracks Rantala with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Penn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Penn takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Penn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Penn stands up out of the half guard.
No joy there for Rantala, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rantala lands a high kick!

Rantala forces Penn back against the cage and clinches.
Rantala missing with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rantala fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rantala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andersson Penn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rantala digs a good body shot into Penn's ribs.
Pasi Rantala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rantala drops Penn with a beautiful combination! Penn stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Rantala is looking for the KO!

Penn is rocked!

It looks like Andersson Penn has been cut.

Rantala clinches.
Penn is still on wobbly legs! Can Rantala finish him?
Rantala tries to circle away but Penn has him pinned against the cage.

Rantala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Penn seems to have recovered his senses.

Rantala gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rantala has had enough of the clinch but Penn keeps him there for the moment.

Rantala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rantala sprawls well. Rantala wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Penn gets slowly back to his feet.
Crunch! Rantala slams his shin into Penn's torso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rantala avoids it really well and circles away.

Rantala closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
Rantala lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rantala just leaning against Penn, taking a breather.

Rantala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Penn slips a jab and a cross from Rantala.
Rantala scores with a crisp jab that stopped Penn in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn looks for a takedown but Rantala sprawls well.
Pasi Rantala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andersson Penn.
A left lands for Rantala.

Rantala moves into range and clinches up with Penn.
Rantala wants to break free but Penn has control.
Penn can't get the takedown.
Penn tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rantala wants to break the clinch but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Penn looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rantala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rantala lands a left and a right that send Penn crashing to the mat, dazed. Rantala thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
An inside leg kick lands from Rantala.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Rantala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Penn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rantala prevents it.
Rantala is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Penn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rantala fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rantala misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rantala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rantala connects with an inside leg kick.

Rantala pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Rantala trying to land knees to the body.

Rantala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rantala throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penn throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rantala tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Penn is in Rantala's guard.
Penn lands a couple of digs.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Rantala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pasi Rantala dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andersson Penn's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rantala lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rantala ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Pasi Rantala is winning the standup battle so far.

Rantala instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rantala.
Penn being controlled against the cage.
Penn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rantala avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Penn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rantala gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantala is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Penn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rantala pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pasi Rantala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andersson Penn.
Penn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rantala gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rantala wants to break free but Penn has control.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Rantala shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rantala breaks the clinch.

Rantala rushes Penn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rantala is trying to force a seperation but Penn has the dominant position.

Rantala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rantala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Penn takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rantala misses the shot to the body.
Rantala lands a lovely overhand right.

Rantala closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rantala stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantala throws an elbow but it misses.
Penn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rantala gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Penn tries for a takedown but Rantala manages to get underhooks.
Rantala will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Penn up against the cage.
Rantala can't break the clinch.
Rantala leaning against his opponent.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Rantala shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rantala smiles and moves away.
Rantala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rantala throws a head kick that misses.
Rantala feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Penns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pasi Rantala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rantala.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rantala closes the distance and clinches.
Penn tries for a takedown. No joy.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Pasi Rantala showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rantala 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 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pasi Rantala!