PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ahto Paine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James McQueen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paine comes to the cage accompanied by Iced Earth - Watching Over Me. McQueen has chosen Edguy - Ministry of Saints as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Paine
vs
McQueen

202 cm
21
283 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

198 cm
27
271 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ahto Paine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James McQueen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McQueen.

Paine has McQueen up against the cage in a clinch.
McQueen is looking to take this one to the mat.

Paine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McQueen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ahto Paine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McQueen lands a jab to Paine's midsection.
McQueen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Paine's waist but Paine gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McQueen off to one side.

McQueen has taken the fight to the clinch.

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

McQueen drives through and clinches with Paine against the cage.

Paine gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, McQueen regains guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Paine wants to get up but he can't break McQueen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Paine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McQueen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paine's guard.
McQueen wants to control from the top but Paine keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQueen controlling from the top position.
Paine keeping moving, preventing McQueen from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James McQueen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
McQueen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

McQueen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Paine scores with a shoulder strike.

It looks like James McQueen has been cut.
McQueen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Paine pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ahto Paine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James McQueen.
Paine circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paine misses with a double jab.
McQueen shoots for a double leg takedown but Paine sprawls well. He's pushed McQueen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Paine shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Paine was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paine controlling from mount.
Paine trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McQueen regains half guard.
McQueen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Paine.

Paine is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McQueen has managed to free his arm - good work.
McQueen manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paine preventing the sweep.
McQueen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Paine has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McQueen is proving hard to escape from.
Paine has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McQueen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McQueen looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McQueen pushes Paine off and scrambles back to his feet.

Paine closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McQueen is trying to get back to half guard.
McQueen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Paine decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

McQueen gets the takedown into side control.
Paine is not content to let McQueen control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sloppy strikes there by McQueen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James McQueen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James McQueen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Paine pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

McQueen gets tackled into the cage by Paine. Paine maintains the clinch.
Paine keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McQueen's efforts to push away.
McQueen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Paine is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McQueen has Paine pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paine manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Paine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Paine, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ahto Paine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paine falls off balance throwing a combination
and McQueen counters with an outside leg kick.
McQueen is looking to clinch.
McQueen shoots in but no luck this time.
Ahto Paine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James McQueen.
McQueen doesn't manage to clinch there - Paine circles away.
Paine throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McQueen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes from Paine. Those never looked like landing.

Paine scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Paine avoids the strikes from the bottom by McQueen.
McQueen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

McQueen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McQueen trying to control the pace.

McQueen wants to work for an arm triangle but Paine is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Paine tries to get to full guard but McQueen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paine is looking to control McQueen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Paine avoid being mounted?

McQueen wants to work for an arm triangle but Paine is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

McQueen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

McQueen seems to be working for a kimura but Paine defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McQueen trying to control the pace.
McQueen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McQueen controlling the action here.
McQueen trying to control from half guard but Paine is working away.
McQueen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McQueen wants to stand up but Paine is controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
McQueen trying to control from half guard but Paine is working away.
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 Ahto Paine will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James McQueen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Paine takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

McQueen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paine was covering up waiting for the punch and McQueen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Paine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McQueen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paine is keeping the position for now.
McQueen won't allow Paine to get back to his feet.

McQueen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Paine manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McQueen has Paine in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McQueen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Paine decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McQueen, up you get!
McQueen avoids a punch combination nicely.
McQueen keeps the fight on the outside.
McQueen wants to clinch up but Paine keeps it at a distance.
Paine misses with a two punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Paine. No joy for McQueen on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paine swinging wildly here.
Paine falls off balance throwing a combination
and McQueen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paine misses with a wild combination.
McQueen shoots in looking for a takedown but Paine manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McQueen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McQueen wants to clinch.
McQueen dips to his left and cracks Paine with an uppercut!
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!
Paine avoids a punch combination nicely.
McQueen shoots in but no luck this time.
Ahto Paine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James McQueen.
Paine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McQueen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paine circles away quickly and effectively.
Paine throws a right hand that McQueen ducks under and follows up with a left that McQueen also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paine misses with a series of wild punches.
Paine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Paine doesn't manage to clinch there - McQueen circles away.
McQueen moves in looking to clinch but Paine pushes him off.
McQueen tries to close the distance and clinch but Paine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Paine!
Paine throws a head kick that misses

and McQueen moves into the clinch.
McQueen tries to score a body lock takedown but Paine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Paine has McQueen pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Paine pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending McQueen tumbling to the mat - Paine dives into McQueen's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McQueen is trying to control the position but Paine postures up.

Paine got a little sloppy there for a moment and McQueen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paine has managed to get both his arms back between McQueen's legs - danger averted.
McQueen wants to sweep here but Paine controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McQueen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McQueen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Paine tries to stand but McQueen is controlling from the bottom.
McQueen wants to sweep but no luck.
Paine is looking to work some ground and pound but McQueen has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McQueen is looking for a triangle but Paine pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McQueen trying to keep a closed guard but Paine is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James McQueen.
I think McQueen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James McQueen!
A very excited looking James McQueen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.