PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Hihnavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hihnavaara comes to the cage accompanied by Kallio Vice. Paniikki has chosen N'sync - Bye Bye Bye as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Aleksi Hihnavaara had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Aleksi Hihnavaara could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Pelle Paniikki's chin.

Hihnavaara
vs
Paniikki

175 cm
30
158 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

165 cm
25
155 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Decent elbows
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksi Hihnavaara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Paniikki.
Hihnavaara misses with a hook. Paniikki ducked under it nicely.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hihnavaara defends it nicely.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aleksi Hihnavaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Paniikki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hihnavaara!

Paniikki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hihnavaara manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paniikki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Paniikki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Paniikki tries for a kimura but Hihnavaara is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniikki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hihnavaara, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hihnavaara is looking for a sweep.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hihnavaara has escaped the position, nice work there.

Paniikki tries for a kimura but Hihnavaara is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Hihnavaara's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hihnavaara wants to control but Paniikki postures up.

Paniikki is trying to get an arm triangle but Hihnavaara is defending well.
Paniikki working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Paniikki tries to advance to mount but can't.

Paniikki tries for a kimura but Hihnavaara is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara is trying to control Paniikki's posture but Paniikki avoids it.

Paniikki is trying to get an arm triangle but Hihnavaara is defending well.
Paniikki advances nicely into full mount.
Hihnavaara wants to control but Paniikki is having none of it.

Paniikki looking to secure an arm triangle but Hihnavaara defends it well.

Paniikki moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hihnavaara has worked his arm free - good work by Hihnavaara!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki tries for a kimura but Hihnavaara is defending well.

Paniikki swings around for an armbar but Hihnavaara sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Paniikki's guard.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle but Hihnavaara pushes his legs off easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hihnavaara trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Paniikki looking for a guillotine here but Hihnavaara defends easily.
Hihnavaara looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Paniikki dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Paniikki shoots for a double leg takedown but Hihnavaara sprawls well. He's pushed Paniikki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paniikki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hihnavaara avoids it really well and circles away.
Hihnavaara throws a nice looking combination but Paniikki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hihnavaara swinging wildly here.
Nice takedown defense from Hihnavaara. No joy for Paniikki on that attempt.
Aleksi Hihnavaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Paniikki fails to land the takedown.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a takedown. Hihnavaara tries to sprawl out of it but Paniikki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hihnavaara manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hihnavaara misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hihnavaara swivels and escapes.
A big right from Hihnavaara misses.
Paniikki staying out of range there.
Paniikki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hihnavaara makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hihnavaara connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hihnavaara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paniikki.
Paniikki is breathing heavily.
Hihnavaara misses with a straight right.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hihnavaara defends it nicely.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hihnavaara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Paniikki manages to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from Hihnavaara as Paniikki shoots in.
Hihnavaara tests Paniikki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hihnavaara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paniikki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paniikki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hihnavaara.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Hihnavaara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aleksi Hihnavaara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paniikki looks for a takedown but Hihnavaara sprawls well.
Danga de danga de dang - Hihnavaara scores with a four punch combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paniikki misses with a takedown
letting Hihnavaara counter with a right hand.

Paniikki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Paniikki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hihnavaara is looking for a sweep.

Paniikki is trying to get an arm triangle but Hihnavaara is defending well.

Paniikki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hihnavaara, who protects the arm well.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hihnavaara has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hihnavaara struggling a bit here.

Paniikki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hihnavaara tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Paniikki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hihnavaara has escaped the position, nice work there.
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 Aleksi Hihnavaara will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Paniikki fails to land the takedown.
Paniikki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hihnavaara throws out the jab.
Hihnavaara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hihnavaara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Paniikki.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hihnavaara misses with a shot to the body

and Paniikki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hihnavaara's guard now.
Paniikki looking to pass the guard.
Hihnavaara bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paniikki's guard.
Paniikki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Hihnavaara defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Paniikki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hihnavaara doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hihnavaara manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniikki working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hihnavaara has passed into half guard!
Paniikki tries to roll over but Hihnavaara keeps him under control.
Hihnavaara with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Paniikki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.
Hihnavaara trying to pass the guard but Paniikki defending well.

Paniikki looking for subs from the bottom but Hihnavaara mounts him!
Hihnavaara tries to control but Paniikki wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Hihnavaara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Paniikki defends it well.
Paniikki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Paniikki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hihnavaara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle here but Hihnavaara uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hihnavaara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hihnavaara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paniikki keeps working.
Paniikki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hihnavaara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hihnavaara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paniikki keeps working.

Paniikki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hihnavaara's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Hihnavaara! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Paniikki has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Aleksi Hihnavaara!