PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Baller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Kontiovaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baller comes into the arena with Helicopter, made of meat! blaring out of the sound system. Paul Baller had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Baller
vs
Kontiovaara

225 cm
31
275 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

193 cm
31
267 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Baller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Kontiovaara!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baller swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kontiovaara slips under a jab from Baller.
Baller misses with a straight right.
Kontiovaara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kontiovaara misses with a hook
and Kontiovaara takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Baller throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Kontiovaara looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kontiovaara thows a huge punch but Baller dodges it nicely.

Kontiovaara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kontiovaara is looking for a kimura here.
Baller wants to control but Kontiovaara is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Baller makes his way to full guard, as Kontiovaara worked for a kimura.

Kontiovaara stands up from Baller's guard - Kontiovaara perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kontiovaara shoots in and drives through. Baller sprawls well.

Kontiovaara gets a double leg takedown into Baller's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baller looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Baller working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kontiovaara doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kontiovaara manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kontiovaara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kontiovaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baller is keeping the position for now.
Kontiovaara trying to control the position from guard on top but Baller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kontiovaara drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kontiovaara jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kontiovaara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kontiovaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baller is keeping the position for now.

Baller is looking for a triangle but Kontiovaara pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baller keeping moving, preventing Kontiovaara from controlling successfully.
Kontiovaara is pushing down on Baller's leg trying to pass to half guard. Baller is fighting to maintain full guard but Kontiovaara has managed to sneak the leg through.
Baller regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baller keeping full guard, as Kontiovaara tries to pass.
Baller wants to sweep but no luck.
Kontiovaara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baller swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kontiovaara preventing the sweep.
Baller keeping moving, preventing Kontiovaara from controlling successfully.
Kontiovaara passes Baller's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Kontiovaara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Baller trying to control but Kontiovaara postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is trying to work for a kimura but Baller is defending well.

Kontiovaara is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Baller has managed to free his arm - good work.

Kontiovaara is looking for a kimura but Baller is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kontiovaara to get the leverage.
Baller is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Baller manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kontiovaara wants to pass the guard but Baller is keeping the position.

Kontiovaara thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baller is trying to keep Kontiovaara in close.
Baller manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kontiovaara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Baller looking to control but Kontiovaara is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kontiovaara is trying to escape the mount.
Kontiovaara wants to control but Baller is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kontiovaara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Kontiovaara dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baller cracks Kontiovaara with a good jab.
Baller lands with an overhand left.
Kontiovaara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kontiovaara will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kontiovaara throws a hook to the side of Baller's head but Baller sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kontiovaara moves out of range of the strikes.
Kontiovaara misses with the combination.
Baller misses the jab.
Kontiovaara moves out of range of the strikes.
Baller sizes up Kontiovaara with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kontiovaara throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baller scores with a jab to the head.
Baller misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kontiovaara misses with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kontiovaara gets the takedown into side control.
Baller is looking to regain half guard here but Kontiovaara keeps moving and retains side control.
Kontiovaara tries to move to mount but Baller blocks the move with his legs.
Juhani Kontiovaara has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kontiovaara working the ground and pound from side control.

Kontiovaara tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Baller is looking to reverse the position.

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

Kontiovaara has his foot on Baller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baller works his way back into a safe position though.

Kontiovaara has his foot on Baller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baller works his way back into a safe position though.
Kontiovaara is breathing heavily.

Baller avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Baller advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baller wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kontiovaara keeps working.
Kontiovaara is looking to reverse the position.
Baller working away.
Kontiovaara tries to bench press Baller off him but Baller keeps the position.
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!
Baller working the head and body with strikes.
Kontiovaara tries to bench press Baller off him but Baller keeps the position.
Baller wants to control but Kontiovaara is keeping him busy.
Baller controls the position from side control.
Kontiovaara gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Baller works his way into full mount!
Kontiovaara manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Baller will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kontiovaara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baller really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions off his back.
Baller is keen to just control but Kontiovaara is a slippery customer.

Kontiovaara actively working from the bottom here.
Kontiovaara is not content to let Baller control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara actively working from the bottom here.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions off his back.
Baller wants to take a breather but Kontiovaara is having none of it.
Baller wants to pass the guard but Kontiovaara is defending well.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions off his back.
Baller trying to control from half guard but Kontiovaara is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Baller lands a nice short elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baller sitting and controlling from the half guard.
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 Paul Baller will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Baller ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kontiovaara swings for the body but Baller moves out of range.
Baller keeps the fight on the outside.
Kontiovaara fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kontiovaara slips a jab from Baller.
Kontiovaara shoots in but Baller avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Baller, as that shot connected.
Kontiovaara moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice shot by Baller.
Baller lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Kontiovaara shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kontiovaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kontiovaara is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
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!

Kontiovaara has gone for a leg lock! Baller slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kontiovaara's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baller seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Baller tries to free his leg and advance position but Kontiovaara is retaining full guard.

Kontiovaara looking for a guillotine here but Baller defends easily.
Baller distracts Kontiovaara with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baller is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baller is aware though and is defending well.
Baller is stalling in the full guard.
Baller trying to control but Kontiovaara is working from the bottom.
Baller is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kontiovaara is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Baller avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kontiovaara looking for subs off his back but Baller has passed one foot through into half guard.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baller pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baller wants to take a breather but Kontiovaara is having none of it.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Baller pulls his head out easily.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Baller is looking for a kimura but Kontiovaara is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baller to get the leverage.
Kontiovaara is staying active underneath Baller, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Baller works his way into full mount!
Baller wants to control the pace but Kontiovaara is squirming around nicely.
Baller lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kontiovaara hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara wants to control but Baller is having none of it.
Kontiovaara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Baller can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kontiovaara is looking to escape.
Kontiovaara regains half guard.
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!
Baller passes to full mount!
Baller with a couple of short strikes.

It looks like Juhani Kontiovaara has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baller scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kontiovaara is trying desperately to improve position.
Kontiovaara is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Baller showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Baller has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juhani Kontiovaara!
During a confident post fight interview, Juhani Kontiovaara thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.