PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arvo Penaali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Penaali might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Immortal Technique - Obnoxius. Sirkiä has chosen Thergothon - Elemental 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.

Penaali
vs
Sirkiä

180 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
156 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Brute
- Elite Fighter© + Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Arvo Penaali!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Niko Sirkiä!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penaali looks to land a left hand but Sirkiä moved out of range nicely.
Penaali lands a nice looking body shot.
Sirkiä avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Penaali swings for the body but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Sirkiä takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sirkiä tries to close the distance and clinch but Penaali swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Penaali misses the target.
Sirkiä fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sirkiä fails with a takedown attempt.
Sirkiä doesn't manage to clinch there - Penaali circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penaali. Sirkiä does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penaali throws a body punch but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Sirkiä takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Penaali looks for a takedown but Sirkiä sprawls well.
Penaali throws a looping overhand right but Sirkiä ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penaali shoots for a double leg takedown but Sirkiä sprawls well. He's pushed Penaali's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sirkiä misses with a two punch combination.
Sirkiä throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Penaali sizes up Sirkiä with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sirkiä misses the shot to the body.
Arvo Penaali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sirkiä is trying hard to land a takedown here. Penaali sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Penaali misses with a looping right.
Sirkiä circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sirkiä lands a jab to Penaali's midsection.
Penaali shoots and misses

and Sirkiä counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arvo Penaali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Penaali scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Penaali looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sirkiä is avoiding damage well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penaali tries to move to mount but Sirkiä blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penaali throws a strike aimed at the side of Sirkiä's head but Sirkiä avoids it well.
Penaali moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
An elbow from Penaali crashes against the mat.
Sirkiä managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Penaali.
Penaali moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Penaali working the strikes but Sirkiä uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Penaali takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Penaali.
Sirkiä works his way to full guard. Good work.
Penaali throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sirkiä working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penaali.

Sirkiä working for a triangle but Penaali defends it easily.
Sirkiä is pulling down on Penaali's head to control his posture.
Penaaliis looking to pass into half guard but Sirkiä pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sirkiä is in guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Penaali is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penaali is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sirkiä is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sirkiä trying to control the position from guard on top but Penaali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sirkiä won't allow Penaali to sweep him here.
Sirkiä missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sirkiä's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Penaali escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sirkiä gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sirkiä sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sirkiä postures up.

Penaali is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sirkiä defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arvo Penaali dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters circling - Penaali throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Penaali fails with a takedown attempt.
Sirkiä moves out of range as Penaali strikes.
Sirkiä throws a series of punches but Penaali avoids them all with ease.
Sirkiä displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Penaali throws out the jab.

Sirkiä gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Penaali to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Penaali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Penaali wants to control from the top but Sirkiä keeps moving.
Arvo Penaali overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sirkiä not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkiä keeping full guard, as Penaali tries to pass.
Penaali throws a strike but Sirkiä rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Penaali working a defensive guard here.
Sirkiä slips nicely into half guard.
Sirkiä lands with a punch from half guard.
Penaali is trying to get back to full guard.
Penaali wants to control the action here but instead Sirkiä manages to pass to full mount!
Penaali really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penaali bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penaali trying to control the position from guard on top but Sirkiä is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penaali stopping the sweep attempt from Sirkiä.
Penaali postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Penaali wants to control from the top but Sirkiä keeps moving.
Penaali postures up in Sirkiä's guard and throws a big left but Sirkiä blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penaali trying to control the position from guard on top but Sirkiä is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penaali throws a strike but Sirkiä rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Penaali tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penaali has Sirkiä pulled in close to control his posture.
Sirkiä is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sirkiä not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Penaali looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sirkiä is one step ahead there.

Penaali working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sirkiä doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sirkiä manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Penaali is trying to hold Sirkiä in close to prevent damage but Sirkiä has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penaali has hold of Sirkiä's hands but Sirkiä slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Penaali wants to get back to full guard.
Sirkiä looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sirkiä controlling the pace.
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!
Sirkiä takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sirkiä controlling the action here.
Sirkiä trying to control the action but Penaali is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penaali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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 Arvo Penaali will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sirkiä displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Penaali throws out the jab.
Penaali tests Sirkiä's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sirkiä just misses with a punch to the body.
Penaali walks into a left hand.
Penaali scores with a punch to the head.
Penaali throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Sirkiä counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sirkiä.
A short uppercut from Sirkiä.
Penaali is trying to break the clinch but Sirkiä has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sirkiä.
Penaali tries to work over Sirkiä's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Penaali tries for a takedown. No joy.
Penaali tries to score a body lock takedown but Sirkiä shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sirkiä is leaning against Penaali and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Penaali gets control of Sirkiä's arms and successfully pulls guard. Penaali will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sirkiä's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkiä is in close to Penaali's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Penaali escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sirkiä gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sirkiä showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sirkiä slips nicely into half guard.
Sirkiä works his way into side control.
Sirkiä staying calm.
Sirkiä scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penaali tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Sirkiä presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penaali really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sirkiä lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Penaali hang on?
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!
Sirkiä putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sirkiä working Penaali over with strikes here.

It looks like Arvo Penaali has been cut.
Sirkiä has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Penaali is trying to escape the mount.
Penaali is working hard here to advance position.
Penaali is bucking up trying to escape but Sirkiä cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä controlling from mount.
Penaali is squirming around, avoiding Sirkiä's attempts to control the action.
Penaali keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sirkiä landing strikes, looking to finish!
Penaali manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sirkiä works his way into full mount!
Sirkiä is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Penaali can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä dominating with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penaali tries to reverse the position but Sirkiä maintains control.
Sirkiä putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Arvo Penaali's cut is getting worse.
Penaali is working to get back to half guard.
Penaali in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Penaali is squirming around, avoiding Sirkiä's attempts to control the action.
Penaali is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sirkiä landing shots from mount.

Arvo Penaali's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Sirkiä is landing with some decent strikes but Penaali is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Penaali is rocked!

Jeez, Arvo Penaali's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Arvo Penaali's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Niko Sirkiä!
Niko Sirkiä is the new featherweight champion!