PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Painija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hall comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Hell's Bells. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hall
vs
Painija

178 cm
32
182 lbs
37 - 8 - 2

160 cm
28
176 lbs
26 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Al's Supplements - 160 Q for $150

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Rio

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Sam Hall!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pauli Painija!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hall throws a low kick, looking for Painija's leg but Painija calmly moves out of range.
Painija lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hall circles away quickly and effectively.
Hall attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hall feints and then cracks Painija's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Painija down.
Painija checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Painija. Hall does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hall lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Painija wants to clinch up but Hall keeps it at a distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hall enables Painija to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hall manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hall wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hall wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Painija's guard.
Hall trying to control but Painija is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Painija is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Hall wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hall throws a leg kick but Painija sees it coming and moves out of range.
Painija is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hall misses with a low kick.
Painija swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hall scores with a jab to the head.
Painija swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hall throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Painija is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hall just misses with a punch to the body.
Painija stuns Hall with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hall throws a nice inside leg kick.
Painija moves out of range of the leg kick from Hall.
Hall thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Painija if he has to take too many more of those.
Hall feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Painija's calf.
Sam Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Painija checks a leg kick.

Painija fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hall sprawls well initially but Painija persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hall avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Painija.
Painija prevents Hall from improving his position.
Painija tries to pass to full mount but Hall defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall has his hands clasped together around Painija's back. He's all about the action.
Hall is trying to control but can't.
Hall tries to roll over but Painija keeps him under control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Painija missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Painija landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Painija wants to take a breather but Hall is having none of it.
Hall trying to control here.
Hall on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Painija trying to control from half guard but Hall is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Painija.
Hall works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hall preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Painija.
Hall keeping moving, preventing Painija from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Painija makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Painija tries to free his leg and advance position but Hall is retaining full guard.
Painija trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Painija stopping the sweep attempt from Hall.
Hall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pauli Painija will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Painija misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hall misses with a body shot.
Hall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Painija misses with a leg kick.
Hall moves out of range of the body kick.
Painija throws a body punch but Hall moves out of range.
Hall looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hall tests Painija's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hall throws a chopping leg kick but Painija manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Painija fails with an attempt to clinch.
Painija takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fight stays on the outside here - Painija looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Painija tries to clinch but Hall moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall connects with a leg kick. Painija looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Painija is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hall rather than just go for the knockout.

Painija clinches with his opponent.
Painija tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Painija throws an elbow but it misses.
Hall lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Painija misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Painija tries to land knees in the clinch but Hall avoids the damage to the body.
Painija tries to land knees in the clinch but Hall avoids the damage to the body.
Painija misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hall.
Painija misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hall softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hall misses with a knee to the head.
Hall tries a body shot but Painija blocks it.
Hall prevents a body shot from Painija.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija scores with a hook to the body.
Hall works on Painija's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hall tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Painija avoids it.

Hall manages to break the clinch.
Painija misses the shot to the body.
Hall takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hall feints and then cracks Painija's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Painija down.
Hall lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Painija swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hall throws a wild body kick that Painija sees coming a mile off.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hall. That's going to slow Painija down.
Hall tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam Hall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hall with a jab.
Painija fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hall tries to close the distance and clinch but Painija swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija tries to close the distance and clinch but Hall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Painija wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Painija blocks a head kick by Hall.
Hall throws a shot from downtown. Painija moves away and avoids it.
Hall scores with a nice head shot.
Hall is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Painija ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Painija has a takedown stuffed.
Hall dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Painija. That did some damage!
Hall moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Hall forces Painija back against the cage and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hall.
Hall landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Painija is looking for a takedown.
Hall is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Still in the clinch, Hall scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short left from Hall.
Hall lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hall obliges.
Painija is breathing heavily.
Hall scores with a shot to the side of Painija's head.
Painija lands with a light punch inside.

Painija gets control of Hall's arms and successfully pulls guard. Painija will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hall tries to stand but Painija is controlling from the bottom.

Hall gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circling - Painija throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hall fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Painija has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Hall dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Painija takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Painija has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hall finds it's way round the side to connect with Painija's head.
Painija connects with a body shot.
Hall checks the leg kick.
Hall explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Painija is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hall looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Painija misses with a body shot
and Hall counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Painija lands with a good body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Painija crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hall - the referee stops the clock and Painija gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hall. Painija manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hall lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hall throws a quick inside leg kick.
Painija pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Painija has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hall.
Painija takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Painija. Those never looked like landing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hall, right into the meat.
Painija gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hall.
Hall turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hall thows a body shot but no joy.
Painija takes one to the side of the head.
Hall lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hall fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hall throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hall scores with the left hand. Painija knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall feints a jab promting Painija to slip. Hall then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Painija slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hall getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sam Hall is winning the standup battle so far.
Hall slips under a jab.
Painija misses with a looping left.
Hall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Painija wants to clinch.
Painija blocks a head kick by Hall.
Hall with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Painija checks the leg kick nicely there.
Painija misses with a wild body shot.
Hall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Painija checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija wants to clinch up but Hall keeps it at a distance.
Painija's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Painija takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hall uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Painija has time to react.
Hall throws a head kick but Painija moves out of range.
Hall fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Painija is defended easily by Hall.
Painija blocks a low kick nicely.
Hall moves in looking to clinch but Painija pushes him off.
Hall chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Painija tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hall manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Hall.
Painija has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hall.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hall, right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Painija throws a hook to the side of Hall's head but Hall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hall lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hall.
Painija doesn't manage to clinch there - Hall circles away.
Hall lands with a shot to the body.
Hall connects with an inside leg kick.
Hall slaps away a takedown attempt from Painija, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sam Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hall tries to land a leg kick but Painija saw it coming and moves away.
Painija fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Hall clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hall lands a head kick. Painija smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hall throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Hall tries to keep at a distance but Painija has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hall blocking some punches.
Hall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sam Hall has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hall lands a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Hall as the two fighters clinch.
Painija missing with knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Hall scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hall stalling the fight.
Hall makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hall throws a punch but it's blocked by Painija.
Hall lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija tries to land knees in the clinch but Hall avoids the damage to the body.
Hall blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hall is trying to break the clinch but Painija has him pressed against the cage.
Painija blocks a body shot from Hall.
Hall goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Painija is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hall is keeping busy.
Hall presses Painija against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hall lands a body punch in the clinch.
Painija takes an elbow to the forehead.
Painija misses with a punch to the body.
Hall is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Painija can do to turn this around?
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hall with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Pauli Painija has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija swings wildly with an uppercut but Hall uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Painija wants to land a leg kick but Hall is out of range.
Hall defending well as Painija loads up on a big left hand.
Hall throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A solid body kick from Hall.
Painija throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hall moves into the clinch.
Painija tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Painija misses with a hook from the clinch.
Painija jumps guard but Hall stands there with Painija around his waist. Painija gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Painija avoiding damage as Hall throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall misses with an elbow strike.
Hall with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hall working aggressively here.
Painija is working for takedown but Hall is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hall prevents a body shot from Painija.

Hall breaks the clinch.
Hall tests Painija's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hall throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hall throws a front kick aimed at Painija's knee but Painija avoids it well.
Painija just misses with a punch to the body.
Hall uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Painija.
Painija throws a leg kick but Hall sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija takes one to the chin there.
A big right from Hall misses.
Painija throws a series of punches but Hall moves out of range.
Hall goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hall lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hall lands with a slapping head kick.
Hall stuffs the takedown attempt from Painija. Painija gets slowly back to his feet.
Sam Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
Painija dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Painija takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Painija misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Hall had his way with Pauli Painija in that round.
The cut man is working on Pauli Painija's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Painija fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hall looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hall cracks Painija with a right hand to the side of the head.
Painija tries to score with a low kick but Hall moves his leg out of the way.
Painija shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hall defends it nicely.
Painija ducks under a wild hook from Hall.
Hall scores with a spinning back kick!
Hall circles away from the clinch attempt.
Painija is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Painija tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hall paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hall doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Hall.
Jab from Hall.
Painija uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hall connects with a solid leg kick.
Painija misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hall.
Painija shoots for a takedown but Hall saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hall circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hall fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Painija, pushing him back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Painija misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hall lands a shoulder strike.
Painija throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hall prevents the takedown attempt.
Sam Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pauli Painija.
Painija lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hall tries to throw a body punch but Painija avoids it by throwing Hall back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hall up against the cage.
Painija blocks an elbow strike.
Painija is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Painija misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hall lands a body shot in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hall creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pauli Painija has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Painija gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Pauli Painija has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hall keeping moving, preventing Painija from controlling successfully.
Hall is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hall wants to sweep here but Painija controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Painija throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Painija pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hall is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Painija postures up in Hall's guard and throws a big left but Hall blocks it.
Hall wants to sweep here but Painija controlling him for the moment.
Hall pulls Painija in close to his closed guard and prevents Painija from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sam Hall has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hall lands with a hook. Painija tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sam Hall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Painija tries for a takedown but Hall sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Painija tries to clinch there but Hall circles away.
Hall chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Hall moves into the clinch.
Painija takes an elbow to the temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hall lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Painija backwards.
Painija trying to land knees to the body.
Painija landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sam Hall.
I think Hall 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 49:47
Judge William Peck scores the fight 49:46
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Hall!
Sam Hall retains his welterweight title!
Sam Hall made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Hey, Jane! You still got some hype, belongs to me. Ya wanna give it up quietly, or do I have to come and get it?'.