PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Butler comes into the arena with Krawl blaring out of the sound system. Paniikki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by N'sync - Bye Bye Bye. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Butler
vs
Paniikki

180 cm
29
145 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

165 cm
29
155 lbs
15 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Brute

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butler keeps the fight on the outside.
Butler lands a jab.
Paniikki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Butler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Paniikki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Butler counter with a right hand.
Paniikki shoots for a double leg takedown but Butler sprawls well. He's pushed Paniikki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paul Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki looks winded!
Butler lands a slapping body shot.
Paniikki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Butler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Pelle Paniikki has been cut.
Paniikki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Butler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler thows a body shot but no joy.
Paniikki fails with the takedown
and Butler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Paniikki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Paniikki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Butler is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Butler has escaped and now he's on top!
Butler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Butler defends it easily.
Butler trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler controlling from the top position.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle here but Butler uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Butler tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Butler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Paniikki regains half guard.
Paniikki wants to improve his position but Butler is controlling well.
Butler wants to pass the guard but Paniikki is defending well.
Butler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Butler controlling the action here.
Butler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Paniikki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Butler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Butler trying to control from half guard but Paniikki is working away.
Butler not doing much here.

Paniikki has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Butler escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Butler!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paniikki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Butler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Butler dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pelle Paniikki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paniikki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Butler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Butler throws a hook to the side of Paniikki's head but Paniikki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Paniikki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Butler counters with a three punch combo that has Paniikki backing up. Paniikki nods at Butler to acknowledge the strikes.
Butler swings for the body but Paniikki moves out of range.
Butler just misses with a punch to the body.
Butler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paniikki.
Paul Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki is breathing heavily.
Butler scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler jabs at Paniikki's body.
Paniikki takes one on the button.
Butler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Butler lands the left hand.
Butler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paniikki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Butler digs a good hook to Paniikki's body.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a takedown. Butler tries to sprawl out of it but Paniikki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Butler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Butler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paniikki sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Butler counters with a left to the body.
Butler throws a big shot that misses.
Paniikki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Butler is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Butler scores with a nice right hand.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Butler to counter with a crisp jab.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Butler lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice shot by Butler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler looks to score with a jab to the body but Paniikki is just out of range.
Butler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paul Butler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paniikki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Paniikki is rocked!
Paniikki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Paniikki is still on wobbly legs! Can Butler finish him?
Paniikki with a poor takedown
letting Butler counter with a right hand.
A big right from Butler misses.
Paniikki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Butler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Butler fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Paniikki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Paniikki takes a jab right on the kisser.
Butler thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler misses with a few strikes there.
Paniikki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Butler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Paniikki takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Paniikki has his takedown stuffed
and Butler counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Butler.
Butler is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Paniikki shoots in and drives through. Butler sprawls well.
Butler digs a good body shot into Paniikki's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Butler lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Paniikki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Butler counters with a left to the body.
Paul Butler is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paniikki is defended easily by Butler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Butler dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pelle Paniikki's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Paniikki walks into a left hand.
Butler misses with a hook. Paniikki ducked under it nicely.

Paniikki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Butler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Paniikki pulls his head out easily.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura here.
Butler controlling the position well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paniikki is looking to pass Butler's guard but actually Butler recovers to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Paniikki seems to have recovered his senses.

Paniikki has gone for a leg lock! Butler slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paniikki's guard.
Butler passes into half guard.
Butler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paniikki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Butler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Paniikki defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Butler trying to control the action but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Butler prevents Paniikki from improving his position.
Butler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paniikki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Butler seems to be working for a kimura but Paniikki defends the submission attempt.
Paniikki wants to get back to full guard.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.
Butler prevents Paniikki from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Butler with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Paul Butler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki wants to get back to full guard but Butler has passed into side control.
Paniikki tries to improve position but can't.
Butler taking a breather here.
Paniikki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pelle Paniikki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Butler wants to control but Paniikki is keeping him busy.

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 Paul Butler.
Well Butler 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Butler!
A very excited looking Paul Butler 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.