PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gary Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paniikki has chosen N'sync - Bye Bye Bye as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Paniikki

174 cm
25
156 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

165 cm
29
155 lbs
16 - 21 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loan

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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt
and Paniikki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Paniikki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Paniikki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas throws a body punch but Paniikki moves out of range.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.
Gary Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thomas.

Paniikki shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thomas napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Paniikki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thomas rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Paniikki's guard! Nice work there by Thomas!

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paniikki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Paniikki's legs - danger averted.
Thomas lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Paniikki has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thomas is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Paniikki.

Thomas stands up and beckons Paniikki to his feet.
Thomas misses with an uppercut

so Paniikki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Paniikki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thomas manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Paniikki has Thomas in his guard.
Thomas postures up in Paniikki's guard and throws a big left but Paniikki blocks it.
Thomas slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Paniikki is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Paniikki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thomas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thomas trying to mount his opponent but Paniikki defends it.

Paniikki has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Thomas escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Thomas!
Paniikki is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas stands up.
Thomas throws a hook but Paniikki blocks it.
Paniikki slips a straight right by Thomas.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily
and Thomas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thomas scores with a hook to the body. Paniikki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki can't keep his opponent in guard - Thomas advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas trying to control from Paniikki's half guard. Paniikki has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Thomas sitting in guard here, content to control.

Paniikki has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paniikki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Paniikki has knee on belly momentarily but Thomas bucks him off and regains half guard.
Thomas is doing well to control the position and prevent Paniikki from advancing to side control.

Paniikki is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paniikki is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Paniikki is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki wants to advance to full mount but Thomas doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Paniikki stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.

Paniikki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thomas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thomas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thomas!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thomas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paniikki keeps working.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.

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

Paniikki has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Thomas escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Thomas!
Thomas is looking to take a break and control but Paniikki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paniikki tries to bench press Thomas off him but Thomas keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working the body and head with strikes.
Thomas trying to control the action but Paniikki is working from the bottom.
Thomas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Paniikki some visible discomfort.
Paniikki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thomas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Thomas tries to pass to full mount but Paniikki defends it.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas works his way into full mount!
Paniikki working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paniikki is looking to escape.
Thomas is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Paniikki is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
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 Gary Thomas 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. This is the final round!

Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Paniikki's shoulder, as Paniikki tries to avoid the shot.
Thomas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Paniikki counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Paniikki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to take a break and control but Paniikki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paniikki on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Thomas lands an elbow.
Paniikki gets back to half guard.
Paniikki tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniikki.
Thomas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pelle Paniikki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Thomas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Pelle Paniikki has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paniikki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Paniikki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paniikki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas counters with a right hand to the body.
Thomas throws a combination that misses

and Paniikki counters with a single leg into guard. Thomas didn't expect that.
Paniikki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Paniikki passes into half guard.
Thomas moves into full guard.

Paniikki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thomas is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Paniikki, into his guard.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Paniikki is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Thomas has his hands clasped together but Paniikki extends an breaks Thomas's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Paniikki.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pelle Paniikki!
Pelle Paniikki made sure to mention his sponsor, CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loan in his post fight interview.