PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Milo Papi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Pearsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Papi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to IZ ON. Mitchell Pearsen has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Papi
vs
Pearsen

173 cm
32
152 lbs
23 - 7 - 0

170 cm
28
159 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Sparta Fightware
Go 2 Sleep Fight Gear

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 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Milo Papi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mitchell Pearsen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearsen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mitchell Pearsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pearsen clobbers Papi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Papi throws a head kick that misses.
Papi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pearsen avoids it really well and circles away.
A slow jab from Pearsen misses its intended target.
Papi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Papi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pearsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Papi.
Papi keeps the fight on the outside.
Pearsen with a hook.
Papi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Papi tries to clinch but Pearsen moves out of range.
Papi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Papi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Papi throws a sloppy head kick and Pearsen moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Pearsen.

Papi gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pearsen taking some punishment here, with Papi in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearsen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Papi.
Papi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pearsen's head.
Papi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pearsen is trying to stand up here but Papi is controlling him well.
Pearsen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Papi.
Papi drops an elbow to the side of Pearsen's head.
Pearsen wants to get back to his feet.
Papi wants to take a breather but Pearsen is having none of it.
Pearsen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pearsen is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pearsen trying to control here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Papi connects with a nice short shot to Pearsen's temple.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Papi trying to pass the guard but Pearsen defending well.
Papi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Pearsen kicks off Papi and gets to his feet.
Pearsen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Papi.
Pearsen darts in trying to clinch

and Papi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pearsen won't be happy with that.
Papi lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Papi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Pearsen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Papi trying to control the action but Pearsen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Papi lands an elbow.
Pearsen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Papi's best efforts.
Pearsen is trying to control but can't.
Pearsen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Papi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Papi's back!
Pearsen is trying to stick to Papi's back but Papi is turning into Pearsen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pearsen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Papi.
Papi throwing strikes from guard but Pearsen blocks nicely.
Papi postures up in Pearsen's guard and throws a big left but Pearsen blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papi trying to control but Pearsen is working from the bottom.
Papi working some strikes from top position.
Pearsen 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.
Pearsen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Papi's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Papi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pearsen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pearsen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Papi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Papi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Papi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sloppy strikes from Papi. Those never looked like landing.
Nice uppercut lands for Papi. That snapped Pearsen's head back.
Jab by Pearsen.
Papi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Papi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Papi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pearsen in his tracks.
Papi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Papi.
A telegraphed right hand from Pearsen misses the target.
Pearsen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pearsen wants it to stay on the feet.
Papi keeps the fight on the outside.
Pearsen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pearsen moves in looking to clinch but Papi pushes him off.
Papi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pearsen.
Jab, jab by Papi - just one landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pearsen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch but Papi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papi throws a hook but Pearsen avoids it easily.
Papi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Pearsen misses with a wild body shot.
Papi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pearsen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Papi somewhat.
Papi slips under a jab.
Papi avoids the body shot from Pearsen.
Pearsen is looking to clinch.
Papi throws a head kick that Pearsen semi-blocks.
Papi connects with a right hand. Pearsen shakes it off.
Papi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pearsen lands a lovely overhand right.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Papi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Pearsen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Pearsen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Pearsen misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pearsen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pearsen misses the jab.
Papi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pearsen doesn't seem bothered though.
Papi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pearsen avoids the head kick by Papi.
Pearsen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Papi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Papi throws a wild body kick that Pearsen sees coming a mile off.
A decent looking cross lands there for Papi.
Pearsen avoids the body shot from Papi.
Papi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Papi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Papi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Milo Papi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pearsen tries to clinch up

and Papi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Papi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pearsen prevents Papi from breaking the clinch.

Pearsen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Papi throws a shot from downtown. Pearsen moves away and avoids it.
Pearsen moves out of range as Papi throws a body kick.
Pearsen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pearsen wants to clinch.
Pearsen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Papi.
Papi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pearsen throws a lazy right hand but Papi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pearsen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Papi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Papi moves out of range of the strikes.
Papi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papi shoots in and drives through. Pearsen sprawls well.
Papi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Papi thows a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Papi. Pearsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pearsen misses the shot to the body.
Mitchell Pearsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pearsen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Pearsen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Papi.
Pearsen blocks a head kick by Papi.
Papi lands with a kick to the temple. Pearsen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pearsen cracks a nice hook into Papi's ribs.
Pearsen with a hook.
Papi keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pearsen walks into a jab.
Pearsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papi moves away.
Pearsen digs a good body shot into Papi's ribs.
Pearsen fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milo Papi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pearsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Papi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Papi staying out of range there.
Papi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pearsen thows a body shot but no joy.
Papi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Papi throws out a leg kick but Pearsen moves out of range and Papi only half commits.
Papi wants to clinch.
Papi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Papi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pearsen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Papi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Papi looks to throw the jab but Pearsen is out of range.
Pearsen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pearsen misses with a series of wild punches.
Pearsen scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pearsen throws out the jab.
Pearsen lands with a shot to the body.
Papi throws a right and a left that Pearsen avoids nicely.
Pearsen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pearsen tries to clinch up

and Papi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pearsen's guard.
Papi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pearsen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Papi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pearsen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pearsen trying to control but Papi is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Pearsen working a defensive guard here.
Papi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papi is trying to improve his position.
Papi is trying to control Pearsen's posture but Pearsen avoids it.
Papi gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Papi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pearsen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Pearsen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Papi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Papi and Pearsen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Pearsen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mitchell Pearsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pearsen misses with a body shot.

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 Milo Papi.
Well Papi 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milo Papi!
Milo Papi managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Blitzkrieg Formula 5000, into his post fight interview.