PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Milo Papi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taz Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Papi comes to the cage accompanied by IZ ON. Devil has chosen Motorhead-Enter Sandman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Milo Papi had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Papi
vs
Devil

173 cm
34
152 lbs
28 - 7 - 1

175 cm
34
148 lbs
28 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition (160!)
Cripplers Corner

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 28 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Milo Papi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taz Devil!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papi throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Devil to counter with a crisp jab.

Papi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Devil avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Papi.
Devil wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Papi cracks Devil with a big elbow.
Devil is trying to get back to his feet.
An elbow from Papi crashes against the mat.
Papi trying to control the action but Devil is working from the bottom.
Papi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Devil sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Papi is working Devil over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Papi off and has taken his back!
Papi holding both Devil 's hands and preventing any damage.
You can see the frustration on Papi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
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.
Devil controlling the position well here. Papi rolled but Devil kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Devil controlling well, preventing Papi from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papi looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Devil is looking to get the fight back to the feet.
Papi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Papi is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Devil stands up out of the half guard.
Donk. Devil catches Papi right on the button with a cross.
Devil checks the leg kick nicely there.
An inside leg kick from Papi misses.
Papi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Papi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Devil. That did some damage!
Papi avoids the head kick by Devil.
Papi throws a chopping leg kick but Devil manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Papi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Milo Papi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Papi misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Papi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Papi thows a leg kick but Devil checks it
and Devil connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice body kick there by Papi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Papi avoids the head kick by Devil.
Devil connects with the punch.
Papi is looking to chop away at Devil's legs.
Papi misses with a low kick.
Papi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Papi looks to throw the jab but Devil is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Devil jabs at Papi's body.
Papi throws an overhand right that lands on Devil's shoulder, as Devil tries to avoid the shot.
A clash of legs there as Papi blocks the low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milo Papi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Devil checks a leg kick.
Papi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Devil throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick misses from Devil.
Devil getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Papi lands a leg kick that knocks Devil off balance momentarily.
Devil throws a low kick but Papi avoids it.
Papi wants to clinch.
Papi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Devil has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Papi.
Devil dips to his left and cracks Papi with an uppercut!
Papi misses with a head kick.
Milo Papi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papi slips under a jab from Devil.
Taz Devil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Devil keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Papi throws a lazy body kick
and Devil counters with a stiff right hand.
Devil takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Devil cracks Papi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Devil clinches with his opponent.
Devil lands a body punch in the clinch.

Devil escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Devil.

Papi closes the distance and clinches.

Devil pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Papi misses with a straight right.
Devil keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Papi.
A head kick misses from Papi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Devil thumps Papi with a low kick.
Devil scores with a body shot.
Papi misses with an uppercut.
Papi throws a body kick that misses
and Devil counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Papi wants to slow Devil down by chopping away at his legs.
Papi misses with a low kick as Devil jumps back.
Papi throws a chopping leg kick but Devil manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Devil lands with a right hand.
Papi walks into a straight right hand from Devil.
Papi takes one on the button.
Devil throws a low kick but Papi moves out of range easily.
Papi wants to clinch up but Devil keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Papi does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Papi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Devil throws a sloppy head kick and Papi moves out of range easily.
Devil defending well as Papi loads up on a big left hand.
Papi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Papi works Devil's body with a nice hook.
Devil lands a nice looking body shot.
Devil checks the leg kick nicely there.
Devil throws a body punch but Papi moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Papi.
Papi fails in his attempt to clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Devil.
Papi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Devil.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil scores with a decent looking hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. Devil darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Devil circles away from the clinch attempt.

Papi has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papi misses with a punch to the body.
Devil pushes Papi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Papi misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Devil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Devil swings for the body but Papi moves out of range.
Devil displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Papi throws out the jab.
Devil throws the left hand but Papi avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A chopping leg kick lands by Devil.
Papi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Devil under the eye.
Papi thumps Devil with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Taz Devil will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice straight punches there by Devil. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Devil.
Papi slips under a jab from Devil.
Devil slips a jab from Papi.
Papi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Papi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Papi with a jab.
Devil's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Devil throws a one two combo.
Devil tries to clinch but Papi is having none of it.
Devil uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Papi.
Devil tries to close the distance and clinch but Papi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Papi tries a head kick but it misses.
Devil avoids the head kick by Papi.
Papi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Devil.
Devil needs to keep his hands up - Papi had a free shot at his head there.
Devil connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papi checks a leg kick nicely.
Papi wants to slow Devil down by chopping away at his legs.
Papi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Papi scores with a hook.
Devil connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Papi, as that shot connected.
Devil misses the shot to the body.
Papi throws a front kick aimed at Devil's knee but Devil avoids it well.
Devil punishes Papi's body with a nice straight punch.
Papi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Papi tries to clinch but Devil is having none of it.

Papi takes the fight into the clinch.

Devil escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Devil instigates a clinch.
Devil is working Papi over against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Devil tries to break free but Papi pushes him back against the cage.

Devil breaks the clinch.
Devil lands a body shot.
Devil attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Devil avoids a punch combination nicely.
Papi throws a leg kick
and Devil counters with an inside leg kick.
Devil circles away from the clinch attempt.
Papi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Papi checks a leg kick.
Papi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil throws a head kick that misses.
Papi lands a nice shot that snaps Devil's head back.
Papi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Papi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Devil. That did some damage!
Papi swings for the body but Devil moves out of range.
Devil digs a good hook to Papi's body.
Papi misses with a low kick.
Devil cracks Papi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by Devil. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Devil.
Papi throws a body kick that misses.
Papi throws a lazy head kick
and Papi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Papi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Papi checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Devil is out of range and Papi settles back down.
Papi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Devil.
Papi throws out a leg kick but Devil moves out of range and Papi only half commits.
Papi swats away the attempt to clinch by Devil.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Papi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papi throws a push kick but Devil slaps the foot to one side.
A lazy left from Papi finds it's target.
Devil fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Papi checks it well.
Papi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Devil.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Devil misses with a straight right.
Papi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Papi throws a wild body kick that Devil sees coming a mile off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Taz Devil just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Papi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Papi misses with a low kick as Devil jumps back.
Papi misses the shot to the body.
Papi throws an overhand right that lands on Devil's shoulder, as Devil tries to avoid the shot.
Papi is looking to score with low kicks.
Devil checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Papi, right into the meat.
Papi throws a head kick that Devil semi-blocks.
Devil pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Devil lands a jab to Papi's midsection.
Devil keeps the fight on the outside.
Devil cracks a nice hook into Papi's ribs.
Papi keeps the fight on the outside.
Papi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Devil connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Papi. Devil does a little dance to reset his feet.
Papi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Devil checks a leg kick.

Papi shoots in and gets a takedown into Devil's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Devil keeping full guard, as Papi tries to pass.
Papi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Papi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Devil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Milo Papi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Devil is adopting a defensive guard.
Devil keeping moving, preventing Papi from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil wants to get back to his feet but Papi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Papi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Papi trying to control but Devil is working from the bottom.
Papi postures up in Devil's guard and throws a big left but Devil blocks it.
Papi throws an elbow that misses. Devil uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Papi's guard. Nice move by Devil!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devil trying to stand up but can't free himself from Papi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Milo Papi.
Nice defenses there by Devil.
Papi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Devil digs a good hook to Papi's body.
Papi digs a good hook to Devil's body.
A left lands for Devil.
Papi just misses with a punch to the body.
Devil stuffs the takedown.
Devil scores with a head kick.
Papi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Papi tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Papi is looking to clinch.
Devil checks the leg kick.
Papi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Devil throws out a loose jab but Papi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Devil scores with a body shot.
Papi tries to work over Devil's front leg with a kick but Devil checks it.
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!
Good exchange - Papi coming out on top.
Papi throws a hook but Devil blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Papi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice shot lands for Devil.
Papi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Devil thuds his right hand into Papi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Milo Papi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Papi throws a solid leg kick but Devil takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Papi.
Papi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Papi misses with the combination.
Devil scores with a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Papi.
Devil throws a head kick but Papi moves out of range.
Papi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Papi throws a leg kick but Devil moved away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Papi is defended easily by Devil.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Papi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Devil can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil misses with a body shot.
Devil fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Papi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Devil counters with a good low kick that Papi was not able to check.
Devil listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Papi misses with a hook.
Papi throws a leg kick
and Devil counters with a nice leg kick.
Devil moves out of range as Papi strikes.
Devil is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Papi.
Papi connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Papi misses with a leg kick
and Devil counters with a thumping low kick.
Papi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Papi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Papi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Papi doesn't manage to clinch there - Devil circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devil lands a jab to Papi's midsection.
Papi throws a head kick but Devil moves out of range.
Devil checks a leg kick.
Papi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Papi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Papi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papi ducks under a wild hook from Devil.
Papi motions for Devil to come forward. Papi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Papi tries to clinch up but Devil circles away and keeps his distance.
Devil avoids the head kick by Papi.
Devil fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Papi.
Devil throws a head kick that misses.
Devil misses with a head kick.

Devil gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Papi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Devil has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Papi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papi connects with a couple of short punches.
Devil wants to stand up but Papi is controlling him.
Papi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Devil is looking to stand up but Papi isn't so interested in that idea.
Papi is looking to work some ground and pound but Devil has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Papi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devil has momentary wrist control but Papi slips an elbow through the middle.
Devil managing to control the position.

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.
I think Papi 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milo Papi!
Milo Papi retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Milo Papi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.