PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vaughn Shaunessey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shaunessey might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Die Antwoord - Enter the Ninja. Paniikki has chosen N'sync - Bye Bye Bye as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Shaunessey
vs
Paniikki

164 cm
28
149 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

165 cm
34
155 lbs
20 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vaughn Shaunessey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki keeps the fight on the outside.
Paniikki has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Shaunessey misses the shot to the body.
Shaunessey throws a leg kick but Paniikki sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Shaunessey has managed to clinch.
Paniikki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shaunessey slowing the pace effectively.
Paniikki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Paniikki fails to pull guard.
Vaughn Shaunessey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki is working for takedown but Shaunessey is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shaunessey.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Paniikki drags the fight down to the ground.

Paniikki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shaunessey can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Shaunessey defends it easily.

Paniikki has his foot on Shaunessey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shaunessey works his way back into a safe position though.
Shaunessey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Shaunessey defends it easily.

Paniikki has his foot on Shaunessey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shaunessey works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Shaunessey defends it easily.
Paniikki keeping moving, preventing Shaunessey from controlling successfully.

Paniikki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shaunessey defends it easily.

Paniikki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shaunessey doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shaunessey manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Paniikki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shaunessey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paniikki is keeping the position for now.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paniikki working for a triangle but Shaunessey defends it easily.
Shaunessey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Paniikki working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Shaunessey has passed into half guard!

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki is looking to improve his position.

Paniikki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaunessey pulls his head out easily.
Shaunessey looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaunessey wants to control but Paniikki is keeping him busy.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.

Paniikki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Paniikki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A head kick misses from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shaunessey swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shaunessey throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Paniikki's head.

Paniikki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paniikki lands in his opponent's guard.
Shaunessey working a defensive guard here.
Paniikki looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniikki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shaunessey dives on top into guard.
Shaunessey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shaunessey trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shaunessey controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Paniikki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Shaunessey has picked Paniikki up and slammed him! Paniikki can't keep hold of the triangle and Shaunessey manages to pass to side control!
Paniikki is looking to reverse the position.
Shaunessey trying to control the action but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Paniikki!
Paniikki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Paniikki tries to roll over but Shaunessey keeps him under control.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Paniikki is pressing down on Shaunessey's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pelle Paniikki has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Shaunessey defends it easily.
Shaunessey showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle here but Shaunessey uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Paniikki's face as Shaunessey controls the position.
Paniikki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Paniikki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Paniikki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shaunessey has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey won't allow Paniikki to pass to mount.
Shaunessey works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paniikki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaunessey is keeping the position for now.
Shaunessey working a defensive guard but Paniikki passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pelle Paniikki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Shaunessey.
Paniikki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Shaunessey counters with an inside leg kick.

Shaunessey tries to sprawl but Paniikki drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Paniikki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Paniikki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shaunessey has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaunessey wants to get back to full guard.
Paniikki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shaunessey!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Paniikki is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Shaunessey has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Shaunessey!

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle but Shaunessey pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki has an active guard here but Shaunessey has managed to pass into half guard.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shaunessey is trying to control the action in half guard but Paniikki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shaunessey is taking a breather. Paniikki says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Paniikki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Paniikki is not content to let Shaunessey control the position.
Paniikki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shaunessey wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.
Shaunessey slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shaunessey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paniikki keeps working.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shaunessey controlling the action here.
Vaughn Shaunessey 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pelle Paniikki.
I've got Paniikki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pelle Paniikki!
Pelle Paniikki managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, CEC Nutrition Q160, into his post fight interview.