PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paniikki's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, N'sync - Bye Bye Bye. Laitinen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. AC/DC - Thunderstruck kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ilkka Laitinen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Pelle Paniikki's chin.

Paniikki
vs
Laitinen

165 cm
36
155 lbs
21 - 25 - 0

177 cm
39
165 lbs
39 - 21 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Laitinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paniikki's calf.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Paniikki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Pelle Paniikki has been cut.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelle Paniikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paniikki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laitinen is fending him off so far but Paniikki persists. Nope, Laitinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt - Laitinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Paniikki moves out of range as Laitinen strikes.
Paniikki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Laitinen throws a body punch but Paniikki moves out of range.
Paniikki has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CEC Underdark in the buildup to the fight.
Laitinen throws a leg kick but Paniikki moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt - Laitinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Paniikki closes the distance and clinches up with Laitinen, looking for a takedown. Paniikki pushes Laitinen against the cage but Laitinen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Laitinen throws a head kick but Paniikki moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Laitinen misses the target.

Paniikki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Paniikki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laitinen is keeping the position for now.
Laitinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laitinen wants to stand but Paniikki is controlling the position.
Laitinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paniikki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Laitinen trying to keep a closed guard but Paniikki is proving a slippery customer.
Laitinen wants to stand but Paniikki is controlling the position.
Paniikki passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Paniikki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Laitinen, who protects the arm well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laitinen regains half guard.
Laitinen gets full guard.
Laitinen wants to sweep but no luck.

Paniikki has gone for a leg lock! Laitinen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paniikki's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.

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

Paniikki is looking for a triangle but Laitinen pushes his legs off easily.
Paniikki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laitinen is one step ahead there.
Laitinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Laitinen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Laitinen is looking to work some ground and pound but Paniikki has wrist control.

Laitinen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paniikki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Laitinen has managed to get both his arms back between Paniikki's legs - danger averted.
Laitinen throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laitinen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Paniikki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Laitinen defends it easily.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Laitinen passes into side control.
Paniikki managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Laitinen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pelle Paniikki will probably get the nod.
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.

Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt - Laitinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Paniikki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laitinen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Laitinen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Paniikki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Laitinen.
Laitinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Paniikki. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelle Paniikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laitinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Laitinen throws the left hand but Paniikki avoids the punch easily.
No luck for Paniikki with that takedown attempt.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laitinen as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen throws a low kick but Paniikki avoids it.
Laitinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Paniikki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laitinen tries to avoid it but Paniikki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laitinen to the ground. Laitinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laitinen misses with a body kick.
Paniikki takes one on the button.
Paniikki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paniikki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Laitinen defends well and Paniikki ends up having to push Laitinen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Laitinen to keep the fight standing.
Paniikki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laitinen smiles and moves away.
Paniikki fails with the takedown
and Laitinen counters with a left and a right that stings Paniikki.

Paniikki is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen misses with a hook.
Oh Paniikki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Paniikki shoots for a takedown but Laitinen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laitinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Paniikki.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Laitinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Laitinen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Paniikki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Paniikki seems to have got his legs back now.

Paniikki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paniikki preventing the sweep.
Paniikki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laitinen is keeping the position for now.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Laitinen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Laitinen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nice body punch from Laitinen.
Laitinen lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Laitinen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laitinen stalling in the clinch.
Laitinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Paniikki's elbow.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Paniikki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laitinen smiles and moves away.
Ilkka Laitinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laitinen as he avoids it easily.
Laitinen throws a body shot but no joy.
Paniikki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laitinen tries to avoid it but Paniikki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laitinen to the ground. Laitinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paniikki gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Laitinen gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Paniikki is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ilkka Laitinen!
An out of breath and clearly excited Ilkka Laitinen thanked Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).