PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bingo Star (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Star comes into the arena with Octopus's garden blaring out of the sound system. Paniikki has chosen N'sync - Bye Bye Bye as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Star
vs
Paniikki

162 cm
32
143 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

165 cm
37
155 lbs
21 - 29 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Fast

GREEN!160

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 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bingo Star!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki blocks a head kick by Star.
Paniikki avoids a punch combination nicely.

Paniikki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paniikki showed some decent athleticism there.

Paniikki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Star is pressing down on Paniikki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniikki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Star manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Paniikki has Star in his guard.

Star is looking to stand up but Paniikki won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Star stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Star stalks Paniikki and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Paniikki's face. Paniikki staggers backwards, shaken.
Paniikki wants to clinch up but Star keeps it at a distance.
Star throws a right hand that Paniikki ducks under and follows up with a left that Paniikki also avoids with ease.
Bingo Star is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Star but Star pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Star slaps away a takedown attempt from Paniikki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.
Bingo Star has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paniikki.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Star sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki dodges the punch combination from Star.

Star pushes Paniikki up against the cage in a clinch.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Star won't allow it.
Star using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paniikki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Paniikki manages to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Star would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Star trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Star stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Star throws a nice looking combination but Paniikki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bingo Star seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paniikki shoots for a double leg takedown but Star sprawls well. He's pushed Paniikki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Star lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Star throws a combination that misses

and Paniikki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paniikki.

Star pushes Paniikki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Paniikki.
Star tries to escape but Paniikki is in control.
Star is trying to control Paniikki's posture but Paniikki avoids it.

Paniikki is trying to get an arm triangle but Star is defending well.
Star is trying to buck Paniikki off.
Star manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki prevents Star from standing back up.

Paniikki wants to work for an arm triangle but Star is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Star is trying to stand up here but Paniikki is controlling him well.
Star wants to control but Paniikki is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Star has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Paniikki is on him like a limpet, forcing Star back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Star throws an elbow that misses.
Our sources have told us that Star has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Star comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Star is stalling here.
Star tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Star misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paniikki.
Star tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Star lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Pelle Paniikki has been cut.
Star lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bingo Star dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pelle Paniikki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Star lands a head kick!
Star throws a right and a left that both miss.

Paniikki scores with a takedown into Star's guard.
Star has Paniikki pulled in close to control his posture.
Star's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Star working a defensive guard here.
Star keeping full guard, as Paniikki tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paniikki prevents Star from getting back to his feet.
Star manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paniikki manages to get himself to full guard.

Star is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paniikki can do to turn this around?

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

Paniikki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Star defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Star stands and steps away. Paniikki gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bingo Star is winning the standup battle so far.

Paniikki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Star wants to get back to his feet but Paniikki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Paniikki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paniikki keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Star pushes Paniikki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Paniikki gets a double leg takedown into Star's guard.

Paniikki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Paniikki stops Star from standing up.

Star pushes Paniikki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paniikki shoots in but no luck this time.

Paniikki shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Star napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Star pushes Paniikki away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Paniikki gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Paniikki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Star is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki has hold of Star's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Star tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Paniikki cranks the arm and Star screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Star, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Pelle Paniikki!