PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cormac Maguire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paniikki has chosen N'sync - Bye Bye Bye as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Maguire
vs
Paniikki

169 cm
40
131 lbs
41 - 13 - 0

165 cm
38
155 lbs
23 - 30 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 41 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cormac Maguire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paniikki.
Maguire appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Maguire stuffs the takedown.
Paniikki moves out of range of the leg kick from Maguire.
Paniikki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown but Maguire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cormac Maguire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki shoots in but no luck this time.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Paniikki.
Paniikki shoots in for a double leg but Maguire sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maguire misses with a low kick.
Maguire misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maguire throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maguire but Maguire pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paniikki looks for a takedown but Maguire sprawls well.
Paniikki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Paniikki dives in and grabs Maguire's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maguire pushes down on Paniikki's head and hops out.

Paniikki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Maguire!
Paniikki working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki swings around for an armbar but Maguire sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Paniikki's guard.

Paniikki isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Maguire stacks Paniikki on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Maguire!
Paniikki manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Paniikki tries to get to full guard but Maguire has control of the leg.
Paniikki told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paniikki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniikki.
Paniikki being controlled here, momentarily.
Maguire tries to stand but Paniikki is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maguire trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Paniikki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maguire doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maguire manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maguire wants to stand but Paniikki is controlling his posture from full guard.

Paniikki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maguire defends well.
Paniikki keeping moving, preventing Maguire from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Paniikki has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Maguire is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Paniikki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac Maguire dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maguire defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paniikki.
Maguire lands a lovely overhand right.
Maguire fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A low kick from Maguire is predictable there

and Paniikki counters with a shoot takedown. Maguire fights it but they end up in guard.
Paniikki looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paniikki trying to move into half guard but instead Maguire has managed to sweep!

Maguire wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maguire seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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

Paniikki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maguire is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maguire trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Paniikki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Maguire escapes and throws Paniikki's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Paniikki regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maguire decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Maguire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Paniikki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maguire's waist but Maguire gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paniikki off to one side.
A jab from Maguire misses.
Paniikki moves out of range of the leg kick from Maguire.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cormac Maguire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Maguire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paniikki.
Paniikki steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Maguire.
Maguire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paniikki can do to turn this around?
A decent looking cross lands there for Maguire.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Maguire here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maguire sprawls well. Maguire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maguire as he avoids it easily.
Cormac Maguire is winning the standup battle so far.
Maguire misses with a low kick.
Paniikki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice takedown defense from Maguire. No joy for Paniikki on that attempt.
Paniikki darts in looking for a takedown but Maguire gets double underhooks and turns Paniikki into the cage.
Maguire throws a leg kick but Paniikki checks it.

Paniikki looking to score a takedown here. Maguire is defending well but Paniikki drives through and ends up in Maguire's guard.
Maguire 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paniikki tries to free his leg and advance position but Maguire is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac Maguire dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A low kick from Maguire misses

and Paniikki counters by clinching up.
Maguire working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Paniikki blocks an uppercut.

Maguire manages to break the clinch.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.

Paniikki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paniikki showed some decent athleticism there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maguire moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki postures up.
Maguire bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paniikki's guard.

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

Maguire stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki checks a leg kick.
Paniikki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maguire.
It seemed like Paniikki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Paniikki checks a leg kick.
Paniikki tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Paniikki fails with the takedown.
Cormac Maguire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maguire displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paniikki.
Cormac Maguire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Maguire throws a shot from downtown. Paniikki moves away and avoids it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Maguire 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 Paniikki has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Paniikki and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maguire looks to score with a jab to the body but Paniikki is just out of range.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maguire sprawls well. Maguire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt
and Maguire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paniikki ducks under a wild hook from Maguire.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Maguire circles away easily
and Maguire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice takedown defense from Maguire. No joy for Paniikki on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Maguire. No joy for Paniikki on that attempt.
Maguire appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Paniikki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Paniikki or perhaps it was just good defense by Maguire, which made it look bad.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Paniikki.

Paniikki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maguire is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maguire is looking to regain half guard here but Paniikki keeps moving and retains side control.
Pelle Paniikki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cormac Maguire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Paniikki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cormac Maguire showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maguire, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cormac Maguire!
Our winner, Cormac Maguire, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.