PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hakan Juholt (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. Hakan Juholt has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Juholt
vs
Paniikki

167 cm
30
135 lbs
17 - 7 - 1

165 cm
38
155 lbs
26 - 31 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

AnonymouS
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hakan Juholt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Juholt's waist but Juholt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paniikki off to one side.
Paniikki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Juholt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Juholt, right into the meat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Paniikki or perhaps it was just good defense by Juholt, which made it look bad.
Hakan Juholt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Juholt. Paniikki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Paniikki doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A head kick by Juholt misses

and Paniikki counters with a shoot takedown. Juholt fights it but they end up in guard.
Juholt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniikki has an active guard here but Juholt has managed to pass into half guard.
Juholt is keen to just control but Paniikki is a slippery customer.
Paniikki moves into full guard.
Juholt passes Paniikki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Paniikki wants to improve his position but Juholt is controlling well.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Juholt trying to control from half guard but Paniikki is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juholt is nestled in close to Paniikki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Paniikki wants to improve his position but Juholt is controlling well.
Juholt is keen to just control but Paniikki is a slippery customer.
Paniikki is looking for a sweep. Juholt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Juholt is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Juholt is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Well, if Juholt is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juholt works his foot free and advances to mount.
Juholt unloading with bombs!
Paniikki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Juholt wants to control the pace but Paniikki is squirming around nicely.
Juholt connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Juholt lands a big shot there that rocks Paniikki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Paniikki gets back to half guard.
Juholt stalling.
Paniikki is not content to let Juholt control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Paniikki is refusing to be controlled, as Juholt sits in half guard.
Juholt lands strikes from half guard.
We've been hearing that Juholt has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Juholt connects with a nice short shot to Paniikki's temple.
Paniikki has hold of Juholt's hands but Juholt slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Juholt wants to control but Paniikki is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakan Juholt 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 by Juholt misses

and Paniikki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Juholt won't be happy with that.

Paniikki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Juholt has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Paniikki but great work by Juholt.
Paniikki takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Paniikki has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Juholt landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Paniikki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Juholt looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Paniikki is trying to get back to full guard.
Juholt looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!

Juholt 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 makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniikki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juholt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Juholt landing with the ground and pound.
Juholt wants to pass the guard but Paniikki is keeping the position.
Juholt works over Paniikki with some ground and pound from guard.
Juholt trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Juholt looking to sit in guard and control but Paniikki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Juholt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Juholt is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Paniikki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Juholt dives on top into guard.

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Juholt passes into side control.
Juholt landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Juholt makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Juholt.

Juholt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Paniikki wants to pass the guard but Juholt is keeping the position.
Juholt trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Paniikki drops back looking for a leg! Juholt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Juholt manages to kick Paniikki off! Paniikki jumps back into Juholt's guard.
Juholt tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki wants to pass the guard but Juholt is keeping the position.
Paniikki passes into half guard.

Paniikki seems to be looking for submissions.
Juholt is pressing down on Paniikki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Paniikki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Juholt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Paniikki, into his guard.

Juholt trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Paniikki has an active guard here but Juholt has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hakan Juholt will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Juholt scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Paniikki doesn't seem bothered though.

Juholt closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Paniikki is not content to let Juholt control the position.
Paniikki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juholt gets to mount! Paniikki was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Paniikki is squirming around, avoiding Juholt's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki tries to reverse the position but Juholt maintains control.

Juholt is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Paniikki is surviving well by controlling Juholt's body position as best he can.
Paniikki is trying to escape the mount.
Hakan Juholt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Juholt lands a nice shot to the head.
Juholt breaks from Paniikki's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juholt looking to control and managing it successfully.
Juholt lands a heavy elbow.
Paniikki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Juholt lands a couple of good shots and Paniikki has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Juholt is landing with strikes from the back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paniikki is taking damage to the body and head.
I really don't envy Paniikki right now.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Juholt. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Paniikki is rocked!
Juholt is raining down hard shots and and Paniikki has had enough - he's tapped out due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Hakan Juholt!