PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taneli Maija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Pain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Tyson Pain was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Maija
vs
Pain

183 cm
38
169 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

188 cm
31
178 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Maija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tyson Pain!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pain bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pain working away.

Pain is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maija knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pain controls the position.
Maija tries to bench press Pain off him but Pain keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pain is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maija has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maija can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maija regains half guard, as Pain was trying to land strikes.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Maija loads up on a big right hand but Pain slips the punch.
A slow jab from Maija misses its intended target.
Maija just misses with a punch to the body.

Pain drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Pain seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Maija regains half guard there - taking advantage of Pain's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Pain sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maija regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maija has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Pain 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 Maija.
Pain remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maija is trying to control Pain's posture but Pain avoids it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maija is not content to let Pain control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Pain shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maija napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Pain thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pain is looking to take a break and control but Maija is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Pain working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Pain tries for a kimura but Maija is defending well.
Pain trying to control the position but Maija is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maija tries to buck Pain off but Pain is having none of it.
Pain staying calm.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maija is looking to reverse the position.

Pain is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maija is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pain trying to control the action but Maija is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pain shoots in and bounces Maija off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Pain dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maija lands a glancing blow to the side of Pain's head.

Pain shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pain trying to control from half guard but Maija is working away.

Maija is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pain pulls his head out easily.
Pain is keen to just control but Maija is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pain lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pain is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pain thowing shots but they're missing.
Pain looking to control but Maija is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Pain goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Maija is on top in guard.
Pain is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pain is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pain content to control rather than advance.
Pain has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Pain is working for a submission of some sort.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pain wants to pass to mount but Maija is defending the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Pain closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Maija's guard.
Pain wants to control from the top but Maija keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pain avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

Pain avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pain wants to control from the top but Maija keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tyson Pain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four 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.

Pain shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pain wants to control from the top but Maija keeps moving.
Pain forces his way into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maija keeps working.
Pain wants to pass to mount but Maija is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Pain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Maija's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pain looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pain trying to advance position but Maija counters by regaining guard.
Pain wants to pass the guard but Maija is keeping the position.
Pain forces his way into half guard.
Maija is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pain is keen to just control but Maija is a slippery customer.
Pain not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pain not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pain trying to pass the guard but Maija defending well.

Pain wants to work for an arm triangle but Maija is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Maija looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Pain is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pain wants to advance to full mount but Maija doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Pain with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pain trying to control but Maija is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Pain closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maija quickly recovers to half guard.
Pain scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Maija has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Pain. Oh but Maija has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Pain goes limp - he's gone! Maija jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Taneli Maija!
Taneli Maija was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.