PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eliitti Paavo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington comes to the cage accompanied by MMA Entrance Theme . Joe Washington could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eliitti Paavo's chin.

Washington
vs
Paavo

173 cm
30
146 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

155 cm
23
137 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eliitti Paavo!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paavo rushes Washington and presses him up against the cage.
Washington goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Washington lands with a right to the head.
Washington struggles to land a body shot inside as Paavo controls his hands.
Paavo misses with the head strike.
Washington working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Paavo lands a nice uppercut.
Paavo controlling the action here for a moment.
Washington misses with the head strike.
Paavo throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Washington creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Paavo has Washington pressed against the cage, preventing Washington from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Washington creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Washington blocks an elbow strike from Paavo.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Paavo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Washington's brow.
Washington misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washington misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paavo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paavo controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paavo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Washington tries to break free but Paavo pushes him back against the cage.
Paavo leaning against his opponent.
Washington is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Paavo scores with a shot to the side of Washington's head.
A short body shot lands from Paavo as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Washington on the inside.

Washington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good exchange - Washington coming out on top.
Paavo looks to land a body kick but Washington moved away.
Paavo avoids the body shot from Washington.
Washington swats away the attempt to clinch by Paavo.
Paavo scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington lands a nice hook to Paavo's body. Paavo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A big left from Washington misses.
Paavo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Washington.
Washington looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Washington misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from Paavo misses.
Washington throws out a loose jab but Paavo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paavo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Washington.

Paavo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Washington throws a punch but it's blocked by Paavo.
A head punch on the inside from Washington fails to land.
Washington lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Paavo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Washington.
Washington scores with a shot to the side of Paavo's head.
A body shot lands from Paavo.
Paavo slowing the pace effectively.
Washington prevents a body shot from Paavo.
Paavo blocks an uppercut.
Paavo misses with a knee strike.
Paavo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Paavo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Paavo.
Paavo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Washington tries a body shot but Paavo blocks it.
Washington misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paavo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Washington.
Washington lands a hook that snaps the head of Paavo backwards.
Paavo's coach down at Gutz Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Paavo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Paavo throws a head punch that misses.
Washington misses with some punches.
Paavo is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Washington lands a nice shot to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Paavo.
A short right from Paavo.
Paavo trying to control the position but instead, Washington has worked for underhooks and has pushed Paavo into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paavo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Washington cracks Paavo with a nice body shot.
Paavo effectively controlling the action here.
Paavo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washington doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Paavo blocks a body shot from Washington.
Paavo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Washington backwards.
Washington wants to get back to striking at distance but Paavo won't allow it.
Paavo misses with a knee strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paavo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Washington tries to work over Paavo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Paavo.
A short right from Paavo.
Washington doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eliitti Paavo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Washington's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Washington throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paavo slips a straight right by Washington.
Paavo missing with a left hand there. Washington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Paavo misses with a straight right.
Washington connects with a body shot.
Paavo throws the left hand but Washington avoids the punch easily.
A little feinted left hand from Washington on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Paavo scores with a nice strike.

Paavo clinches up with Washington and pushes him back against the cage.
Washington throws a head punch that misses.
Paavo misses with an elbow strike.
Paavo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Washington doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Eliitti Paavo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Paavo throws an elbow but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Washington's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Washington doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Paavo throws an elbow but it misses.
Washington throws a punch but it's blocked by Paavo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paavo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paavo lands an elbow that stopped Washington in his tracks for a moment.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Paavo in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Paavo.
A head punch on the inside from Washington fails to land.
Paavo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Washington misses with a body punch.
Paavo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Washington tries to work over Paavo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Washington misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Paavo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Washington tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paavo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Washington scores with a nice hook to the head.
Paavo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Washington throws a punch but it's blocked by Paavo.
Paavo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Washington's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paavo blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paavo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Washington lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Paavo backwards.
Paavo stalling against the cage.
Paavo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Washington prevents a body shot from Paavo.
Paavo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Washington blocks an uppercut.
Washington misses with the head strike.
Paavo looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Washington on the inside.
Paavo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Paavo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washington misses with a punch on the inside.
Washington tries to circle away but Paavo has him pinned against the cage.
Paavo taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paavo slowing the pace effectively.
Paavo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Washington lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Washington lands a nice uppercut.
Washington tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Paavo's elbow.
Paavo blocking some punches.
Washington throws a head punch that misses.
Paavo gets through Washington's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Washington struggles to land a body shot inside as Paavo controls his hands.
Paavo has a couple of punches blocked by Washington.
Paavo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Washington.
Washington throws a punch but it's blocked by Paavo.
Washington tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paavo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Washington lands a nice uppercut.
Washington misses with a punch to the body.
Washington scores with a hook to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Paavo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paavo blocks an uppercut.
Washington tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paavo slowing the pace effectively.
A short left from Paavo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paavo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Washington swings wildly with an uppercut but Paavo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paavo stalling.
Paavo trying to control the position but instead, Washington has worked for underhooks and has pushed Paavo into the cage.
A short uppercut from Paavo.
Washington cracks Paavo with a nice body shot.
Washington swings wildly with an uppercut but Paavo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paavo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Washington.
Paavo lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eliitti Paavo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Paavo slips a jab and a cross from Washington.
Paavo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Washington jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Paavo wants to counter with a clinch but Washington pushes him away.
Paavo slips a straight right by Washington.
Washington just misses with a punch to the body.
Washington misses with a looping left.
Washington misses with a lunging right hand
and Paavo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Paavo moves out of range as Washington strikes.
Nice body punch from Washington.
Paavo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Washington.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Washington tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Paavo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Washington moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paavo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Washington wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Paavo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Paavo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paavo ducks under a wild hook from Washington.
Paavo slips a jab from Washington.
A looping hook to the body misses from Washington. Paavo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Washington throws a lazy right hand but Paavo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Washington throws a body punch but Paavo moves out of range.
Washington misses with a leg kick
and Paavo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Washington moves away from the strike by Paavo.
Paavo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Washington's sensitive parts.
Washington jabs at Paavo's body.
Paavo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Joe Washington is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Washington. Paavo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Washington with a nice cross.
Washington swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Paavo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Washington doesn't seem phased though.
Paavo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Washington is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paavo misses with a looping right.
Paavo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Washington just misses with a punch to the body.
Washington lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Washington getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Paavo's corner calls for a 1-2. Paavo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Paavo checks a low kick from Washington.
Washington throws a combination that misses
and Paavo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Paavo has closed the distance and engaged Washington in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paavo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Paavo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Washington throws a punch but it's blocked by Paavo.
Paavo lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Paavo.
Washington goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Washington throws a head punch that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Washington.
Paavo blocks an uppercut.
Washington blocks an uppercut.
Paavo has a couple of punches blocked by Washington.
Washington misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Paavo.
Paavo digs a right hand into Washington's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Washington's gas tank.
Paavo trying to stall but Washington improves his position.
Washington misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington struggles to land a body shot inside as Paavo controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Washington creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Paavo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paavo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short uppercut from Paavo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Washington misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paavo lands an uppercut.
Washington misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washington lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paavo backwards.
Washington letting Paavo take a breather here.
Washington doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Washington fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Washington is trying to force a seperation but Paavo has the dominant position.
Paavo is struggling to control the position.
A short right from Paavo.
Joe Washington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eliitti Paavo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Paavo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eliitti Paavo!
In his post fight interview, Eliitti Paavo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.