PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matheus Knorr (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. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Knorr
vs
Paniikki

170 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

165 cm
47
155 lbs
33 - 41 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Knorr!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 41 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knorr tries to sprawl but Paniikki drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Paniikki is working for a kimura but Knorr is defending it quite comfortably.
Paniikki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Paniikki is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Knorr!
Knorr working to try and regain half guard.

Paniikki goes for an armbar but Knorr turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Knorr.
Knorr wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.
Knorr advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Paniikki works his way to full guard. Good work.

Paniikki has his foot on Knorr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knorr works his way back into a safe position though.
Knorr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paniikki is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knorr trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Knorr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paniikki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Knorr 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.
Knorr has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Paniikki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knorr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Paniikki keeping moving, preventing Knorr from controlling successfully.

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

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

Knorr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knorr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knorr trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knorr trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Knorr defends it easily.
Knorr trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knorr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knorr trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

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

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

Knorr thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knorr trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki looking for a guillotine here but Knorr defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Paniikki dominated that round.
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.

Paniikki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matheus Knorr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knorr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Paniikki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Knorr gets full guard.

Knorr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Knorr keeping full guard, as Paniikki tries to pass.
Paniikki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniikki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paniikki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Paniikki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Knorr's guard.

Paniikki is working for a kimura but Knorr is defending it quite comfortably.

Knorr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Paniikki pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniikki is working for a submission of some sort.
My spies in Holding Cell inform me that Paniikki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Paniikki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Knorr defends it well.

Knorr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Paniikki pulls his head out easily.
Knorr moves into full guard.

Paniikki drops back looking for a leg! Knorr is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Knorr manages to kick Paniikki off! Paniikki jumps back into Knorr's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Paniikki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Paniikki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Paniikki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knorr, who protects the arm well.
Knorr is looking to reverse the position.

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

Paniikki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knorr, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knorr sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Knorr is looking to improve his position.

Knorr actively working from the bottom here.
Knorr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Knorr with the active half guard here but Paniikki passes nicely into side control.
Knorr is looking to regain half guard here but Paniikki keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Knorr has escaped the position, nice work there.
Knorr is looking to regain half guard here but Paniikki keeps moving and retains side control.

Paniikki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Knorr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Knorr is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Paniikki off and has taken his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Paniikki defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

Paniikki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knorr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paniikki has managed to get both his arms back between Knorr's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Paniikki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Paniikki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Knorr.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt - Knorr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Knorr is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paniikki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paniikki drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Knorr defends it well.

Knorr manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Paniikki on his heels. He'll look to pass Paniikki's guard now, I'm sure.

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

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

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pelle Paniikki has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniikki has his foot on Knorr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knorr works his way back into a safe position though.
Paniikki keeping full guard, as Knorr tries to pass.
Knorr passes Paniikki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Knorr advances position into side control!
Knorr has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Paniikki!
Paniikki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Knorr is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Paniikki is surviving well by controlling Knorr's body position as best he can.
Knorr with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Knorr moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Paniikki has worked his arm free - good work by Paniikki!
Paniikki tries to buck Knorr off but Knorr is having none of it.
Paniikki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura but Knorr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Paniikki to get the leverage.
Knorr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Paniikki works his way into full mount!
Knorr gets back to half guard.

Knorr looking for submissions off his back.
Paniikki is pressing down on Knorr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Knorr is holding on for now.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura here.

Knorr actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knorr moves into full guard.

Knorr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Knorr can't keep his opponent in guard - Paniikki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Paniikki is trying to work for a kimura but Knorr is defending well.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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.

Knorr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Paniikki seems to be working for a kimura but Knorr defends the submission attempt.

Paniikki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Knorr has managed to free his arm - good work.
Knorr is pressing down on Paniikki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Knorr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paniikki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paniikki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Matheus Knorr did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Paniikki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Knorr stops Paniikki from passing to mount.
Paniikki has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Knorr is working to get back to half guard.

Paniikki is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Knorr to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Knorr shrugs it off.

Knorr is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Paniikki locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Knorr is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pelle Paniikki!
Pelle Paniikki is the new lightweight champion!