PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paavali Kontiainen (ranked 1548 p4p, 1522 weight class) and Braun Westen (ranked 207 p4p, 201 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kontiainen
vs
Westen

192 cm
22
224
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
22
265
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavali Kontiainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Braun Westen!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kontiainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Westen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kontiainen misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Kontiainen fails to land.
Kontiainen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kontiainen misses with a punch on the inside.
Westen misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Kontiainen.
Kontiainen gets through Westen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kontiainen has Westen pressed against the cage, preventing Westen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kontiainen pushes Westen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Westen misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kontiainen fails to land.
Kontiainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kontiainen tries a body shot but Westen blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Westen.

It looks like Paavali Kontiainen has been cut.
Westen controlling the action here for a moment.
Kontiainen misses with a punch to the body.

Westen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kontiainen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Helsinki Private Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Kontiainen throws a sloppy head kick and Westen moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kontiainen. Westen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kontiainen throws a lazy right hand but Westen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Westen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Westen, as that shot connected.
Westen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kontiainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kontiainen tries to clinch there but Westen circles away.
Kontiainen thuds a left hand into Westen's body.
Westen thows a left - swing and a miss!
A counter left hand to the body from Kontiainen misses its target.
Westen walks into a jab.
Kontiainen misses with a body kick.
Westen misses with an uppercut. Kontiainen saw that one coming.
Kontiainen misses with an uppercut
and Westen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kontiainen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westen checks a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A cross from Kontiainen lands.
Kontiainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Westen's sensitive parts.
A jab from Westen misses.
Kontiainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Westen manages to avoid it.
Westen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kontiainen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kontiainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Westen.
Kontiainen lands the left hand.
Westen has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Kontiainen moves to clinch but Westen breaks away
and Westen counters with a left to the body.
Westen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kontiainen.
Kontiainen scores with a sloppy right hand. Westen should have avoided that one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Westen. That's going to slow Kontiainen down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kontiainen.
Westen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kontiainen lands the left hand.
Kontiainen throws a poor cross that misses
and Westen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Paavali Kontiainen's cut is getting worse.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Westen 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 Kontiainen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kontiainen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Westen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kontiainen.
Kontiainen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kontiainen lands a body shot.
Kontiainen digs a right hand into Westen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Westen's gas tank.
Kontiainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Westen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kontiainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Westen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kontiainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
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!
Westen blocking some punches.
Westen misses with the head strike.
Kontiainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kontiainen tries to work over Westen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Westen.
Westen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kontiainen's elbow.
Kontiainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Kontiainen.
Kontiainen can't find room to land a body shot as Westen controls the action.
Kontiainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kontiainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kontiainen blocks a body shot from Westen.
Westen blocking some punches.
Kontiainen tries to work over Westen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kontiainen lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kontiainen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Westen.
Kontiainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavali Kontiainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paavali Kontiainen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

An inside leg kick lands from Kontiainen.
Kontiainen throws an off balance right hand
letting Westen counter with a right hand.
Kontiainen scores with a jab to the body.
Paavali Kontiainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Westen walks into a stiff left hand from Kontiainen.
Good standup being displayed there by Kontiainen as he connects with a hook.
Kontiainen tries to clinch up but Westen circles away and keeps his distance.
Kontiainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Westen.
Paavali Kontiainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Westen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kontiainen.
Westen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kontiainen loads up on a big right hand but Westen slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kontiainen connects with a single shot there.
Kontiainen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kontiainen connects with a body shot.
Kontiainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Westen! But no joy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kontiainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westen moves out of range as Kontiainen strikes.
Westen tries to move into range but Kontiainen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Westen misses with a double jab.
Westen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kontiainen half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kontiainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Westen takes one to the side of the head.
Kontiainen misses with a head kick.
Westen with the inside leg kick.
Kontiainen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kontiainen misses with a hook
and Westen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kontiainen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Westen counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Westen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kontiainen.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kontiainen misses with a punch to the body.
Westen tries to break the clinch but Kontiainen is controlling the position.
Westen prevents a body shot from Kontiainen.
Kontiainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Westen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kontiainen misses with a punch to the body.
Paavali Kontiainen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Kontiainen.
Westen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Westen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kontiainen.
Kontiainen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kontiainen keeps control of Westen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kontiainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kontiainen lands a body shot.
Westen is breathing heavily.
Kontiainen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kontiainen has a couple of punches blocked by Westen.
Kontiainen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kontiainen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kontiainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kontiainen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kontiainen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Westen backwards.
Kontiainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kontiainen lands a right hand.
Kontiainen misses with a punch to the body.
Kontiainen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Kontiainen.
Kontiainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Westen can do to turn this around?
A right hand to the body from Kontiainen.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kontiainen.
Kontiainen throws a head punch that misses.
Kontiainen lands a hook that snaps the head of Westen backwards.
Kontiainen misses with a punch on the inside.
Kontiainen lands with a short shot to the head.
Kontiainen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kontiainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kontiainen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Westen backwards.
Kontiainen lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kontiainen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Westen backwards.
Kontiainen tries to throw a body punch but Westen avoids it by throwing Kontiainen back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Westen.
Kontiainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Westen misses with some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Kontiainen.
Kontiainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kontiainen throws a head punch that misses.

Westen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Westen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kontiainen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Westen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A shot to the liver by Kontiainen. Beautiful body shot.
Nice defenses there by Westen.
Westen throws out a counter right but Kontiainen avoids it with no problem.
Kontiainen connects with a body shot.
Kontiainen misses with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavali Kontiainen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paavali Kontiainen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kontiainen forces Westen back against the cage and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kontiainen.
Westen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Westen blocks an uppercut.
Westen throws a head punch that misses.
Kontiainen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kontiainen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kontiainen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Kontiainen on the inside.
Westen tries to stall but Kontiainen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kontiainen.
Kontiainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kontiainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Westen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Westen is trying to break the clinch but Kontiainen is controlling him.
Kontiainen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Westen misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Kontiainen.
Westen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kontiainen backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kontiainen lands a shot to the body.
Westen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kontiainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Westen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kontiainen stays in close to Westen's body and controls the position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kontiainen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Kontiainen is looking to stand up but Westen won't let him.
Kontiainen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kontiainen continues to stall.

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.
Westen 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.
Kontiainen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Westen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kontiainen jabs Westen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Braun Westen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiainen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Westen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kontiainen.
Kontiainen misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Westen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Westen keeps the fight on the outside.
Westen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Westen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Westen checks a low kick from Kontiainen.
Kontiainen ducks right into an uppercut from Westen.
Westen cracks Kontiainen with a good jab.

Paavali Kontiainen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Kontiainen is looking to clinch.
Westen throws out a counter right but Kontiainen avoids it with no problem.
Kontiainen wants to clinch up but Westen keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Westen! But no joy.
A jab lands there for Kontiainen.
Kontiainen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kontiainen lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westen misses with a double jab.
Paavali Kontiainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Westen misses with a kick to the body.
Westen misses with a hook
and Kontiainen counters with a thumping low kick.
Kontiainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Westen's sensitive parts.
Westen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kontiainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Kontiainen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Westen, pushing him back against the cage.
Westen misses with some punches.
Westen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Kontiainen on the inside.
Westen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Westen is trying to push Kontiainen away but Kontiainen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavali Kontiainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kontiainen, 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavali Kontiainen!
After winning the bout, Paavali Kontiainen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.