PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Parantainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Parantainen has chosen Hellacopters - Soulseller as his entrance music. Jaakko Parantainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Parantainen

183 cm
25
192 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

176 cm
25
192 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jaakko Parantainen!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Parantainen clinches with his opponent.
Parantainen avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Parantainen looking for a takedown.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Parantainen gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Smith regains guard.
Parantainen cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
Parantainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Parantainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Parantainen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Parantainen landing some decent shots from guard.
Parantainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parantainen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Parantainen pushes his legs off easily.
Parantainen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Parantainen from controlling successfully.
Parantainen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Parantainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Parantainen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nice strikes from Parantainen there.
Smith is in trouble now - Parantainen has advanced to mount!
Parantainen with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Parantainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Parantainen with a couple of short strikes.
Parantainen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Parantainen's attempts to control the action.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Parantainen isn't that keen on the idea.
Parantainen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Parantainen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Parantainen is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Parantainen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Parantainen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Parantainen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Parantainen landing punches.
Parantainen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?

Parantainen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!
Parantainen keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Parantainen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Parantainen is on top in guard.
Parantainen scoring with some ground and pound.
Parantainen lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parantainen wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Parantainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Parantainen throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Parantainen looking to pass the guard.
Parantainen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Parantainen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!
You can see the frustration on Parantainen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Parantainen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Smith is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Parantainen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith throws a head kick but Parantainen moves out of range.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Parantainen lands a glancing blow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith throws a body punch but Parantainen moves out of range.
Parantainen wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Parantainen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Parantainen tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Parantainen has a takedown stuffed.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
James Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Parantainen did well to prevent Smith getting side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Parantainen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith throwing shots but Parantainen is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parantainen is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Parantainen avoid being mounted?
Parantainen wants to get back to full guard.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
Parantainen gets full guard.
Parantainen pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

Parantainen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Parantainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith passes Parantainen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Parantainen is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
It looks like Smith is going to stand back up.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
Smith is looking to stall here but Parantainen recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Parantainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Parantainen is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Parantainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Parantainen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Smith tries to hold on but Parantainen pushes him away.

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.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Parantainen's attempts to control the action.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Parantainen isn't that keen on the idea.
Parantainen is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Parantainen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Parantainen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Parantainen looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Parantainen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Parantainen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Parantainen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
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 James Smith will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith darts in trying to clinch

and Parantainen counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Parantainen landing some decent shots from guard.
Parantainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Parantainen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Parantainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Parantainen works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Parantainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Parantainen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Parantainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Smith working for a triangle but Parantainen defends it easily.
Parantainen landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Parantainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Parantainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Parantainen is proving a slippery customer.
Parantainen landing with the ground and pound.

Parantainen stands and steps away. Smith gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.

Parantainen gets a clinch.

Parantainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Parantainen misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith darts in trying to clinch

and Parantainen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Parantainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Parantainen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Parantainen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Parantainen back into the cage.
Smith trying to stall but Parantainen improves his position.
Parantainen is trying to break free.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Parantainen blocks it.
Smith gets underhooks to prevent Parantainen's takedown attempt.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Parantainen tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
James Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaakko Parantainen.

Parantainen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Parantainen manages to end up in side control.
Parantainen working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Smith trying to remain calm as Parantainen controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Check out the look on Parantainen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Parantainen just content to control the position.
Smith regains half guard there - taking advantage of Parantainen's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Parantainen is controlling him
Parantainen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Parantainen drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Parantainen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith tries to roll over but Parantainen keeps him under control.

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.
Parantainen lands with a punch from half guard.
Parantainen trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Parantainen wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smith drives through and clinches with Parantainen against the cage.
Parantainen is trying to break the clinch but Smith is controlling him.
Smith effectively controlling the action here.
Parantainen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
Smith stalls.
Parantainen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Parantainen managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Still in the clinch, Parantainen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Parantainen lands on the inside with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Parantainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Parantainen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Parantainen!