PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fidu Paa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vegard Ellefsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fidu Paa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vegard Ellefsen's chin.

Paa
vs
Ellefsen

180 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fidu Paa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vegard Ellefsen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paa misses with a combination
letting Ellefsen counter with a right hand.
Ellefsen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Paa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ellefsen's guard.
Ellefsen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Paa trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellefsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Fidu Paa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Paa shoots in and bounces Ellefsen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Paa is working Ellefsen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Paa trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellefsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellefsen trying to keep a closed guard but Paa is proving a slippery customer.
Paa won't allow Ellefsen to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellefsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Vegard Ellefsen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Paa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paa lands in his opponent's guard.
Paa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ellefsen on the ground.
Ellefsen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Ellefsen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Paa is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Paa and Ellefsen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellefsen throwing strikes but Paa manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Paa has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ellefsen tries to lock up and control but Paa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ellefsen looks gassed!
Paa controlling the position easily from mount.
Ellefsen is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ellefsen is squirming around, avoiding Paa's attempts to control the action.
Paa unloading with bombs!
Ellefsen reaches up to try and control the position but Paa seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Ellefsen rolls and tries to escape and now Paa has his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Paa is controlling the position but Ellefsen somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Ellefsen is staying active underneath Paa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paa throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ellefsen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Paa's guard now.
Ellefsen stops Paa from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ellefsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ellefsen wants to control from the top but Paa keeps moving.
Ellefsen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ellefsen trying to control but Paa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellefsen throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vegard Ellefsen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ellefsen gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Paa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Paa stopping the sweep attempt from Ellefsen.
Ellefsen is adopting a defensive guard.

Ellefsen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paa defends well.
Paa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellefsen wants to stand but Paa is controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Paa sitting in guard here, content to control.

Fidu Paa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ellefsen enables Paa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ellefsen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Paa trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellefsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellefsen working a defensive guard but Paa manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ellefsen is trying to buck Paa off.
Ellefsen is looking for a sweep.
Paa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

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.

Paa decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Paa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ellefsen is trying to maintain the position but Paa is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fidu Paa dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Paa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ellefsen, pushing him back against the cage.
Paa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ellefsen jumps guard but Paa stands there with Ellefsen around his waist. Ellefsen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ellefsen tries to pull guard but Paa holds him up against the cage and eventually Ellefsen drops back down to his feet.
Paa tries to pull guard but Ellefsen won't allow it.
Paa is working for takedown but Ellefsen is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paa tries to pull guard but Ellefsen won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fidu Paa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ellefsen's efforts to push away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ellefsen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Paa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellefsen gets control of Paa's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ellefsen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Ellefsen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paa defends well.
Paa wants to stand but Ellefsen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ellefsen looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellefsen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ellefsen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paa wants to stand but Ellefsen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Paa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ellefsen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paa won't allow Ellefsen to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ellefsen is on top in guard.
Ellefsen won't allow Paa to sweep him here.
Ellefsen being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Paa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ellefsen stops a takedown attempt from Paa.
Paa tries to score a body lock takedown but Ellefsen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ellefsen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ellefsen fails to pull guard.

Ellefsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ellefsen moves in looking to clinch but Paa pushes him off.
Ellefsen shoots and misses

and Paa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Paa prevents Ellefsen from getting back to his feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paa works over Ellefsen with some ground and pound from guard.
Paa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Paa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ellefsen is keeping the position for now.
Paa controlling from the top position.
Ellefsen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Paa is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fidu Paa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paa, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fidu Paa!