PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavali Pietari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pietari comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McKenzie
vs
Pietari

184 cm
19
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
188 lbs
6 - 8 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony McKenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavali Pietari!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pietari tries to clinch but McKenzie is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from McKenzie. Pietari does a little dance to reset his feet.
McKenzie lands a nice shot that snaps Pietari's head back.
McKenzie cracks Pietari with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
McKenzie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McKenzie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pietari at a distance.
McKenzie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pietari.
McKenzie misses with a double jab.
McKenzie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McKenzie wants it to stay on the feet.
No joy there for McKenzie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pietari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McKenzie blocks a low kick nicely.
Pietari connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pietari rushes McKenzie and presses him up against the cage.
McKenzie is looking to break free of the clinch but Pietari has double underhooks.
Pietari is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pietari landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McKenzie tries to circle away but Pietari has him pinned against the cage.
Pietari is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Pietari lands a knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McKenzie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pietari has McKenzie pressed against the cage, preventing McKenzie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McKenzie is looking to break free of the clinch but Pietari has double underhooks.
McKenzie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietari landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
McKenzie is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McKenzie is looking to break free of the clinch but Pietari has double underhooks.
Pietari lands an elbow that stopped McKenzie in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Anthony McKenzie has been cut.
Pietari is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pietari is struggling to control the position.
McKenzie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pietari content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Pietari.
McKenzie tries to break the clinch but Pietari is controlling the position.
Pietari landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pietari has McKenzie pressed against the cage.
Pietari continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pietari utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
McKenzie wants to get back to striking at distance but Pietari won't allow it.
McKenzie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McKenzie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McKenzie tries to circle away but Pietari has him pinned against the cage.
McKenzie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pietari stalling against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on McKenzie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McKenzie as Pietari tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietari landing knees to the head.
Pietari is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Paavali Pietari.
Pietari takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McKenzie swings widly with a right hand
and Pietari counters with a thumping low kick.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietari fails with the takedown.
Anthony McKenzie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavali Pietari.
The fighters circling - McKenzie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavali Pietari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony McKenzie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pietari closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McKenzie's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pietari controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pietari gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Paavali Pietari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pietari pushes McKenzie up against the cage in a clinch.
Pietari crunches a lovely knee into McKenzie's ribcage.
Pietari has McKenzie pushed against the cage.
McKenzie managing to block the knees to the body from Pietari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie can't break the clinch.
Pietari just leaning against McKenzie, taking a breather.
Paavali Pietari seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McKenzie working hard to break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
McKenzie wants to get back to striking at distance but Pietari won't allow it.
McKenzie working hard to break the clinch.
McKenzie has had enough of the clinch but Pietari keeps him there for the moment.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pietari - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pietari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pietari comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McKenzie wants to get back to striking at distance but Pietari won't allow it.
McKenzie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pietari has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietari utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pietari crunches a lovely knee into McKenzie's ribcage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pietari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pietari prevents McKenzie from breaking the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as McKenzie takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pietari has McKenzie pressed against the cage, preventing McKenzie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietari'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.
Pietari is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pietari landing knees to the head.
Pietari is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Paavali Pietari.
McKenzie lands a nice looking body shot.
Anthony McKenzie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pietari tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McKenzie swivels and escapes.
Pietari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McKenzie.
Some wild striking there from McKenzie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie scores with a jab to the head.

Pietari instigates a clinch.
Pietari landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pietari lands a damaging elbow.

Anthony McKenzie's cut is getting worse.
Pietari tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pietari putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McKenzie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pietari prevents a body shot from McKenzie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McKenzie being controlled against the cage.
McKenzie wants to break free but Pietari has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavali Pietari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anthony McKenzie's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pietari shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A combination from McKenzie does no damage.
McKenzie misses with a few strikes there.
McKenzie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pietari.
Pietari shoots in looking for a takedown. McKenzie tries to sprawl out of it but Pietari keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McKenzie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Anthony McKenzie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavali Pietari.
Pietari looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McKenzie is fending him off so far but Pietari persists. Nope, McKenzie circles away and we're back to standing.
Pietari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McKenzie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McKenzie leaves Pietari with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie lands with a cross.
Pietari tries for a takedown but McKenzie circles away easily
and McKenzie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McKenzie lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
McKenzie stuffs the takedown.
McKenzie scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pietari walks into a straight right hand from McKenzie.
Pietari has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McKenzie finds it's way round the side to connect with Pietari's head.

Pietari is rocked!
McKenzie tries a low kick but Pietari avoids it.
Pietari is still on wobbly legs! Can McKenzie finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by McKenzie - just one landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McKenzie with a nice cross.
Pietari takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pietari throws a wild hook but McKenzie just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Pietari gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - McKenzie raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony McKenzie!
As Anthony McKenzie got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: It was tough fight, for sure. I want to thank my sponsor - Gilop Clothing, my awesome alliance for support throughout the training camp - MMARocks, my current gym, all my training partners, it was an awesome camp. Thank you Helsinki, I will be back!'.