PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Painija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Hunt
vs
Painija

150 cm
25
183 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

160 cm
25
176 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $69
Milwaukee's Best 159's - $69

Perkele!
Milwaukee's Best 159's - $69

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Hunt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pauli Painija!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Painija gets a clinch.
Hunt takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hunt avoiding damage as Painija throws knees to the body.
Painija struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunt controls his hands.
Painija misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Painija lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Painija lands an elbow inside that Hunt shrugs off.
Painija using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Hunt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunt misses with an uppercut.
Hunt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Painija throws out a leg kick but Hunt moves out of range and Painija only half commits.
Hunt steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Painija.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Painija ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Painija swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hunt misses with a lunging right hand

and Painija counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija happy to just control the position for now.
Painija wants to control but Hunt is keeping him busy.
Painija working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Painija is chipping away with strikes.
Hunt seems a little lost for a moment, as Painija dominates the positioning.
Hunt sneaks back into half guard.
Hunt blocking the ground and pound attempt from Painija.
Painija trying to control from Hunt's half guard. Hunt has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija throws an elbow that misses. Hunt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Painija's guard. Nice move by Hunt!
Painija is looking to stand back up but Hunt counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Painija.
Painija wants to get back to his feet.
Painija blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hunt.

Painija looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hunt thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Painija trying to hold on to Hunt's head to control him but Hunt postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is pressing down on Painija's thigh, looking to free his foot. Painija is holding on for now.
Painija trying to control but Hunt postures up.
Hunt scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hunt throwing shots but Painija is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Painija tries to get to full guard but Hunt has control of the leg.
Painija has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hunt is working away from the top position though.
Painija moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
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.
Painija not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hunt preventing the sweep.
Painija is pulling down on Hunt's head. It's preventing any offense from Hunt, at least for the moment.
Hunt postures up.

Pauli Painija has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Painija uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hunt.
Hunt misses with a lunging right hand
and Painija counters with a stiff right hand.
Hunt keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice defenses there by Painija.
Hunt connects with the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Painija.
Painija tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hunt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija 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.

Hunt throws a lazy right hand but Painija sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hunt throws a big shot that misses.
Painija misses with a body shot.
Painija stalks Hunt and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hunt's face. Hunt staggers backwards, shaken.
Painija tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hunt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Painija.
Painija tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hunt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Painija keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Painija as he jumps to the side.
Hunt takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sloppy strikes from Painija. Those never looked like landing.
Pauli Painija is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hunt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hunt just misses with a punch to the body.
Horrible takedown by Hunt or perhaps it was just good defense by Painija which made him look bad.
Hunt fails with the takedown
and Painija counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija scores with a shot to the body.
Painija wants to clinch up but Hunt keeps it at a distance.
Painija scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hunt is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Painija's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hunt thuds his right hand into Painija's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Painija closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hunt did well to prevent Painija getting side control.
Hunt trying to control from the bottom.

Painija decides to return to a standing position.
Hunt digs a good body shot into Painija's ribs.
Hunt misses the shot to the body.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown but Painija shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Painija closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Painija gets caught flat footed, as Hunt shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hunt connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija trying to control the position.
Hunt has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Painija wants to sweep here but Hunt controlling him for the moment.
Painija keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
Painija is trying to control the position but Hunt postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Painija avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Painija is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hunt is staying active underneath Painija, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hunt manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Painija trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.
Painija might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hunt kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hunt looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunt, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is controlling Painija's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pauli Painija was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Painija throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunt. Painija does a little dance to reset his feet.
Painija misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hunt.
Hunt looks to land a left hand but Painija moved out of range nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt throws a lazy right hand but Painija sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Hunt misses.

Hunt shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Painija manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Painija tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pauli Painija will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Painija wants to clinch but Hunt slips to the side
and Hunt counters with a series of strikes. Painija will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hunt misses with a hook. Painija ducked under it nicely.
Painija swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Painija drives through and clinches with Hunt against the cage.
Hunt blocks an elbow strike from Painija.
Painija scores with a shot to the side of Hunt's head.
A left hand lands to the body for Painija.
A short body shot lands from Painija as the two fighters clinch.
Painija scores with a shot to the side of Hunt's head.
Painija tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hunt's elbow.
Painija landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Painija displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hunt up against the cage.
Painija struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunt controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is stalling here.
Painija tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Still in the clinch, Painija scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hunt tries for a takedown but Painija manages to get underhooks.
Painija prevents a body shot from Hunt.
Hunt on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hunt goes for a takedown attempt but Painija pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Painija.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Painija ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hunt moves away.
Hunt fails to land with a series of punches.
Hunt throws a nice looking combination but Painija bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hunt on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Painija is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hunt rather than just go for the knockout.
Hunt misses with a hook
letting Painija counter with a right hand.
Painija tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Painija tries to clinch up but Hunt circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt digs a good body shot into Painija's ribs.
Painija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mike Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Painija tries to clinch there but Hunt circles away.
Hunt lands with a hook. Painija tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunt has his takedown stuffed
and Painija counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt misses with a takedown attempt - Painija sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Decent striking displayed by Painija there.
Painija tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hunt was well out of range. Poor timing from Painija.
Hunt looks for a takedown but Painija sprawls well.
Hunt gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Painija.
Painija misses with a body shot.
Painija tests Hunt's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pauli Painija seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hunt thows a left - swing and a miss!
Painija moves out of range as Hunt strikes.
Painija ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hunt takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Painija takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Painija moves into range and connects with a jab.
Painija throws a body punch but Hunt moves out of range.
Hunt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Painija.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Painija fails in his attempt to clinch.
Painija has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A swing and a miss from Painija.
Nice sprawl there from Painija as Hunt shoots in.
Painija scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Painija fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Painija connects with a body shot that sends Hunt's belly button to the back.
Painija scores with a jab. Hunt acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt misses with a lunging right hand
and Hunt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Painija comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hunt lands with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hunt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hunt takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Painija swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hunt.
Hunt throws a hook to the side of Painija's head but Painija sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Painija blocks a jab.
Hunt just misses with a punch to the body.
Painija is looking to clinch.
Hunt keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunt drops his hands momentarily and Painija takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Painija throws a right and a left that both miss.
Painija fails with an attempt to clinch.
Painija uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hunt.
Hunt ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Painija moves away.
Painija jabs Hunt right on the nose. Hunt blinks but takes it well.
Painija misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Painija fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hunt manages to avoid it.
Hunt tests Painija's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hunt connects with a single shot there.

Painija gets a double leg takedown into Hunt's guard.
Painija postures up in Hunt's guard and throws a big left but Hunt blocks it.
Pauli Painija has got the better of the ground game so far.
Painija won't allow Hunt to sweep him here.
Painija trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Painija showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Let's hope that Painija has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pauli Painija was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Painija is looking to land body kicks.
Painija is looking to score with low kicks.
Painija pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hunt throws a right hand that misses
and Painija counters with a straight right hand.
Painija moves in looking to clinch but Hunt pushes him off.
Painija is looking to clinch but Hunt is avoiding it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hunt tries to keep at a distance but Painija has taken the fight into the clinch.
Painija is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija working Hunt over with knees to the body.
Pauli Painija seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Painija slows down the pace here.
Painija misses with a knee strike.
Hunt lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hunt tries to pull guard but Painija holds him up against the cage and eventually Hunt drops back down to his feet.
Painija is struggling to control the position.
A shot in the inside from Painija.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija lands a shot to the body.
Hunt is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Painija is keeping busy.
Hunt misses with a body punch.
Hunt's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hunt on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Painija tries to land a knee to the head but Hunt blocks with his arms.
Painija landing knees to the head.
Painija lands a nice elbow.
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!
Painija pressing his opponent against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Painija dominated that fourth 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hunt misses with a looping right.
Painija throws a leg kick but Hunt moved away.
The fighters circling - Hunt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hunt fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Painija looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice cross by Hunt.

Hunt closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hunt lands in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Painija is on top in guard.
Painija trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hunt working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Painija wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.
Painija tries to free his leg and advance position but Hunt is retaining full guard.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Painija from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pauli Painija was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Painija shoots for a takedown but Hunt saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hunt stuffs the takedown attempt from Painija. Painija gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hunt is defended easily by Painija.
Hunt moves out of range as Painija strikes.

Painija clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Painija fails to land.
Painija tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hunt as Painija tries to tie him up.
Painija can't find room to land a body shot as Hunt controls the action.
Painija letting Hunt take a breather here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Painija.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Painija lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Painija throws a knee to the head but misses.
Painija fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Painija prevents Hunt from breaking the clinch.
Painija throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hunt blocks a body shot from Painija.
Hunt on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Painija works on Hunt's body with a couple of short punches.
Painija lands a nice shot to the body.
Hunt's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Painija lands a good knee to the midsection. Hunt won't want to take too many of those.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pauli Painija is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Painija lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Painija stalling the fight.
Painija looking to throw knees to the head but Hunt is blocking nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Painija lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hunt.
Painija is pushing Hunt up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hunt tries to throw a body punch but Painija avoids it by throwing Hunt back against the cage.
Mike Hunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Painija is trying to maintain a safe position but Hunt gets an underhook and turns Painija into the cage.
Hunt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hunt looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hunt tries a body shot but Painija blocks it.
Hunt tries to work over Painija's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pauli Painija comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Painija has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 45:50
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 45:50
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pauli Painija! Pauli Painija retains his welterweight title!
A less than humble Pauli Painija misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.