PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Pavement (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simo Solmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Pavement
vs
Solmu

180 cm
21
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
180 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

TWGC Champion
Basic striking
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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Pavement!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Simo Solmu!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solmu with a poor takedown
and Pavement counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Solmu shoots in looking for a takedown. Pavement tries to sprawl out of it but Solmu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pavement manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Solmu misses with a takedown
and Pavement counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Max Pavement has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simo Solmu.

Solmu fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pavement to the ground. Solmu is now in Pavement's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Pavement throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Solmu trying to control the position from guard on top but Pavement is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Solmu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pavement's guard.

Pavement looking for submissions off his back.

Solmu wants to work for an arm triangle but Pavement is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Solmu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pavement has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pavement is trying to maintain the position but Solmu is very close to passing his half guard.

Solmu is working for a kimura but Pavement is defending it quite comfortably.
Solmu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Solmu is working for a kimura but Pavement is defending it quite comfortably.

Pavement looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Solmu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solmu not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Solmu is looking for a kimura here.
Pavement trying to control but Solmu postures up.

Pavement looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pavement wants to control but Solmu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Solmu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pavement manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solmu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Solmu is looking to work some ground and pound but Pavement has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pavement is on top in guard.

Solmu working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pavement has passed into half guard!

Solmu actively working from the bottom here.

Pavement is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Solmu sees it coming and defends easily.

Pavement is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Solmu looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pavement is looking for a kimura but Solmu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pavement to get the leverage.

Solmu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pavement not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pavement trying to control from half guard but Solmu is working away.
Pavement wants to pass to mount but Solmu is defending the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Solmu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pavement pulls his head out easily.

Pavement is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Solmu defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simo Solmu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pavement's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Solmu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Solmu drops an elbow to the side of Pavement's head.

Pavement looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pavement regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pavement not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pavement keeping full guard, as Solmu tries to pass.
Pavement not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Solmu slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Solmu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pavement sees it coming and defends easily.
Pavement is looking to improve his position.

Solmu is looking for a kimura but Pavement is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Solmu to get the leverage.
Solmu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pavement is looking to control Solmu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pavement avoid being mounted?
Solmu trying to pass the guard but Pavement defending well.

Solmu is trying to work for a kimura but Pavement is defending well.
Pavement wants to control but Solmu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Solmu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pavement defends it well.
Pavement wants to control but Solmu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Solmu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pavement doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Solmu.
Pavement is not content to let Solmu control the position.

Solmu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Solmu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pavement is just riding it out for now. Solmu eventually gives up the hold.
Simo Solmu has got the better of the ground game so far.

Solmu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pavement doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Solmu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solmu prevents Pavement from improving his position.

Solmu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pavement sees it coming and defends easily.
Solmu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pavement does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Pavement looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pavement wants to get back to full guard.
Pavement is refusing to be controlled, as Solmu sits in half guard.
Solmu passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pavement is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solmu working the ground and pound effectively.
Solmu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pavement really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pavement flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Solmu swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Pavement is now in Solmu's guard. A big mistake from Solmu there, giving up the dominant position!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pavement throwing strikes from guard but Solmu blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Solmu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Pavement's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Solmu misses with a takedown attempt
and Pavement counters with a series of strikes. Solmu will be more careful next time no doubt.
Solmu tries for a takedown but Pavement circles away easily
and Pavement counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Solmu changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pavement looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pavement tries to improve position but can't.
Pavement takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pavement tries to bench press Solmu off him but Solmu keeps the position.
Pavement prevents Solmu from improving position.

Solmu is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pavement is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Solmu landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solmu tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Pavement throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solmu working away.

Solmu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pavement knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pavement tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Solmu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Solmu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pavement, who protects the arm well.
Pavement tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Solmu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavement holding on.
Pavement tries to buck Solmu off but Solmu is having none of it.
Solmu in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Solmu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Solmu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pavement knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pavement tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Solmu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solmu works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Solmu is looking to take a break and control but Pavement is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pavement is trying to control Solmu's posture but Solmu avoids it.
Solmu tries to move to mount but Pavement blocks the move with his legs.

Solmu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Solmu scoring with punches from side control.
Pavement is looking for a sweep.
Pavement throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Simo Solmu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Solmu cracks Pavement with a big right hand but Pavement just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Solmu working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solmu lands a decent elbow from side control.

Solmu is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pavement is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here as Solmu stalls from top position.
Pavement is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Solmu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pavement knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Solmu wants to control but Pavement is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Solmu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Solmu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Max Pavement has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pavement is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simo Solmu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Solmu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simo Solmu!
Simo Solmu decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.