PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Piero Paniccia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Piero Paniccia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Paniccia
vs
Darko

170 cm
20
135 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

150 cm
22
150 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

M.O. Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Piero Paniccia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donnie Darko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darko fails with an attempt to clinch.

Darko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paniccia was covering up waiting for the punch and Darko finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Paniccia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Darko is aware though and is defending well.
Paniccia keeping moving, preventing Darko from controlling successfully.

Paniccia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Darko defends well.

Paniccia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paniccia keeping moving, preventing Darko from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniccia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Paniccia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paniccia keeping full guard, as Darko tries to pass.
Paniccia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paniccia is looking for a triangle but Darko pushes his legs off easily.

Paniccia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Darko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Darko trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniccia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paniccia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Darko scoring with punches to the head and body.

Paniccia has his foot on Darko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Darko works his way back into a safe position though.
Darko pushes down on Paniccia's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paniccia punching from the bottom.
Paniccia works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniccia has an active guard here but Darko has managed to pass into half guard.
Darko is looking to take a break and control but Paniccia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Darko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Darko tries to pass to full mount but Paniccia defends it.

Paniccia looking for submissions off his back.
Paniccia trying to hold on to Darko's head to control him but Darko postures up.

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

Paniccia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniccia is defending against the submission attempts here by Darko.
Paniccia throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Darko trying to control from half guard but Paniccia is working away.
Darko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Darko wants to get back to his feet.

Paniccia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Paniccia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darko pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Darko 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.

Paniccia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Darko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Paniccia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darko pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Darko tries to stand but can't do so whilst Paniccia controls his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paniccia throws a low kick but it's checked well by Darko.
Paniccia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Darko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Paniccia lands with a nice body punch.
Paniccia waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Darko.
Darko darts in trying to clinch

and Paniccia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Darko will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Darko trying to keep a closed guard but Paniccia is proving a slippery customer.
Darko wants to sweep here but Paniccia controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko is trying to control the position but Paniccia postures up.
Darko wants to sweep but no luck.
Paniccia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Paniccia trying to control the position from guard on top but Darko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paniccia pushes down on Darko's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniccia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Darko can't escape the position.

Paniccia moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Darko has worked his arm free - good work by Darko!
Darko is looking for a sweep.

Paniccia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Darko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Darko is looking for a sweep.
Paniccia working the head and body with strikes.
Darko is looking to regain half guard here but Paniccia keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia in side control lands a decent elbow.
Paniccia has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Paniccia working for a submission but Darko is keeping him at bay.
Paniccia lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Darko hang on?
Paniccia wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Darko tries to hold on but Paniccia postures up.
Darko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paniccia pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Paniccia has hold of Darko's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Darko manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Darko working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko tries to buck Paniccia off but he can't manage it.
Paniccia landing shots from mount.
Piero Paniccia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Paniccia is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Darko has managed to escape the submission attempt.
A nice elbow there by Paniccia.
Paniccia lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Darko can't escape the position.
Darko keeps trying to improve his position.
Paniccia raining down shots from the mount!
Paniccia breaks from Darko's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Paniccia prevents Darko from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia working Darko over with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Darko bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Paniccia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Darko is aware though and is defending well.
Paniccia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Paniccia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Darko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Paniccia wants to free his trapped foot but Darko is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Paniccia is looking to stall here but Darko recovers full guard.
Paniccia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Darko is keeping the position for now.
Paniccia postures up in Darko's guard and throws a big left but Darko blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piero Paniccia dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Darko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Paniccia napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Darko working the ground and pound but Paniccia is defending the strikes.
Darko gets to mount! Paniccia was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Paniccia is working to get back to half guard.
Darko throws some wild stikes that Paniccia manages to avoid easily.
Darko is trying to take his opponent's back.
Paniccia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Paniccia reaches up to try and control the position but Darko seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Paniccia rolls and tries to escape and now Darko has his back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko has the hooks in. Paniccia is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Paniccia manages to reverse the position and now he's in Darko's guard. Nice work there by Paniccia.

Darko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paniccia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko keeping full guard, as Paniccia tries to pass.
Darko lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Paniccia keeping moving, preventing Darko from controlling successfully.

Paniccia has his foot on Darko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Darko works his way back into a safe position though.
Darko pushing down on Paniccia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Darko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Darko wants to take a breather but Paniccia is having none of it.

Paniccia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Paniccia punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniccia looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paniccia moves into full guard.
Darko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Darko is sitting in close to Paniccia's body. Paniccia has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Darko is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Darko is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Paniccia.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Piero Paniccia!