PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Teemu Packalen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aires Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aires Esposito has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Teemu Packalen's chin.

Packalen
vs
Esposito

185 cm
26
160 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teemu Packalen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aires Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito tries for a takedown but Packalen circles away easily

and Packalen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Packalen.
Packalen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esposito is keeping the position for now.
Packalen wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Packalen is looking to work some ground and pound but Esposito has wrist control.

Packalen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Esposito manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Packalen has Esposito in his guard.

Esposito controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Packalen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Packalen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Esposito tries to free his leg and advance position but Packalen is retaining full guard.
Packalen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Packalen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Esposito sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Packalen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Packalen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Packalen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Packalen's legs - danger averted.
Packalen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Esposito trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Packalen working for a triangle but Esposito defends it easily.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Packalen keeping full guard, as Esposito tries to pass.
Packalen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Esposito throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Packalen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Esposito is in Packalen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito trying to control but Packalen is working from the bottom.
Packalen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Packalen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Esposito is stalling in the full guard.
Esposito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

Packalen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Esposito is aware though and is defending well.
Esposito looking to sit in guard and control but Packalen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Esposito 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.
Esposito is trying to keep Packalen in close.
Packalen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esposito struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Teemu Packalen will probably get the nod.
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.

Esposito darts in looking for a takedown but Packalen gets double underhooks and turns Esposito into the cage.
Packalen feinted with a counter takedown.
Esposito shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Packalen sprawls well. Packalen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Esposito gets slowly back to his feet.
Esposito fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Packalen attempts a counter takedown but Esposito avoids it well and moves away.
Teemu Packalen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aires Esposito.
Packalen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Esposito.
Esposito closes this distance looking for a takedown but Packalen circles away.
Packalen attempts a counter takedown but Esposito avoids it well and moves away.
Packalen slaps away a takedown attempt from Esposito, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Packalen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Esposito sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Esposito or perhaps it was just good defense by Packalen, which made it look bad.

Esposito shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Packalen kicks off Esposito and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esposito closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Esposito lands in his opponent's guard.
Esposito trying to stand up but can't free himself from Packalen's guard.
Packalen trying to keep a closed guard but Esposito is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Packalen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Packalen tries to strike from the bottom.
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Packalen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esposito trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Esposito wants to control from the top but Packalen keeps moving.
Teemu Packalen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Esposito shoots in for a double leg but Packalen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Esposito fails with the takedown.

Packalen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Esposito quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packalen trying to control the action but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Packalen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Packalen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esposito keeps working.
Esposito is trying to get back to full guard.
Packalen wants to free his trapped foot but Esposito is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Packalen is working for a submission of some sort.

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.
Packalen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Esposito makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Esposito.
Packalen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Packalen from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Esposito has control of Packalen's left arm, preventing Packalen from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teemu Packalen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Esposito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Packalen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Esposito's guard.
Packalen lands a couple of digs.
Packalen working some strikes from top position.
Packalen is pushing down on Esposito's leg trying to pass to half guard. Esposito is fighting to maintain full guard but Packalen has managed to sneak the leg through.

Packalen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Packalen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esposito can do to turn this around?

Esposito looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Packalen passes to side control.
Esposito gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packalen is looking to work his way around to Esposito's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Packalen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Esposito is desperately trying to improve his position but Packalen has a good base and remains in mount.
Packalen controlling from mount.
Packalen cracks Esposito with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Esposito is squirming around, avoiding Packalen's attempts to control the action.
Esposito sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Packalen is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is pressing down on Packalen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Esposito is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Esposito wants to stand and escape but Packalen is having none of it.
Packalen pushing down on Esposito's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Packalen is just content to waste time from the top position. Esposito takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Packalen wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esposito isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Packalen stacks Esposito on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Packalen!
Packalen trying to control the action but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito wants to control but Packalen postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Packalen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Esposito, who protects the arm well.
Esposito struggling a bit here.

Packalen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Packalen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aires Esposito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Teemu Packalen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Packalen is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teemu Packalen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Packalen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teemu Packalen!
A very excited looking Teemu Packalen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.