PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Danny Leigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simo Paavolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Leigh
vs
Paavolainen

190 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
186 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Danny Leigh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Paavolainen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paavolainen tries to bum rush Leigh with a series of wild strikes but Leigh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leigh avoids the head kick by Paavolainen.
Leigh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Paavolainen as he avoids it easily.
Paavolainen moves in looking to clinch but Leigh pushes him off.
Paavolainen connects with a high kick.
Leigh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paavolainen slips a jab and a cross from Leigh.
Paavolainen blocks a leg kick.

Paavolainen moves into the clinch.
Leigh tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Paavolainen smiles and moves away.

Leigh shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Paavolainen is trying to defend but Leigh finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paavolainen trying to get back to full guard but Leigh takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Leigh thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Paavolainen is squirming around, avoiding Leigh's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leigh controlling his opponent.
Leigh 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.
Leigh lands a big elbow.
Leigh thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Leigh is stalling here but it's allowed Paavolainen to get half guard.
Leigh is keen to just control but Paavolainen is a slippery customer.

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.
Paavolainen trying to control here.
Paavolainen is not content to let Leigh control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Leigh throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paavolainen was covering up waiting for the punch and Leigh finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Paavolainen looks gassed!
Leigh controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paavolainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Leigh stands and steps away. Paavolainen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Paavolainen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Paavolainen prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Leigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paavolainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paavolainen is looking to clinch.
Leigh throws a series of punches but Paavolainen moves out of range.
Paavolainen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paavolainen wants it to stay on the feet.

Paavolainen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Leigh tries to circle away but Paavolainen has him pinned against the cage.
Leigh wants a takedown.

Paavolainen manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigh keeps the fight on the outside.

Paavolainen moves into the clinch.

Paavolainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paavolainen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paavolainen wants it to stay on the feet.
Paavolainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leigh shoots in for a double leg but Paavolainen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Paavolainen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leigh, pushing him back against the cage.
Leigh takes a knee to the side of the body.

Paavolainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Paavolainen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paavolainen lands in his opponent's guard.
Leigh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Leigh wants to stand up but Paavolainen is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simo Paavolainen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Paavolainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paavolainen wants to clinch.
Paavolainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leigh paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Paavolainen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Paavolainen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Leigh up against the cage.

Leigh breaks the clinch.
Paavolainen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leigh.
Paavolainen is looking to clinch but Leigh is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leigh with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Leigh tries to bum rush Paavolainen with a series of wild strikes but Paavolainen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leigh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Paavolainen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leigh tries for a takedown but Paavolainen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Leigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Paavolainen moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paavolainen manages to break the clinch.
Leigh falls off balance throwing a combination

and Paavolainen counters by moving into the clinch.

Paavolainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Paavolainen clinches up against the cage.

Paavolainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Paavolainen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leigh.
Paavolainen leaves Leigh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leigh tries to clinch up.

Paavolainen closes the distance and clinches.

Paavolainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leigh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Paavolainen counters with a series of strikes. Leigh will be more careful next time no doubt.
Paavolainen closes the distance but Leigh moves to the side

and Leigh counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Paavolainen!
Leigh tries to control but Paavolainen wriggling away.
Leigh controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigh seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Paavolainen for as long as he can get away with.
Leigh wants to control the pace but Paavolainen is squirming around nicely.
Paavolainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh controlling from the full mount.
Paavolainen is squirming around, avoiding Leigh's attempts to control the action.
Paavolainen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Leigh controlling the position easily from mount.
Leigh unloads with some shots from mount but Paavolainen bucks and avoids them well.

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.
Leigh can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paavolainen is looking to escape.
Leigh will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Danny Leigh just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Paavolainen moves into the clinch.

Paavolainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Paavolainen moves into range and clinches up with Leigh.
Leigh goes for a takedown in the clinch but Paavolainen prevents it.
Leigh tries to circle away but Paavolainen has him pinned against the cage.
Leigh has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Paavolainen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Paavolainen breaks from the clinch.
Paavolainen slips a jab and a cross from Leigh.
Leigh fails with the takedown

and Paavolainen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Danny Leigh will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Paavolainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Leigh.
Paavolainen closes the distance but Leigh moves to the side
and Leigh counters with a one-two to the body.
Leigh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Paavolainen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Leigh somewhat.
Leigh takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Paavolainen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Paavolainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Danny Leigh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paavolainen wants to clinch.

Paavolainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Paavolainen misses with a knee to the head.
Leigh jumps guard but Paavolainen stands there with Leigh around his waist. Leigh gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Leigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paavolainen working hard to break the clinch.
Leigh drops down looking for an ankle pick but Paavolainen pulls his leg out and moves away.

Paavolainen moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paavolainen landing knees to the body.

Paavolainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paavolainen scores with a one two! Leigh had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Leigh tries for a takedown but Paavolainen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Paavolainen works over Leigh's head and body with a nice combination.

Paavolainen instigates a clinch.
Paavolainen working Leigh over with knees to the body.
Paavolainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Leigh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leigh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Paavolainen but Paavolainen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Paavolainen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leigh to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Leigh postures up.
Leigh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigh's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Paavolainen keeping moving, preventing Leigh from controlling successfully.
Leigh looking to pass the guard.
Leigh trying to control the position from guard on top but Paavolainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leigh's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Paavolainen wants to stand and escape but Leigh is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Paavolainen, right into the meat.
Leigh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leigh throws a leg kick but Paavolainen checks it.
Leigh lands with a thumping leg kick.
Paavolainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Leigh, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Paavolainen is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paavolainen is defended easily by Leigh.
Leigh throws a series of punches but Paavolainen moves out of range.

Paavolainen moves into the clinch successfully.
Leigh has Paavolainen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paavolainen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Paavolainen breaks from the clinch.
Leigh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paavolainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leigh fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigh fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Leigh misses with a takedown

and Paavolainen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Paavolainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leigh swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leigh wriggles free and stands up.
Paavolainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Paavolainen shoots for a double leg takedown but Leigh sprawls well. He's pushed Paavolainen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paavolainen misses with a body shot.

Leigh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leigh is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Simo Paavolainen.
I think Paavolainen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simo Paavolainen!