PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calle Pajander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Birmiski might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I'm Back - T.I. The crowd seem to be enjoying Pajander's choice of entrance music: Giorgio Moroder - The Chase. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Birmiski
vs
Pajander

170 cm
22
140 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Gladiator gear [OO] $5 Shirts

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ari Birmiski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Calle Pajander!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Birmiski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Birmiski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Birmiski is trying to get an arm triangle but Pajander is defending well.
Birmiski controls the position from side control.

Birmiski is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pajander is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Birmiski trying to control the action but Pajander is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Birmiski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pajander tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Birmiski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Birmiski goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pajander has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Birmiski but great work by Pajander.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Birmiski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pajander trying to control the action but Birmiski is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Birmiski manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Birmiski is trying to control but can't.
Birmiski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pajander wants to pass the guard but Birmiski is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pajander looking to sit in guard and control but Birmiski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pajander controls Birmiski momentarily but Birmiski frees himself.
Pajander wants to sweep here but Birmiski controlling him for the moment.
Pajander keeping moving, preventing Birmiski from controlling successfully.
Birmiski tries to free his leg and advance position but Pajander is retaining full guard.

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.
Birmiski advances position into side control!

Birmiski tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Birmiski has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Birmiski swings around for an armbar but Pajander sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Birmiski's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pajander is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Birmiski keeping moving, preventing Pajander from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Birmiski dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pajander wants to land a leg kick but Birmiski is out of range.
Pajander looks for a takedown but Birmiski sprawls well.
Birmiski sizes up Pajander with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pajander enables Birmiski to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pajander manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

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

Birmiski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Birmiski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pajander is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Birmiski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pajander doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pajander manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Birmiski wants to sweep but no luck.

Birmiski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pajander passes into half guard.
Birmiski on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Birmiski is looking for a sweep. Pajander is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Birmiski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pajander frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Birmiski wants to hold on but Pajander pushes him away.
Birmiski trying desperately to get to his feet.
Pajander lands with some strikes.
Pajander sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pajander with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pajander cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pajander is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Birmiski can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Pajander lands a big shot there that rocks Birmiski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Birmiski is desperately trying to improve his position but Pajander has a good base and remains in mount.
Pajander avoids the attempt from Birmiski to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pajander working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Birmiski 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.
Pajander perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Birmiski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Birmiski is looking to stand up but Pajander isn't so interested in that idea.
Pajander slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Birmiski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pajander can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Calle Pajander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

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

Birmiski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pajander pulls his head out easily.
Pajander tries to pass the half guard into mount. Birmiski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Birmiski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pajander trying to control from half guard but Birmiski is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pajander missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pajander prevents Birmiski from improving his position.
Birmiski is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pajander's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pajander's back!

Pajander is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Birmiski gets his way!
Pajander is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Birmiski off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Pajander preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Birmiski.

Birmiski is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Pajander defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pajander preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Birmiski.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birmiski is not going to allow Pajander to sit and survive in this position.
Pajander tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Birmiski goes for an armbar but Pajander turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pajander.
Calle Pajander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Birmiski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pajander postures up in Birmiski's guard and throws a big left but Birmiski blocks it.
Pajander's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Birmiski has momentary wrist control but Pajander slips an elbow through the middle.
Pajander wants to control from the top but Birmiski keeps moving.

Birmiski looking for a guillotine here but Pajander defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pajander trying to control the position from guard on top but Birmiski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Birmiski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pajander defends well.
Pajander trying to control but Birmiski is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Calle Pajander.
I think Pajander 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Calle Pajander!