PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Sugarol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paniikki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by N'sync - Bye Bye Bye. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sugarol
vs
Paniikki

174 cm
28
153 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

165 cm
26
155 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sammy Sugarol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paniikki is defended easily by Sugarol.
Sugarol misses with a hook to the body
and Paniikki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sugarol connects with a looping right hand.
Sugarol misses with a straight right.
Sugarol displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paniikki.
Sugarol stuffs the takedown.
Sammy Sugarol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Donk. Sugarol catches Paniikki right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Pelle Paniikki has been cut.

Paniikki feints and as Sugarol raises his hands in defense, Paniikki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sugarol pulls Paniikki in to control the position.
Sugarol trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sammy Sugarol wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Paniikki blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Sugarol as Paniikki shoots in.
Paniikki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sugarol is fending him off so far but Paniikki persists. Nope, Sugarol circles away and we're back to standing.
Paniikki ducks under a wild hook from Sugarol.
Sugarol connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sugarol scores with a jab to the jaw.
Paniikki slips under a jab from Sugarol.
Paniikki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown but Sugarol shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sugarol keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sugarol defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paniikki.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sugarol defends it nicely.
Paniikki fails to land the takedown.
Nice body punch from Sugarol.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paniikki tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sugarol counters with a stiff right hand.

Paniikki is rocked!

Sugarol gets caught napping as Paniikki dives in and scores a takedown. Sugarol manages to retain guard.
Paniikki is still in real trouble! Can Sugarol finish him?
Sugarol wants to stand but Paniikki is controlling the position.
Paniikki seems to have recovered his senses.
Paniikki won't allow Sugarol to sweep him here.

Paniikki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Paniikki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sugarol swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sugarol is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Paniikki is controlling him.
Paniikki tries to free his leg and advance position but Sugarol is retaining full guard.
Sugarol has control of Paniikki's left arm, preventing Paniikki from doing any damage.

Sugarol uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sugarol misses with a hook.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sugarol scores with a hook.
Sugarol throws out a loose jab but Paniikki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sugarol clobbers Paniikki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
No luck for Paniikki with that takedown attempt.
Sugarol is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Paniikki shoots and misses
and Sugarol counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paniikki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Paniikki slips under a jab from Sugarol.
Sugarol throws a right hand that misses

and Paniikki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sugarol won't be happy with that.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sugarol is pushing Paniikki's head away, looking to escape. Paniikki manages to hold on to the position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Sugarol stands up from half guard.
Sugarol throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Paniikki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Paniikki fails to land the takedown.
Paniikki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sugarol throws a big shot that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paniikki.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Paniikki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sugarol pulls Paniikki in close to his closed guard and prevents Paniikki from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Sugarol dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pelle Paniikki's cut.
That's time! Sugarol's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paniikki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Paniikki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sugarol is fending him off so far but Paniikki persists. Nope, Sugarol circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab from Sugarol.
Paniikki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sugarol.
Paniikki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sugarol tries to avoid it but Paniikki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sugarol to the ground. Sugarol escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sammy Sugarol is winning the standup battle so far.
Paniikki shoots for a takedown but Sugarol saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sammy Sugarol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Sugarol throws a looping overhand right but Paniikki ducks down to avoid it.
Sugarol misses with a straight right.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Sugarol sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sugarol waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Paniikki.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a takedown but Sugarol manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Paniikki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fighters circling - Sugarol throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sugarol lands an overhand right.
Paniikki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sugarol cracks Paniikki with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sugarol is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Paniikki.
Sugarol misses with a left hand

and Paniikki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Paniikki wants to pass the guard but Sugarol is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paniikki is pushing down on Sugarol's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sugarol is fighting to maintain full guard but Paniikki has managed to sneak the leg through.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Paniikki wants to pass the guard but Sugarol is defending well.
Paniikki stops Sugarol from getting back to his feet.
Sugarol trying to control from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sugarol tries to kick Paniikki off but Paniikki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Paniikki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sugarol is just riding it out for now. Paniikki eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sugarol is defending against the submission attempts here by Paniikki.
Paniikki wants to advance to full mount but Sugarol doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Sugarol is looking to stand up but Paniikki isn't so interested in that idea.
Sugarol keeping full guard, as Paniikki tries to pass.
Sugarol pulls Paniikki in close to prevent any damage.
Sugarol is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki drops back looking for a leg! Sugarol is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sugarol manages to kick Paniikki off! Paniikki jumps back into Sugarol's guard.
Sugarol is trying to keep Paniikki in close.
Sugarol looking to hit a scissor sweep but Paniikki is one step ahead there.

Paniikki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paniikki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Paniikki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sugarol wants to stand and escape but Paniikki is having none of it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sugarol is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sugarol got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paniikki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sugarol has managed to get both his arms back between Paniikki's legs - danger averted.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sugarol's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sugarol is pushing down on Paniikki's leg trying to pass to half guard. Paniikki is fighting to maintain full guard but Sugarol has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sugarol controlling the action here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sugarol is pressing down on Paniikki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Paniikki is holding on for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sammy Sugarol.
Sugarol lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Paniikki backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Sugarol dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pelle Paniikki's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Paniikki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sugarol but Sugarol pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sugarol looks to throw the jab but Paniikki is out of range.
Paniikki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sugarol's waist but Sugarol gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paniikki off to one side.
Paniikki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Paniikki moves away from the strike by Sugarol.
No luck for Paniikki with that takedown attempt.
Sammy Sugarol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Sugarol fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Paniikki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Paniikki misses with a takedown attempt
letting Sugarol counter with a right hand.
Paniikki closes the distance and clinches up with Sugarol, looking for a takedown. Paniikki pushes Sugarol against the cage but Sugarol circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paniikki closes the distance and clinches up with Sugarol, looking for a takedown. Paniikki pushes Sugarol against the cage but Sugarol circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paniikki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sugarol.
Paniikki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sugarol drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Paniikki right on the button. Paniikki goes down! Sugarol follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Sugarol gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sammy Sugarol!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Sammy Sugarol made sure he mentioned Reaper Combatwear, along with how happy he was to win his fight.